Military man returning to unveil statue

Former Bay man Colonel Grant Motley will be in the region this weekend for the Gallipoli centenary commemorations. Photo / Supplied

An army colonel is returning home to unveil a statue of one of New Zealand's great military leaders.

Colonel Grant Motley has strong links to the army regiment commanded at Gallipoli by Napier-born Major General Sir Andrew Russell.

Mr Motley is a Hastings Boys' High School old boy and was quick to volunteer to return home to take part in the local Gallipoli centennial Anzac commemorations.

He is the current Regimental Colonel of the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps which traces its history back to local World War I military commander Major General Sir Andrew Russell and the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade.

"Sir Andrew led the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade deployed to Gallipoli and, in many ways, he was a patriarch of the modern Armoured Corps because it evolved from the Mounted Rifles. In fact, the current day Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles which includes the Wellington (East Coast) Mounted Rifles Regiment (now a Squadron based at Linton Camp near Palmerston North) was led by Sir Andrew prior to 1914."

Colonel Motley said Sir Andrew was one of New Zealand's great military leaders.

"He has largely been underrated and overshadowed in our military history by the likes of Freyberg and Kippenberger of World War II fame which is unfortunate given his outstanding leadership at Gallipoli and later on the Western Front during World War I."

Colonel Motley said he was honoured to be attending this year's Anzac Day and was looking forward to being part of the centennial celebrations and overseeing the unveiling of Sir Andrew Russell's statue in Civic Square.

Also attending will be 15 soldiers from the Wellington East Coast Squadron of Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles " keeping alive a connection that has endured for over a 100 years.

The Squadron has the freedom of the city giving them the right to bear arms and parade through Hastings. Two Gurhkas from the British Army will also be attending Anzac Day this year in tribute to the many conflicts in which Gurhkas have fought side by side with New Zealanders.