Anzac Day tragedy - helicopter crash kills three people in Wellington, NZ...

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Anzac Day tragedy - helicopter crash kills three people in Wellington, NZ...



Helicopter crashes in darkness and thick fog on the way to Anzac Day commerations in Wellington, New Zealand...



Three people are dead after an Air Force Iroquois crashed in dark and foggy conditions north of Wellington



An Air Force helicopter has crashed in farmland in Pukerua Bay, north of Wellington, killing three  people.



The Iroquois was en route from Ohakea to Anzac Day commemorations in Wellington.



Local woman Pamela says she thought something was wrong when she heard the helicopter flying over. She says she hears helicopters overhead quite often, and was worried when she realised how low the blades of this one were. Pamela says rescue helicopters are circling the area, and as she was speaking, she was walking down her farm track to see if she could help in any way.



Another local woman can see the crash site, which is a few hundred metres from her home in Pukerua Bay.



She says it looks as if the aircraft went straight into a hill, and it is now hardly recognisable.



The crash happened in darkness and thick fog.



There is  one survivors, who is critically injured  and was taken to hopital.



Apparently there was no fire when the aircraft went down.



Acknowledgements: © 2010 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

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Anzac Day occurs on 25 April each year - it commemorates all of New Zealand's war dead...

Anzac Day occurs on 25 April each year.. It commemorates all New Zealanders killed in war and also honours returned servicemen and women



The date itself marks the anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers – the Anzacs – on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. The aim was to capture the Dardanelles, the gateway to the Bosphorus and the Black Sea. At the end of the campaign, Gallipoli was still held by its Turkish defenders.



Thousands lost their lives in the Gallipoli campaign: 87,000 Turks, 44,000 men from France and the British Empire, including 8500 Australians. To this day, Australia also marks the events of 25 April. Among the dead were 2721 New Zealanders, almost one in four of those who served on Gallipoli.



It may have led to a military defeat, but for many New Zealanders then and since, the Gallipoli landings meant the beginning of something else – a feeling that New Zealand had a role as a distinct nation, even as it fought on the other side of the world in the name of the British Empire.



Anzac Day was first marked in 1916. The day has gone through many changes since then. The ceremonies that are held at war memorials up and down New Zealand, or in places overseas where New Zealanders gather, remain rich in tradition and ritual befitting a military funeral.


Support for Anzac Day within New Zealand has been growing in recent years, and increasing numbers of young people have become not only interested in our past, but are also supporting their families by attending dawn parades and other commemorative activities. Many younger New Zealanders have been attending  the ceremonies at Gallipoli in Turkey, the scene of the landings at what is now called Anzac Cove.

Anzac Day is an opportunity to remember the sacrifices made by our young servicemen and women in all wars since the Gallipoli campaign in the First World, 1914-18, the Second World War, 1939-45, and the Korean War in the early 1950's,  the Malayan emergency in the early 1960's,the Vietnam War from the mid 1960's to early 1970's, and a number of other conflicts including East Timor and Afghanistan. So far there have been no serious injuries or deaths in the latter, but the longer they become involved, the chances are increased. Whenever and wherever we will always remember them!

NZ History

Anzac Day 2009 in New Zealand tomorrow...

Anzac Day 2009: We Will Remember Them:

Anzac Day commemorates all New Zealanders killed in war and honours returned servicemen and women.

Anzac Day is observed with remembrance services till 1 pm, followed by a relaxed holiday afternoon. The Dawn Service is today the most popular of the Anzac Day observances. Wreath-laying ceremonies in remembrance for fallen soldiers will take place at war memorials and RSA buildings around the country.

The date itself marks the anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers – the ANZACs – on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. The aim was to capture the Dardanelles, the gateway to the Bosphorus and the Black Sea.

Thousands lost their lives in the campaign, among the dead were 2721 New Zealanders, almost one in four of those who served on Gallipoli.

At the end of the campaign, Gallipoli was still held by its Turkish defenders.

There are now no veterans left from Gallipoli or the First World War. Bright Williams, who passed away in 2003, was the last, and the number of Second World War veterans becomes fewer each year. Many young New Zealanders now attend the services. Some wear the medals their grandparents and great-grandparents won during war.

Remember those who gave everything for their country on Anzac Day, April 25th 2009.

Acknowledgements:
Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association

Read here

Tomorrow is Anzac Day in NZ and Aussie...

I posted about ANZAC Day down under a few weeks ago, when we honour our fallen heroes from all wars on April 25 every year.

In Returned Services Association clubs in New Zealand, and Returned Services League clubs in Australia - up and down and way across each country, returned services personnel and their families will attend 'dawn parades' and return to their clubs to socialise and have a drink in memory of those who have passed on.

Most countries have similar memorials, but Anzac Day just keeps getting stronger as the youth of both countries continue to take an interest in the past, and consider why their ancestors were prepared to give up their lives for King and Country ninety years ago in a land on the other side of the globe.

Each year hundreds of New Zealanders and Australians make the pilgrimage to Gallipoli in Turkey where the ANZACS stormed ashore under fire in what is now called Anzac Cove, and visit the memorials and cemetries of fallen New Zealanders, Australians, British, Indians, and Turks as well.