Volleys of shots to be fired as part of Armistice Day Remembrance

Three volleys of blank shots will be fired by the NZ Army at the Bridge of Remembrance at 10.57 am on Monday 11 November as part of commemorations marking Armistice Day.

An ode to the fallen, laying of wreaths and lowering of the New Zealand flag will also be included in the commemorative service, starting at 10 am.

Just after 11 am, a parade including ex service personnel, service personnel, the NZ Army Band and dignitaries will proceed down Oxford Tce to Victoria Square, where Mayor Garry Moore will give a formal address and unveil a plaque commemorating the 100th anniversary of the ending of the Boer War. The NZ Operational Service Medal (NZOSM) will also be presented at the commemorations to service people who have served overseas since the end of World War II. Children from inner city schools have been invited to this commemoration, and limited seating will be provided for direct descendants of Boer War combatants.

The Christchurch public is invited to attend both of these commemorations.

Oxford Tce will be closed to traffic from 11 am to 11.30 am between Lichfield St and Hereford St to allow the parade to proceed to Victoria Square. The Boer War, 1899-1902, was significant to New Zealand as it was the first time it had sent troops to support an international force, overseas. A total of 6495 men were dispatched to South Africa from a New Zealand population of just 750,000.

By the time the Peace of Vereeniging Agreement was signed on 31 May, 1902 and the war was brought to an end, 288 New Zealand servicemen had died.

Events on November 11 will be conducted by the NZ Army, Christchurch Returned Services Association and the Christchurch City Council.

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