The Raglan Remembers World War One display opened this morning 10am (18.04.2015) at Raglan Museum.The opening ceremony started with a bagpipe call by Raglan piper Brett McCardle, Deidre Bourne and other members of the Raglan Highland Pipe Band to the gathering. A karanga called about 150 guests from the i-SITE into the museum. Kaumatua Sean Ellinson and Paddy Kaa along with Minister Kathleen Gavin blessed the exhibition. Ken Soanes, the Museum project leader for the exhibition, welcomed guests to the Museum and explained the background to the exhibition. Prayers were offered for the remembrance of those who have passed serving our country. The exhibition was declared open by the Mayor of Waikato District, Mr Allan Sanson. Raglan Ward Councillor Clint Baddeley attended. Morning tea was then served in the Fire Station social room.
The Raglan Museum World War 1 exhibition is about the soldiers who left from the district for the battlefields of Egypt, Gallipoli, Palestine and France. The story is told through photographs, artefacts and text. A feature of the exhibition is a 20 minute film especially produced for the exhibition with interviews of descendants reading letters and battle field diaries along with WW1 archival footage and a past Raglan ANZAC parade.
A large photo remembrance wall and a touch screen presentation identifies 154 soldiers with a Raglan connection. The exhibition has been enthusiastically developed by the Raglan Museum’s volunteers. Many of the community have participated freely offering their family keepsakes for display. The list of soldier names grew from a first assessment of 80 to 154 and the soldier images grew from around 20 to nearly one hundred.
The Exhibition is open every day from Sunday 19th during normal museum opening hours. Entry Adults $2, Children $1. Raglan & District Museum, 15 Wainui Rd, Raglan.
I am related to William Watkins. Thank you cousin cousin Ken and your project group for putting this commemorative display on, remembering all those who died fighting for our freedom. How do I access the film you made? I am sorry I wasn’t visiting Raglan a bit later so I could see the exhibition in person.
Gail Mullon
Twizel
Yes the WW1 team at the museum has done a great job. I have sent your query to the Museum Society committee. They have had some requests for copies of the film and are looking into making these available for purchase.