KEY POINTS:
A trip to Belgium by whanau to honour a soldier killed in World War 1 turned to tragedy when one of the group fell out of a hotel window to her death.
Family spokesman Piri Sciascia, from Wellington, said the group of nearly 40 descendents of Sergeant Charles Rangiwawahia Sciascia were preparing to honour him on July 31 when the incident happened at Ieper (formerly called Ypres).
Mr Sciascia said Kit Perawiti, 71, of Levin, died after falling from her hotel window in the early hours of the morning.
"The accident came as a huge shock to those family members travelling and to those who remain at home," he said. "In dealing with the impact of the tragedy, the pilgrimage group made the difficult but collective decision to continue on."
Sgt Sciascia, a Maori All Black, is documented as last going into battle at La Basse Ville on July 31, 1917.
He was the son of an Italian father and Maori mother who left New Zealand in 1914 and served at Gallipoli and in France before being sent to the western front in Belgium. He was 25 when reported missing in action.
Mr Sciascia said there was a monument for New Zealand soldiers in the town of Comines-Warneton and as part of a tribute the group read out wartime letters Sgt Sciascia and his brother Jack had written to their sister, Margaret.
While the tribute was successful, Mr Sciascia said the death had added another dimension to the journey and made it a "bittersweet" experience.
He said local officials had made special efforts to accommodate the cultural needs of the whanau and all were grateful for the support they received in Belgium.
"Kit will be returned to Kereru marae at Koputaroa this week for burial at the Puaotau cemetery of Ngati Takihiku and Ngati Ngarongo," Mr Sciascia said.
- NZPA
