A cross for every man
When the crosses for the fallen soldiers are placed in front of the Lumsden War Memorial, the reality of war hits home for Returned Services’ Association member Evan Hankey.
For 45 years, Hankey has been attending Anzac Day services having served in the New Zealand Army as part of compulsory military training, then later in the Territorial Force.
During the Lumsden service, students from Lumsden Primary School and Northern Southland College placed crosses in front of the Lumsden War Memorial for the 53 soldiers who died serving the country from the town.
It was the crosses that really hit home for Hankey, showing the number of people from Lumsden alone that had gone, he said.
‘‘It makes you realise there’s a man for every one [cross].’’
Lumsden Returned Services’ Association president Jim Bottcher said the club only had two returned servicemen among its membership, with the remainder made up by former soldiers who were conscripted or served in the territorial forces.
During the past few years, Bottcher has seen an increase in the number of people turning up to the Anzac Day services. For Presbyterian minister Mike Kirkby-Sing, it was the first time he had led an Anzac Day service. He had moved into the community in December to take up a role with the Lumsden Balfour Kingston Presbyterian Church.
It was important to him to highlight the sacrifices of the soldiers who had served while not glorifying war.