Every Friday in the Waikouaiti RSA hall, members will gather for dinner. However, before the food, lights are lowered, everyone stands and five names are read from their Book of Remembrance — a tradition unique to them.
The Book of Remembrance was made about 10 years ago by the then-president, and it contains the name of all 97 soldiers from the surrounding area who died during the South African War, World War 1 and World War 2.
It includes where they enlisted, what their pre-war occupation was, their date of death and the age they were, and whether it was known they were buried.
Waikouaiti RSA entertainment manager Debra Hamilton reads the five names so the servicemen are remembered.
"There's families still living here and these are their relatives."
Mrs Hamilton said while she could never be sure, she believed Waikouaiti was the only RSA in New Zealand to have this tradition.
"It was the foresight of our past president [Ian Taylor] to put this book together."
"I know when I read this — and I've read it a few times through — I start to think about them, especially the age of them.
"When I read it out and I look up, I’m sure people are thinking about them."
Over 90 of the names came from a local genealogist, Alan Steel, who has written an in-depth book about the region’s soldiers.
The book has the names of two servicemen who were killed in the South African War — one of whom was 17.
Seventy-six men were killed from the area in WW1 and 19 were killed during WW2.
Mrs Hamilton said the book kept their names from disappearing from history, and by routinely speaking of the men, their memory — and their sacrifice — was honoured.
