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New Zealand's Tomb of the Unknown Warrior |
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Images from NZ Ministry for Culture and Heritage & NZ Defence Force |
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The Tomb Guards |
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The Journey Home...at last. 11 November 1918 to 11 November 2004. |
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New Zealand Digger started in order to serve as a focus of remembrance
for the sacrifice made by all New Zealand servicemen and women. The
Ministry for Culture and Heritage led the project to repatriate the body
of an unknown warrior for burial in the new Tomb of the Unknown Warrior
at the National War Memorial in Buckle Street, Wellington. The
ceremonial programme was probably the largest commemorative programme
ever undertaken in New Zealand.
The Unknown Warrior is one of over 250,000 New Zealanders who served in overseas wars. He is one of 30,000 who died in service. He is one of over 9000 who have no known grave or whose remains could never be recovered. The remains were chosen by the Commission from the First World War Caterpillar Valley Cemetery in the Somme region of France as this was an area where the greatest number of the various New Zealand regiments and battalions are known to have fought. As the soldier's name, rank, regiment, race, religion and other details are unknown, he represents and honours all New Zealanders who became lost to their families in war. |
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The French Honour Guard |
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| Wording on the Memorial: In Honour of the men of the New Zealand Division. First battle of The Somme 1916. |
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The journey started with a ceremony at the NZ Memorial to the men of the NZ Division, 1st battle of the Somme. Maori, French and NZ Service personnel took part. A "Handover Ceremony" took place on Saturday 6 November at the New Zealand Memorial site near the village of Longueval, France. The ceremony marked the official return of the Unknown Warrior from the care of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission into the care of New Zealand . |
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The NZ Honour Guard at Unknown Warrior's Arrival at Parliament, Wellington, 10 November 2004 |
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The casket enters the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Wellington NZ |
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| The New Zealand Unknown Warrior came home on a Boeing 757, a plane that was beyond the imagination of World War 1 Diggers who were still in awe of 2 seater bi-planes flying overhead. |
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The medals of the NZ Unknown Warrior |
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Medals & badges awarded to the Unknown |
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NZ 1939-45 War Service medal |
NZ Operational Service Medal |
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The (RNZRSA) Badge in Gold was
instituted in 1920 with the first recipient being His Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, and significantly, the
presentation was conducted in the very Chamber that the award was made
to the Unknown.
Since that time the list of recipients has grown to include Monarchs, Governors-General, Prime Ministers, Military Commanders and RSA rank and file members who have selflessly dedicated their lives to the Association and the well-being of the veteran community in general. |
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currently (2005) six living holders of the Badge in Gold.
The Badge in Gold is a fitting tribute because the Unknown Warrior paid the ultimate price for his service and now he is finally returned. In the Association’s 88–year history, the Unknown Warrior is the 60th and the first posthumous recipient of the Badge in Gold. It is also the most significant, because it is awarded in remembrance of all those New Zealand servicemen and women who died, and are buried in foreign lands, in the service of their country. Part quotation (edited) of the speech by John Campbell RNZRSA National President |
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