Students from Muritai School joined retired service personnel and members of the public in an Armistice Day service to remember those that died during the war.
The Eastbourne community gathered at the war memorial last Tuesday to pay tribute to the personnel who gave their lives during World War One. By Chrys Ayley The 90th anniversary of the end of World War One was commemorated at Eastbourne?s war memorial last Tuesday morning - November 11. Students from Muritai School joined retired service personnel and members of the public in an Armistice Day service to remember those that died during the war. A small group of men and women, many proudly bearing medals, led the parade to the memorial gates at 10.45am. Students of Muritai School gathered at the memorial and performed a rousing haka. Retired aircraft technician Stan Whitehead, an Eastbourne resident for about 50 years, said after the memorial service that the children were wonderful. ?It brought tears to my eyes but I get a wee bit emotional.? Mr Whitehead served in the RAF in England in the 1940s but only saw two years service. After the war he was posted to Palestine and not long after moved to New Zealand. Eastbourne Memorial Returned Services Club president Rae Walsh reminded the guests that 35 Eastbourne personnel died in the ?war to end all wars?. New Zealand lost nearly 18,000 personnel and their remains still lie in battlefields like Gallipoli and the Somme, Mr Walsh said. Past president of the EMRSA Peter Baker together with vice-president Sharleen Ray placed a wreath at the foot of the memorial on behalf of all Eastbourne residents. Muritai School pupil Lulu Carter, 13, helped Jack Crawford lower the flag and said it was important to remember all those people who gave their life in World War one. The tribute was good, she said. ?Sad but very good.? Mr Walsh who wore his father?s medals at the service praised the children for their performance. The club has 125 members but numbers of returned service personnel have dwindled to 17 or 18, he said. ?It was quite symbolic for a small village,? he said. Muritai School raise and lower the flag at the war memorial every day.