Sunday November 4, Elsdorf, Germany

November 04, 2018

Sunday November 4, Elsdorf, Germany

It has been a very special morning when we have felt so proud to be kiwis. The weather couldn’t be better, rather crisp but sun all day and beautiful golden autumn leaves everywhere. We walked into town at 9.30 and followed a group from Belgium dressed in old army uniforms. People were streaming into town from everywhere, filling the cafes and just about everyone had a kiwi accent.

The main ceremony took place at the Memorial but it was only possible to have the official guests and direct descendants seated there, for everyone else there was a big heated marquee with huge screens broadcasting the service, and we weren’t sure if we were going to be able to be seated there. But no sooner had we got near the gates than NZ army personnel spotted us and gave us a lanyard and told us to go on through. Just wonderful. The tent seated 700 and being early we were able to get seats near the front and received a souvenir program and postcard. While we were waiting for the proceedings to start we chatted with people around us before a music program was presented by the NZ Defence Force Maori Cultural Group and a soloist.

The official party arrived including our Governor General Patsy Reddy who welcomed us all before they walked through the Memorial Garden for the service. It was a great service and there were many misty eyes as the NZ National Anthem was played with the crowd in the marquee joined in the singing. During her speech, Patsy Reddy mentioned that 10% of NZ’s population came to Europe to fight in the First World War, I had never heard these figures before and it really hit home. By just after midday the service was over and the visitors in the marquee could walk through to the memorial and lay wreathes if the had them.

We returned to the camper though as we needed to get on the road for Elsdorf in Germany and wanted to be there before it got too dark. It really was a morning that we won’t forget and are so pleased that we came. We had a good drive through, Jilly set the route which was mainly on the motorways and would have loved to have taken some of the lesser roads but we would never have made it in daylight. Parked up in Fischer’s Yard, plugged into electricity to run the heater and will be ready to see them when they open at 8 in the morning and hopefully they are able to look at our water heater.

….Update, surprise visitors tonight, Conny and Hitten arrived to say hello…and came bearing a bottle of bubbles!!! Just great to see them, they are just like family for us in Europe.