Kiwis remember colleagues on Anzac Day

Colleagues and friends farewelled Private Kirifi Mila during a service at Kiwi Base, Afghanistan. Photo / Supplied by NZ Defence Force

New Zealand troops based in Afghanistan reflected on the deaths of two comrades killed in that country in the past year as they celebrated Anzac Day today.

It was the 96th anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers at Gallipoli, Turkey, and, while New Zealanders rose for 6am dawn services, troops in Afghanistan started their commemorations when the sun rose at 4.30am, Lieutenant Colonel Hugh McAslan told NZPA.

The service at Kiwi Base in the Bamyan province included the laying of a wreath, the playing of the Last Post and the singing of the national anthem, he said.

"Today the guys are in very good spirits.

"For the guys...it was an opportunity to reflect and think about home and, in particular, remember the two Kiwis who lost their lives up here in the provincial reconstruction team in the last nine months," Lt Col McAslan said.

Private Kirifi Mila lost his life when the army Humvee he was travelling in left a road in Bamyan province, plunging 30m down a hill in February. Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell was killed when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb last August.

The day was traditionally a holiday for New Zealanders - although not today as it fell on Easter Monday - but work continued as normal for the troops in Afghanistan.

"It'll be a long day and we won't be doing any normal type of celebrations that normally occur in New Zealand," Lt Col McAslan said.

Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Rhys Jones represented the Defence Force at services at Gallipoli, which was also attended by Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully.

About 4000 people, including many New Zealanders attended the service, which has just taken place.

A memorial for New Zealand soldiers who died at nearby Chunuk Bair was due to start early evening New Zealand time.

The commander for the New Zealand Defence Force contingent, Lieutenant Commander Karl Gill, said it was moving to see people from New Zealand, Australia and Turkey remember the events together, Radio New Zealand reported.

"While so many who came here remain, most in graves unknown, their spirit drives us to this day."

Also commemorating the day overseas was Prime Minister John Key, who joined residents of Le Quesnoy in France in their annual celebrations before heading for London.

Le Quesnoy Mayor Paul Roault recalled the heroic action taken by New Zealand soldiers in the last days of World War 1 in November 1918, to relieve the town of German occupation.

Mr Key described the story of how the riflemen of the New Zealand infantry courageously mounted the fortified walls of the town as "a story worth retelling".

"Being united in honouring our forebears who fought for us was deeply moving," Mr Key said.

Meanwhile, the cold temperatures and wild wet weather did not deter tens of thousands of New Zealanders from getting out of bed to gather for dawn services nationwide.

However, planned air force flyovers were cancelled due to the low cloud.

Veterans' Affairs Minister Judith Collins paid tribute to veterans who served New Zealand in the name of peace and freedom.

Ms Collins joined veterans and members of the public in commemorating Anzac Day at services in Papakura and at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

"On this special day, we pay tribute to those who stepped ashore at Gallipoli 96 years ago and who will forever be in our memory," she said.

"Those men, many of whom did not survive the Gallipoli campaign, or who were badly wounded, helped forge the Anzac spirit that lives on in New Zealanders and Australians today."

In Wellington, heavy overnight rain eased in time for the start of the 5.45am service at the Cenotaph as an estimated 3000 people, including old soldiers, dignitaries and the Turkish Ambassador to New Zealand gathered.

The ambassador, Ali Yakital, told the service he was filled with special emotion at being part of the Dawn Service marking the anniversary of the battle of Gallipoli.

He said great mutual respect had grown out of the horrors of war.

In Christchurch, there was no service at Cathedral Square for the first time in living memory because of the damage caused by February's earthquake.

Instead dignitaries, veterans and the public gathered at Hagley Park.

The Christchurch service was one of the few in the country which was not dampened by rain but the numbers were down, Canterbury District RSA president Patrick Duggan said.

"There were about 600 people in the parade but it's usually around 800 to 900. I put that down to a couple of things, our World War 2 guys aren't getting any younger and the extra distance they had to come this morning may have put a few of them off."

Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand addressed the crowd there.

In Dunedin Lox Kellas, RSA Anzac Day services convenor, told NZPA about 3000 people, from school children to veterans, attended the service. There was a large turnout of defence and emergency services.

- NZPA