Crowd tipped for Anzac service at Tinui

READY TO WALK: The opening of the new track to the Tinui Anzac Cross last November.PHOTO/FILE

If you can't get to Gallipoli, you are most welcome at Tinui.

Tinui Anzac Trust chairman Alan Emerson says this year's Anzac service at Tinui will be its biggest yet, in keeping with the 100-year commemorations since New Zealand troops fought at Gallipoli.

Tinui was the first place in the world to commemorate Anzac Day, at 7.30am on April 26, 1916, a year after the landings.

Mr Emerson said their guest speaker this year would be Robert Davies, a former army sergeant major, New Zealand's highest NCO ranking.

Mr Davies enlisted in the army as a regular force cadet and served in Vietnam and as a United Nations peacekeeper in Sinai.

He also served a tour of Malaysia and two in Singapore with the 1st Battalion, New Zealand Infantry Regiment.

On retiring from the army, Mr Davies was employed by the Security Intelligence Service. He was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1987 and received the Meritorious Service Medal in 1993.

This year will see a fly-past of vintage aircraft over Tinui and the Anzac Bridge at Kaiparoro.

Attending will be soldiers from Linton army base and air force officers from Ohakea.

The Te Runga Air Scouts will be in attendance as will the Manawatu Pipe Band.

The track to the cross will be open so people can retrace the steps of the first Anzac service 99 years ago.

The service starts at 10.30am.