Lest We Forget: Armistice Day commemoration plans for Whangārei

The Whangārei RSA will plant another Field of Remembrance with white crosses at Laurie Hall Park in November, to commemorate Armistice Day, which marks the end of World War I.

Lest We Forget.

It's an epitaph used often to remember those who have fallen in combat, and in November it will take on even more significance when the world celebrates Armistice Day 100 years since the end of World War I.

It was dubbed "the War to end all Wars'' due to the horrific death toll of more than 16 million people, and on November 11, at 11am - the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month - the world will bow its head in silence to remember those who didn't return from the war.

In Whangārei, the RSA has plans in place to commemorate Armistice Day - also known as Remembrance Day in the northern hemisphere - at the city's Whangārei Cenotaph and War Memorial in Laurie Hall Park.

On November 4, from 10.30am, the RSA will be putting in 290 white crosses in the Field of Remembrance in front of the War Memorial. The crosses will have the names of the WWI personnel from the district who did not return from war.

The Field of Remembrance at Laurie Hall Park, resonates with students, the public and service personnel alike.

The crosses will be placed by school pupils from the district and as the final cross is put in place the Last Post will be played, then the reciting of the oath and the playing of Reveille. The crosses will stay in place and feature in the Armistice Day commemorations at the War Memorial on November 11.

On Armistice Day marchers will assemble at the north end of Rathbone St at 10.10am, with the march to the Cenotaph starting at 10.30am. The Last Post will be played at exactly 11am and the remembrance service will take about 15 minutes.

Whangārei RSA president Chris Harold said although Anzac Day is New Zealand's main remembrance day, he expects this 100th anniversary of the end of WWI to attract large numbers to the Cenotaph.