Anzac Day Reflections: A Family Story of Service, Sacrifice, and Legacy

adeercottage
Apr 29
5 min read

A personal reflection on Anzac Day, family history, and the bonds that connect us across time and space.

Hello, it’s Angela here again from A Deer Cottage, our bed and breakfast in Kaukapakapa, Auckland. This month’s blog holds a very special significance for me — it’s all about Anzac Day, a time of reflection, remembrance, and connection across generations.— one of the most important and emotional days for Australians and New Zealanders alike. This blog holds deep personal meaning, as I share our family’s connection to Anzac Day — a story of service, remembrance, and a very special honour for my great great grandmother. Join me in reflecting on this sacred day and the ties that bind generations together.

Join us as we remember, reflect, and honour the sacrifices of those who came before us

Anzac Day is always a time of deep reflection, but this year was especially meaningful. Our son, who serves in the Royal New Zealand Infantry, was home with us. Although my husband, Te Kani, was on crutches and unable to march, our son proudly took part in the Dawn Parade at Browns Bay. Later that morning, we attended the Civil Service at Birkenhead, where he marched again while Te Kani and I watched from the sidelines, filled with pride.

After the service, we made our way to the Birkenhead RSA (Royal New Zealand Returned Services’ Association) for a wonderful buffet lunch and an afternoon of vibrant entertainment — including a pipe band, some nostalgic “Dad’s Army” skits and singing, lively line dancing, and continuous music. It was a perfect opportunity for Te Kani to reconnect with old friends, and for our son to meet others who share his passion for service. It was a day filled with memories, pride and gratitude.

Honouring the past, embracing the present, and hoping for peace in the future

While at the RSA, an old colleague invited Te Kani to visit Waitoki School and speak to the students about Anzac Day and life in the Defence Force. We had a lovely morning with the children,Te Kani and his old Navy mate Dave, shared a few meaningful stories, and the children were engaged and curious, asking thoughtful questions. It was a beautiful way to connect with the next generation, sharing the significance of service and sacrifice with them.

Anzac Day always stirs powerful memories for me, especially of my late mother. She spent many years searching for a Queen Elisabeth of Belgium’s Medal that was to have been awarded to my great great grandmother, Mary Ann Wick, for her incredible efforts during World War I. Sadly, when Mum passed away, only the Citation had been found — not the medal itself.

Mary Ann had lived at her property, Te Pōhutukawa, in Takapuna, where she dug up her backyard to grow flowers and vegetables. She sold them to raise money for Belgian soldiers wounded in the war. Sadly, she passed away on January 18, 1918, just a few weeks after learning she would be honoured, while her son Jack was still fighting in Belgium.

In an incredible twist of fate, during a 2016 trip to Belgium — where Te Kani was leading a contingent for Anzac commemorations — he met up with former Belgium Naval Officer and WWI historian, Freddy Declerck. During the Dawn Service, Mr. Declerck surprised Te Kani by presenting him with an original Queen Elisabeth Medal, awarded posthumously to Mary Ann Wick.

Mary Ann’s son, who became known as Anzac Jack, was serving overseas during the War. While he was away, he wrote heartfelt letters to his mother, recounting his experiences on the frontlines. These letters are not only precious family mementos but also a testament to his deep bond with his mother and his commitment to his duty. A collection of these letters, along with his story, is featured in a book called Anzac Jack, which is available both online and throughout New Zealand. It’s a moving account of a soldier’s life during WWI, and it’s incredible to see how their connection and love transcended the distance and dangers of war.

During this trip, Freddy also uncovered an incredible detail, to our astonishment, Freddy discovered that my grandfather, James Gilbert and Te Kani’s, great grandfather, William Friar, one from Dunedin and the other from Waikato — had served in the same D Company, a Company of just 200 men. They were both wounded on the same day at Bellevue and ended up in the same hospital, and "sure as eggs" they would have known each other!

I like to think that perhaps our grandfathers had a hand in Te Kani’s and my love story — bringing us together across the generations, just as they had once fought side by side, eighty years earlier, meeting decades before we did. It’s a beautiful, even serendipitous story.

Anzac Day to me is a day of remembrance, reflection, and deep gratitude, time to reflect on those who served and sacrificed, and to honour their legacy. Having a son and husband still active in the Military, I can only hope that peacekeeping will be the only mission they go on in the future.

To finish, I’d love to share a special poem written by my great uncle, Dr. Rowan Nicks — Mary Ann Wick’s grandson — about Te Pōhutukawa, her garden in Takapuna.