Monument mooted for WWI camp

PREPARING: Featherston Military Training Camp was home to thousands of New Zealand servicemen preparing for duty overseas in World War I. PHOTO/WAIRARAPA ARCHIVES

A group of Featherston people is seeking to mark the historical significance of the 60,000 servicemen who trained for World War I in South Wairarapa.

From 1916, the Featherston Military Training Camp was the largest training camp in New Zealand, training thousands who headed overseas, many never to return.

Including satellite camps in Tauherenikau and Papawai, the barracks could accommodate 9850 servicemen at a time, who after completing their training, marched over the Rimutaka Hill Rd to later head off overseas to places like Northern France and Belgium.

The group said there was little remaining in the area to show the camp existed and apart from two small plaques in the Garden of Remembrance, there is nothing to remember the camp's history.

Conscious of the upcoming World War I centenary, the Featherston Camp Memorial Group wrote to South Wairarapa District Council asking for an agreement in principle to install a centrally-placed structure to memorialise the camp's history.

Group spokesman Bernard Jervis said there were no designs as such yet.

"All we are asking for at this stage is for council to support a significant work to mark the importance of the camp that was here, in light of the centenary.

"It's out there on the table now." He said the group believed an appropriate place for it would be in a town square, which has been proposed for the vacant council-owned land on the main street of Featherston.

The group said if placed centrally, it could attract visitors, including relatives and descendants of the soldiers who trained at the camp, boosting the town and the district's economy.

Mr Jervis said while people knew about the camp, it deserved more recognition.

"It was significant, it is of historical value to Featherston, and nationally and internationally."

If council agrees to the proposal the group proposes to work alongside it in promoting the tribute and with sourcing funding. The proposal will be presented to council as part of the draft annual plan consultation which starts on April 16.

Mr Jervis said the project would be open for public consultation and submissions.

"I think as it develops, and hopefully it does, it would be of great interest to people."

The group's proposal is supported by the Anzac Hall Club Society, Featherston Heritage Museum, Wairarapa WW100 Steering Group, Featherston Memorial RSA, Wairarapa Archive, Toi Wairarapa and Glyn Harper, professor of War Studies at Massey University.

Do you think there should be something significant to mark the camp? Vote in our online poll at www.times-age.co.nz