|
Fifty two years ago a group of returned servicemen from Auckland’s 21 Battalion formed an Association. Situated in a clubroom in Mt Roskill, this group came to represent everything we hold dear about ‘kinship’. Soldiers who left New Zealand as naïve adolescents and returned as war weary men. Men who never forgot their mates and ensured that they would all be together to support one another, and their families forever.
In 2005, with the passing of time having eroded their number, the decision was made to sound the Last Post on the Association. By this time the clubrooms had become a cornucopia of memorabilia, souvenirs and commemoration with nary an inch of usable space left untouched by this group’s half century of being a family.
Auckland Museum is honoured to have received the contents of the Battalion’s room into its War Memorial Collection. The Museum now holds in it's collection a re-creation of the 21 Battalion clubrooms, featuring photographs, momentoes and installations as a tribute to the camaraderie and friendships of veterans, and the activities of the Association in and for the local communities.
Soldiers returning from war faced many difficulties in readjusting to life in New Zealand. Veterans associations provided a place for sharing memories of campaigns fought and for remembering and honouring mates lost.
The War Years
- In January 1940, men from all over the Auckland provincial area were called up to join the newly formed 21 Battalion
- They left behind their families and loved ones to go into camp at Papakura
- Here they were to meet the men who, for the next five years, were to be their constant companions — living together, playing together and fighting side by side
- Leaving New Zealand, they set out initially for England and then on to the Middle East
- Finally it was time to come home. A glad time, but also a time for great sorrow at leaving so many mates behind
- Back in New Zealand they were welcomed home and it was time to rebuild their civilian lives. Some were still hospitalised, others joined training schemes
- For most this was their greatest immediate commitment and it was ten years before a group of men decided to create an Association
The Association
- The men who formed 21 Battalion Association in 1955 looked mainly at retaining friendships with those men with whom they had served and developed a lasting comradeship
- And remembering friends (Roll of Honour)
- Socialising was a major activity
- But they also took on a welfare role for members and their families including hospital visits and funerals
- Fundraising for Association welfare and community projects
- On Anzac Day members paraded as a unit
- Other activities included social functions
- Reunions and bus trips
- As time has passed the Association has continued to lose members
- 2005 became the Last Post for 21 Battalion Association.
|
Veteran’s Associations provided a place for sharing memories of campaigns fought and for remembering and honouring mates lost.
Please visit this page again soon for the online exhibition. |
