Girls' College creates memorial for Tauranga's WWI dead

Rose Barker, 17, has been helping create a field of crosses at Tauranga Girls' College. Photo / John Borren

A field of crosses put up at Tauranga Girls' College yesterday has already generated interest from the community.

The 110 crosses, one for each Tauranga soldier killed in World War I, were researched, built, painted and erected by different departments in the school. Each cross will bear a soldier's service number, rank, initials and surname.

After a blessing yesterday morning, the crosses were put into the ground near the office, bordering Cameron Rd.

Project co-ordinator Murray Armstrong said members of the public had already taken an interest, with people slowing down for a look and one person requesting to get a photo with one of the crosses.

Deputy head girl Rose Barker, 17, has been involved with the project and said as a history student, it was "touching" to have a visual reminder of how many Tauranga soldiers died in WWI.

"It's nice for us to show this to the public and show the younger generations what it's all about."

Tomorrow, the school will hold its own Gallipoli remembrance service with Tauranga RSA representatives, iwi representatives, Reverend John Hebenton and local woman Trish MacDonald, whose uncle is remembered on one of the crosses.