The Rimutaka Crossing Re-enactment Sunday 27 September

Upper Hutt resident Paul Lambert was very keen to take part in the WW1 Rimutaka Crossing re-enactment on Sunday 27 September when he heard about its launch. Fortunately when talking to his wife’s sister-in-law, Pam Killalea, he discovered that her grandmother Hilda Moran nee Beatty had two brothers who had served in the infantry in WWI. These two men had given service deservingof recognition the march will highlight.

One brother, Private Arthur Beatty, wrote a postcard home to New Zealand on 16 March 1915 from France when in action. On this postcard he mentioned details about an upcoming wedding back here in New Zealand. Regrettably he died in action on 30 March 1918. The other brother, David Beatty, served from 14 June 1915 to 8 June 1916 and returned to New Zealand after being wounded in France.

He died in 1960. Hilda Moran’s husband John, ran Moran’s Greengrocer and Milk Bar in Main Street, Upper Hutt now the location of Everson’s Jewellers and Tiger Lily. His family home was located south of the Haywards junction where SH2 has now been built.

The march on Sunday 27th September starts from Featherston and enters Upper Hutt for a Commemoration outside the City Council offices at approximately 11am followed by military displays and other activities on Griffin Field outside the former CIT building from approximately 1pm-4pm.

ENDS

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