Lighting the Lamp of Remembrance

Every year New Zealanders promise to Remember Them.  The question is, how? 

On Sunday 15 October at St David’s Memorial Church in central Auckland, Brigadier Rose King, Deputy Chief of Army, on behalf of Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Kevin Short, will illuminate a Lamp of Remembrance for the very first time.  The Lamp will honour all current and retired members of the New Zealand Defence Force from the Navy, Air Force and Army.  From then on it will be lit 365 days of the year, in perpetuity. 

“It’s about letting veterans from all wars and peace-keeping missions know that we value them, day in and day out, and that this sanctuary in central Auckland is here for them” says Paul Baragwanath, Director of the charitable Trust that now owns St David’s.  “It is thanks to donations from New Zealanders nationwide that we were able to purchase the building.  We pledged that it would continue as a living memorial.  One year later, the doors are opening to Kāhui St David’s, a centre for music, and a sanctuary for our soldiers and veterans from across the New Zealand Defence Force. ” 

The Lamp also commemorates the Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers (RNZE), known as the Sappers.  The Sappers are often the first in, and last out of conflict zones. Their roles include obstacle breaching and emplacement, construction of roads, bridges and buildings, mine clearance and water supply.  15 October marks the RNZE’s 121^st Sappers’ Day, a tradition that reaches back 96 years at St David’s with both WW1 and WW2 Sappers memorialised at St David’s.   

The Sappers’ Day event is for all the Defence services and the public, and will include a formal military parade and musical, all-inclusive remembrance service, and an address by Colonel Paul Curry, Colonel Commandant, RNZE.

Peter Mellalieu, Chair Northern of the New Zealand Sappers’ Association says “the remembrance event also celebrates the newly-restored Sappers’ Chapel, and the installation of stunning tukutuku panels that have been woven by especially by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei weavers to uphold the spirit of this historic building.  The Off Broadway Big Band will play, and we welcome families from all backgrounds to come to support, and enjoy hospitality after the event with our soldiers, sailors and aviators.

Sappers
The motto of the Royal New Zealand Engineers (RNZE), also known as Sappers, is UBIQUE, which means “everywhere”.  On the battle front, they are first in, and last out.  They perform a variety of military engineering duties, such as breaching fortifications, demolitions, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, and road, tunnel and airfield construction and repair. 

The first unit of New Zealand Engineers to be raised was the Canterbury Volunteer Engineer Company, formed in 1865. Permanent New Zealand Defence Force Engineers evolved from the Torpedo and Engineer Corps. On 15^th October 1902, No 2 Service Company, New Zealand Permanent Militia was granted the dignity and name of Royal New Zealand Engineers, which with Royal Assent, was changed to the Corps of Royal NZ Engineers, RNZE on 3 September 1903.

LIGHTING THE LAMP OF REMEMBRANCE
10:30 - 11:30 (doors open at 10am for 10.30am start)
St David's Memorial Church
70 Khyber Pass Road, Uptown, Auckland

TICKETS
General Admission - suggested koha $10.00
Veterans and children under 18yrs FREE
Suitable for all ages.

For more information visit: https://www.rememberthem.nz/