Kete Horowhenua

Topic: Levin RSA World War II Memorial

Topic Type: Structure

The World War II memorial located in the foyer of the Levin RSA was originally part of the Levin Memorial Hall, opened in 1953.

The hall was used for many public events, including social functions and members of the RSA became concerned that it was being disrespected by smokers and that it was no longer the right place for it to be,

They put a case to the then Levin Borough Council for the memorial to be removed to the RSA clubrooms.

It was relocated in the early 1960s and is now a focal point of the small entranceway. It is on permanent loan to the RSA and remains the property of the council

Every Anzac Day after the returned servicemen march back to the clubrooms from the Dawn Parade Service at the Cenotaph a wreath is laid at the memorial by the president of the RSA.

It bears the names of 50 men, 49 of them who died in World War II and one – Graeme Rangi Morrison Thomas – who Adopt an Anzac’s research has discovered served in World War II but died in the Korean war.

It is inscribed ‘To their name we dedicate this building’ and Binyon’s famous words: “They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.”