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Massive turnout to remember soldiers' sacrifice

An eerie fog blanketed the central city for Hastings’ ANZAC Day dawn service on Saturday.

In the inky black of 5.20am the parade, led by Light Armoured Vehicles followed by scores of returned servicemen and their families, left the clock tower heading along Russell St to the cenotaph.

As the service proper got underway, many in the record 8000-strong crowd quietly crooned the National Anthem.

Speakers at the ceremony included Mayor Lawrence Yule and Colonel Grant Motley.

Yule reflected on the ANZAC spirit that had grown from the daunting task of fighting at Gallipoli 100 years ago.

Those who risked and lost their lives on that beach, and in other major battles including Messines, Passchendaele and the Battle of the Somme, showed “courage and compassion which we remember each ANZAC Day. The qualities that the ANZACs showed . . .have become known as the Spirit of the ANZAC and this spirit is etched forever in the hearts of New Zealanders.

“We should never forget what these men have done for our country, for our people. These men are gone, but their legend, their spirit, the spirit of the ANZACs lives on.”

That ceremony was the start of a full morning of commemorations, including performances by the Deco Bay Napier Port Brass Bands, local vocalist Alec Wishart and the New Zealand String Quartet.

A highlight was the unveiling of the Major General Sir Andrew Russell statue, next to the cenotaph.

In World War I Napier-born Sir Andrew earned a fearsome reputation for his tactical skills, insistence on strict discipline, care for his men and his personal courage.

Under his leadership the New Zealand force was regarded as one of the finest in the allied army.

Sir Andrew was one of Hawke’s Bay’s “most famous and admired sons”, Yule told the crowd.

On his return from war he was greeted with a hero’s welcome in Wellington, and hailed in Maori as “Ariki Toa”: the fighting chief sent forward to lead. The statue is on Russell St, named in his honour.

The dawn service and statue dedication were followed by the civic service at 10am, with an estimated 3000 people turning out.

Photos from the day

4 October 2017

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