A commemorative service is being held on Howick’s Stockade Hill to mark the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day.
Howick Local Board is partnering with the Howick Returned Services Association (RSA) for the special 11 November event.
“It’s important to remember and commemorate but we also want to celebrate an event that marked the end of the First World War,” says Howick Local Board chair David Collings.
“It is wonderful that the RSA wanted to mark this occasion, which I am sure will be very special, and we wanted to support that.”
Howick RSA’s newly appointed president Ray Sangster says that while some people may go to the large service in the city, he is expecting a great turn out for the Howick event.
“We always get a great crowd for Anzac Day and I believe people will choose to stay local, so we expect a good turnout.
“There is something extra special about having a service up here.”
Past president Mike Cole has been heavily involved in organising the centenary event and says the service will be followed by an open day at the RSA for the public to use the club facilities.
At the same time, he says it is important to remember that while Armistice Day is something to celebrate it is still a sombre occasion.
“More than 18,000 Kiwis died, more than 40,000 were wounded in the war and many never came home. We should never forget that.”
Event details
- 10.45am – Parade falls in
- 10.55am – Parade marches from Mellons Bay Road off to Stockade Hill
- 11am – Service starts on Stockade Hill
About Armistice Day
At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, an armistice was signed that ended the First World War.
New Zealand will be the first in the world to mark the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day. Across Auckland, communities are holding commemorative services acknowledging the time and date the guns finally fell silent.
Armistice Day is sometimes referred to as Remembrance Day.
