Commemorations for the 100-year anniversary of the Armistice signing went off with a bang as Tapawera hosted the nostalgic event near the site of a Regional Military Training Camp.
People came from far and wide to attend the 3-day event which has been many months in the making. Even a tortoise named Torty flew down for the occasion. Torty was brought to New Zealand in a suitcase by kiwi medic Stewart Little.
After finding her wounded in Salonica, Stewart nursed her back to health and sneaked her into his backpack to board the SS Marama for home. She is New Zealand’s last remaining survivor of WW1 and was honoured at the event by being made a life member of the Tapawera RSA.
Richmond Waimea RSA president Ross Norgate says it was great that Torty was there because it gave the kids something to relate to from a century ago.
“It’s unbelievable that there is still a living creature from the end of the first world war.”
Chris Little, Stewart’s grandson, says his grandfather would have been ‘tickled pink’ about the honour.
Organiser Sarah Arnold says the number of people reconnecting with family members and making links to the war and the Tapawera camp was increasing.