Adopt an Anzac

To find a particular soldier, click here.

'Adopt an Anzac' is a project that a few people in Levin took on board after a challenge was put out at the 2006 Anzac Day celebration by former Mayor the late Sonny Sciascia, that these men, especially World War I casualties whose names appear on the Levin memorial, were fast becoming forgotten and something should be done to 'make them people again'.

The project was extended to include all memorials in the district - Foxton, Shannon, Manakau, Moutoa, Opiki, Tokomaru, Ohau - as well as World War II and other conflicts. Shannon has one Boer War victim and Foxton and Shannon each have a Vietnam victim, who has also been recorded.

By Anzac Day 2007 researchers had completed a short biography of most of the men from the district who died and are listed on the memorials, honours boards and Rolls of Honour in the Horowhenua district. A few have proved 'difficult' as they have common names or they don't seem to be locals and there is nothing found to date to pin point them to the area they are remembered in.

This is an on- going project as people find out about it and send us information. Some men we have found more information on than others, but that was to be expected especially if they were 'out of towners' and there are no relatives in or around the area.

One member of our group wrote articles that once a week went into the local paper, which helped enormously in getting more information.

A book on the World War I casualties was published in October 2014. Horowhenua and the Great War is available from Barbara Timms, email barbaratimms@xtra.co.nz.