Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) Carlo De Negri, of Tūrangi, is aiming to “close a little family loop” by travelling to Gallipoli in Turkey for Anzac Day commemorations.
De Negri is a career soldier who is making the trip to pay his respects to his great-grand-uncle, Teira Meti Kingi, who died in 1915 at Chunuk Bair.
Other members of the family also saw active service, including another great grand uncle, Henare Mete Kingi, who was killed in the Battle of the Somme, and De Negri’s great-grandfather, Nga Paki Mete Kingi who survived service at Gallipoli.
De Negri was able to commemorate Henare Mete Kingi during the 2016 Somme centenary commemorations in France and now looked forward to marking the service of his great-grandfather, who returned to New Zealand after his tour.
“My great-grandfather named his two daughters after the areas where his brothers passed away – Fleur is my great-aunt and my nanna is Dardenella, named after the Dardenelles.”