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ANZAC DAY, AT HOME AND ABROAD
More than 30,000 New Zealand military personnel have been killed in wars and conflicts since 1915, with the ongoing struggle for a more peaceful world still happening today.
Acting Chief of Defence Force Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies, who took part in the Dawn Service and National Commemoration at Pukeahu National War Memorial in Wellington, said Anzac Day was a time to reflect on the past, while also thinking about those currently serving.
A number of soldiers were overseas for Anzac Day this year including a contingent in Gallipoli, with other agencies supporting those events in Türkiye.
Many personnel marked Anzac Day in different time zones too, with a wide variety of services attended.
The NZDF contingent deployed to the UK to train Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel congregated during a Field Training Exercise to conduct an Anzac Day Dawn Service, paying their respects to their forebears.
Personnel serving as United Nations Military Observers in Lebanon attended Anzac Day services with Australian colleagues at the Commonwealth war grave cemetery in Beirut, and personnel with Observer Group Golan attended Anzac Day commemorations in Jerusalem.
Services were attended by personnel deployed in the Middle East, and in Japan personnel attended a service near Yokosuka.
In South Sudan, NZDF personnel attended a Dawn Service with Australian and Turkish personnel deployed to the United Nations Mission. The NZDF and Australian Defence Force personnel hosted a combined breakfast to mark and commemorate this occasion with other mission members.
The New Zealand contingent in Korea attended dawn services in Seoul, at the War Memorial of Korea. Ten personnel observed Anzac Day alongside members of the Australian Defence Force posted to Korea and the United Nations Command, with select personnel involved in the service.
This year the service coincided with the 73rd commemorations of the Battle of Imjin River, and the Battle of Gapyeong, both pivotal engagements for many Commonwealth forces involved in the Korean War.
