White cross for each World War I casualty

NEVER TO FORGET: Henley Men's Shed members John Harvey (left), Kevin Ball, Sharon Richards and Dave Burton get stuck in to help paint 560 crosses as part of the Field of Remembrance Trust White Crosses Project for World War I centenary commemorations.

Sharon Richards knows what it is like to live with the after-effects of war - her father was a prisoner of war.

The Henley Men's Shed member has been helping to paint 560 wooden crosses which will bear the names of every Wairarapa person killed in World War I as part of the Field of Remembrance Trust White Crosses Project centenary commemorations.

Mrs Richards said her father had been a prisoner of war during World War II and it was important we never forgot the sacrifices made by those who fought for our freedom.

"I know exactly what it's like to live with the effects of war. It wasn't easy for them or for those left behind," she said.

She treasures a Gallipoli medal given to her by a dear friend and feels elated to be helping remember those who fought in the war.

"I feel I'm doing something very little for them because we can never do enough. We wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for them fighting for us," she said.

Henley Men's Shed co-ordinator John Bush said the 560 crosses represented every Wairarapa person killed in World War I and were part of a joint project between the Masterton, Featherston and Greytown men's sheds to add to the national project.

Each cross will bear the name of a Wairarapa person killed during the war.

The crosses will be stored and kept for the future, used at Anzac commemorations throughout the region from this year and added to the 10,800 on display in 2018 for Armistice Day at Westpac Stadium - acknowledging the end of the war. "A cross will commemorate every person from New Zealand who gave their life because we should never forget their sacrifice," he said.