“Leaving for the Front” re-enactment

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Posters have gone up around Masterton (also at the various Wairarapa railway stations and in the carriages on Wairarapa trains) advertising this event on Wednesday, 13th August.

• Leaving for the Front (Facebook page)

I understand the troop train will be hauled by newly-restored Ab 608 “Passchendaele” from Paekakariki and it will be conveying the troops to somewhere north of Masterton. I presume it will be hauling carriages from Steam Incorporated's fleet. Current Land Transport NZ rules require that passengers only embark or disembark at a station platform (unless in an emergency), so I guess they will be getting carted to either Mauriceville or Eketahuna (both locations have platforms) and be returned by bus from there. I also understand that in addition to re-enactors and volunteers (the posters are calling for volunteers to dress up in period costumes), present day defence personel will also be dressing in period uniforms and taking part.

It should be an interesting event. Let's hope the weather co-operates.

[Dave Homewood]

Will you be able to get some photos Bruce?

[kiwithrottlejockey]

I think I'm working early shift that day (start work at 4:00am, finish at 10:45am), so I should be around. Sometimes they extend our early shift if they are scraping the bottom of the barrel for drivers to cover the trains and they work us to Wellington and back on a second trip, in which case I would be in Wellington when it occurs. I'll no doubt find out nearer the time when they issue the mini-rosters for that fortnight.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Another big re-enactment is being planned for next year, that of troops marching from Featherston military training camp over the Rimutaka hill road (SH2) to Wellington for embarkation onto troop ships. More than 60,000 soldiers headed off to overseas service in WWI that way and the re-enactment is planned for 23rd September 2015, the centenary of the first march of soldiers over the Rimutakas. The re-enactment would involve actually closing SH2 between Featherston and Upper Hutt for most of the day.

See the following Dominion Post article (with photographs) published on 22nd April....

• Walking into the unknown

[Dave Homewood]

That seems a bit of an excess, closing as main arterial route like that. Amazing!

[kiwithrottlejockey]

It's basically a safety thing, Dave. There is no way they can have a large group of people marching over the narrow, winding Rimutaka hill road amongst the traffic. That is why the NZ Land Transport agency is involved in the planning for the commemorative march across the Rimutaka hill road summit from Featherston to Kaitoke.

One of the ticket assistants on peak Wairarapa commuter trains is Jack Hayes, a former SAS commander, who is currently the medals consultant at NZDF headquarters. Jack pointed me in the direction of the official New Zealand WW100 website several months ago, and there is a page on that website listing all official recognised events and projects commemorating Great War centennial anniversaries. CLICK HERE to open that page. As you scroll down the page, you will see it loading more and more events.

[Dave Homewood]

Yes, I see the reason to close the road for safety. What I meant was it's bloody amazing that Transit even considered the idea of the closure of a main arterial route - a State Highway - for a day just for the sake of some history buffs. They get so uptight about the effect to economy if a road is closed due to flooding or slips, so it amazes me the Transit Nazis are allowing this at all.

They won't even allow us to keep a roundabout that has made one of our worst intersections and roads far safer and better for traffic. Transit are total gits.

[Dave Homewood]

By the way I have been following that WW100 site since it first went online. Some interesting stuff coming up. Like a free airshow at Wanaka!

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Unfortunately I won't be around in Wairarapa next Wednesday as I will be in Auckland for most of next week.

However, I presume there will be plenty of photographs uploaded to the “Leaving For The Front” facebook page (see the link in the first post of this thread).

Somebody has been putting flyers under the windscreen wipers of all cars in the carpark at Masterton Railway Station all week warning commuters that a large proportion of the carpark will be closed next Wednesday and that Perry Street will also be closed to traffic and car parking from 6:00am until mid-afternoon on the day. They will have to arrange for marshals to be in attendance at the station from very early morning as the first commuter train for Wellington departs Masterton at 5:45am and there are usually a heap of cars parked by the time that train leaves. Following trains depart at 6:25am and 6:50am.

And it has been confirmed that the troop train will be hauled by Ab608 “Passchendaele” in its first official duty commemorating the centennial of WWI and that the train will be conveying passengers as far as Mauriceville where they will transfer to buses and be transported back to Masterton while the train continues on empty to Palmerston North via Woodville. Commemorative 3rd class tickets are now on sale in Wairarapa with the price being $20 for the train ride to Mauriceville and return bus trip. Most of the re-enactors dressing up as embarking troops are going to be students from various Wairarapa colleges, although some current serving soldiers from the NZ Army will also be taking part, also dressed in period uniforms.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

This is probably a better link for accessing the Leaving For The Front facebook page....

www.facebook.com/LeavingfortheFront

[machpants]

They day before is my wife's B'day so I am taking that off, and I won't be seeing/helping with this sadly. Hopefully it goes swimmingly.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

from the Wairarapa Times-Age....

Perry Street family travel back to 1914

By ANDREW BONALIACK (Wairarapa Times-Age editor) | 6:00AM - Saturday, August 09, 2014


FAMILY DAY: The Wells and Wellington families in the 1918 snow. Lillian is possibly the lady
at the extreme left. — Photograph: WAIRARAPA ARCHIVE.

A FASCINATION with an historic house's family past has prompted a Perry Street homeowner to join the theme of the WWI re-enactment parade past her house on Wednesday.

Michelle O'Connell's home at 90 Perry Street is the same house, apart from an extension, that faced the troops who marched to Masterton railway station on August 13th, 1914, and off to war.

Possibly watching on that poignant day, or walking with the parade, was the family of Foster and Beatrice Wellington, who lived at 90 Perry Street.

Ms O'Connell and her son, Christopher, 6, are paying homage to the troops' farewell by representing two members of the Wellington family, complete with period costume, suitcases and food.

They will walk with the re-enactment parade to the station, and join passengers on a steam train ride to Mauriceville for the day.

Ms O'Connell said when she heard about the parade she got to thinking about family life 100 years ago.

“I was thinking about the women left behind, or being grateful their children would be too young, or husband too old.”

She went to the Wairarapa Archives to find out more.

Archivist Gareth Winter determined that Foster Wellington, a Masterton bootmaker, lived at the house with his wife, Lillian Beatrice Wellington, and they may have had seven children.

“Seven children and two adults lived in two-thirds of what we live in now,” said Ms O'Connell.

Foster may have been about 40 at the time, and too old to go to war.

Ms O'Connell said she will collect Chris from school, and they will walk the parade together, while other family members wave from the house.

“We're dressed up, with our old little suitcases. Chris is very excited. He thought a real war was going on. I explained we are just pretending.”

She is making food from the period, such as Afghan cookies and boiled sweets, to take on the train, and she wonders if Lillian would have used an Edmonds Cookbook as she did.

“This parade is a great opportunity to think of what actually happened.”

“History is disappearing — these houses are going to be the historic homes.”

“I used to be a teacher, and education in the classroom is not where it ends. This is an opportunity to live history.”

Another reason for her interest is she has a great-grandfather who went to Gallipoli.

“I also had two grandfathers in World War II. Jack O'Connell went to Egypt and returned safely home. Ernest Turley went to the Solomon Islands and returned home.”

She said her “Poppa”, Ernest, stopped taking part in Anzac Day after he was spat on while marching during a parade.

“He died without knowing how grateful we are for their sacrifice both in lives lost and in lives changed and how we respect their sacrifices.”

“I wish Nana and Poppa were alive today to see the celebrations.”

She said she hopes Masterton comes out to support the parade.

“It's such a great thing.”

Further research from Mr Winter details that Foster Wellington was the son of John and Emmaline Wellington, who came to New Zealand as Scandinavian settlers.

Foster died in 1950, while Lillian died in the Tangiwai disaster on December 24th, 1953.

• Leaving for the Front (Facebook page).

www.nzherald.co.nz/wairarapa-times-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503414&objectid=11306134

[kiwitone]

Hi, I have a friend going to this ..will ask her to send me pics and post them.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

from the Wairarapa Times-Age....

Family to retrace Wairarapa march to war

By VOMLE SPRINGFORD | 7:13AM - Thursday, February 26, 2015


Members of the 20th Reinforcements marching across the Rimutakas on their way to Trentham.

DESCENDANTS of World War I soldiers who trained at the Featherston Military Camp are being invited to walk a journey their ancestors took in a re-enactment march this spring.

The reliving of the gruelling walk the soldiers took from Featherston, up and over the Rimutaka Hill before heading out on boats to serve overseas, is being held as a special centennial commemoration. It will take place on September 27th.

Former army chef Robert “Tweet” Bird came up with the idea, and said he was inspired “quite simply” by a photo.

The photo was of soldiers from members of B Company of the 22nd reinforcement group marching over the hill in 1917.

“I thought to myself that is an impressive photo and those soldiers are marching into the unknown,” said Mr Bird, who joined the NZ Army as a regular cadet before he was posted to serve in the Vietnam War.

He said it would be poignant to remember the men and women who trained in Featherston who left for the front and never returned.

Infantry usually trained between six to eight weeks there while mounted riflemen and artillerymen did virtually all of their training at the camp.

During this time groups of 2,000 soldiers would march over the Rimutaka Hill to ships bound for World War I.

Of the 60,000 soldiers, 17,000 servicemen and women were killed overseas.

“As part of this special World War I commemoration we are calling for descendants of these brave people to help us re-enactment the amazing march they completed ... the last march they ever completed on New Zealand soil,” said Mr Bird.

At a special launch at the Returned Services Association in Featherston yesterday, Mr Bird outlined his plans for the re-enactment.

The walk will be completed in three stages.

Stage one will begin at dawn at the site of the former Featherston Military camp and see descendants of World War I veterans march the 2.9km into Featherston to lay a wreath. They will then march 10.8km up the Rimutaka Hill to the summit where they will have breakfast and unveil a newly created remembrance memorial. Then they will march the 8.9km down the Wellington side of the hill to finish at Kaitoke.

Following the march, participants will be ferried into Upper Hutt where they will march through the streets before laying a second wreath at the Upper Hutt Town Hall.

Following this, the group will head to the Trentham Army Camp where there will be an Open Day with displays from members of the Defence Forces.

Colonel Nick Gillard from 1 Brigade of the NZ Defence Force said they would have 50 members taking part.

South Wairarapa mayor Adrienne Staples said it was probably the most important project in decades.

“For South Wairarapa and Featherston in particular this is very dear to their heart.”

• People who believe they have a link with soldiers from World War I can check online at ONLINE CENOTAPH.

• To register your interest, contact Mr Bird, on 027 4439 044 or email: [e-mail].

• Donations towards the running of this event can be made on GiveALittle.co.nz.

If your ancestor was in the infantry and joined up between September 1915 and May 1918 it is likely he will have done ‘The Crossing’. The first group to march was the 7th Reinforcement and the last was the 38th Reinforcement, if your ancestor was part of any reinforcement group between these numbers it is likely he marched.

www.nzherald.co.nz/wairarapa-times-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503414&objectid=11408159