A volunteer community research project is under way to gather information on the veterans of the Boer War, World War 1 and World War 2 with commemorative plaques in the Green Island Memorial Gardens.
There are about 150 plaques for returned servicemen and servicewomen, each with a rose alongside, and organisers of the project are calling for photos of those named on the plaques to be used in a small publication that will be available for Anzac Day next year.
Organiser Irene Patterson said the preferred photos would be those taken during service years in uniform, or in plain clothes if there were none in uniform available.
''A photo from before or after the war is also welcome if no wartime shots are available. Any size photograph would be very helpful. They will be used with photos of the roses and plaques to go in the publication for next Anzac Day.
''It's important in a historical point of view to recognise and preserve the memories of the men and women who went and made life easier for us,'' Mrs Patterson said.
The group welcomed any photos, stories or other information relevant to the project and had distributed a flyer, with a list of the service men and women, to businesses and schools in Green island explaining the project.
''We now have most veteran information. However, we do still have some gaps and would welcome any details which might help fill gaps or will provide another source to check against the information we have.''
Anyone with relevant photos or information can email Mrs Patterson at cpattsn@ihug.co.nz.
- David Beck
