Lone piper sets the Anzac Day tone

Lone piper Tim Scotland at Mt View Cemetery, Marton. Photo Lin Ferguson

It was the third year of an Anzac Day commemoration at Marton's Mount View Cemetery.

Under clear skies and bright sunshine, the 9am gathering was about nostalgia and emotions rather than a formal service.

Organised by the Marton and Districts Pipe Band, yesterday was orchestrated by the pipes and drums with spine chilling minutes as a lone piper Tim Scotland played standing on the crest of a small hill overlooking the cemetery.

As he played, around 60 people bowed their heads with their own words in prayers of remembrance.

The full band had led the way into the cemetery before forming a circle and playing Amazing Grace and Abide with Me.

Ninety four year old World War II veteran Duncan Hart said the Mt View remembrance was a "lovely thing."

"It has a special nostalgia of its own."

Mr Hart left his home in Marton aged just 20 with the New Zealand Army 18th Armoured Tank Command for Cassino in Northern Italy.

"There's only four of us left now.

"We met up in Cassino two-and-half years ago."

Marton RSA president Alan Buckendahl said the Mt View Cemetery remembrance had become "a fine part" of Marton's Anzac Day.

Another small but an old Anzac remembrance service was held at Turakina School.

In the school library Turakina Community Board chairwoman Laurel Mauchline-Campbell led the service for a group of around 40 people.

Two Whanganui Girls College Year 12 students Jennifer Churchhouse and Angela Lawrence spoke of what Anzac Day meant to young people.

"Many young people had left school to enlist to go war and many never came back. They never got to grow up and the few that did return had their lives wrecked forever,"said Jennifer.

Angela read the poem In Flanders Fields composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915 during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium.

After a rousing version of God Defend New Zealand everyone went outside to the flag pole and small cenotaph to place wreaths and poppies.