Sappers Day 2023 - Auckland Region Parade and Lighting the Lamp of Remembrance

FIFTH ANNOUNCEMENT

Join the New Zealand Sapper’s Association, New Zealand Defence Force members, and the wider services community for this historic event. 

Learn about the Royal New Zealand Engineers. Enjoy the music presented by the Off Broadway Big Band. Witness the first lighting of the Lamp of Remembrance in the recently restored Sappers’ Memorial Chapel.

Everyone welcome. A multi-faith service of remembrance. Come to support the Sappers and those who serve Aotearoa New Zealand at home and overseas.

Bookings essential

For safety management and planning purposes, please register your intention to attend. Get Tickets

Background

The aim of Sappers Day 2023 is to celebrate the current, historical and future contributions of combat engineering and the Sapper Spirit to the peacekeeping, defence, emergency response, technological innovation and development of Aotearoa New Zealand through

• Recognising the contributions of RNZE Sappers past and current

• Raising knowledge of the combat engineers' values, symbols, materials, tools, methods and artefacts

• Celebrating the restoration and adornment of the Sappers’ Memorial Chapel at St David’s, The Soldiers’ Memorial Church

• Raising esprit de corps through engaging current, reserve and prospective sappers, and allied services in the activities of the Sappers Association (New Zealand) Inc, the Royal NZ Engineers (RNZE) and Defence Force, Civilian Services, and the Friends of Kāhui St David’s.

In partnership New Zealand Army and Friends of St David’s Trust Kāhui Rangi Pūpū.

The Royal New Zealand Engineers (RNZE), together with Friends of St David’s Trust Kāhui Rang Pūpū invite you to join them for Lighting the Lamp of Remembrance. From 15 October onward, the lamp will be illuminated 365 days of the year to remember and honour all New Zealand services personnel.

The event marks the 96th year of the Sappers’ Parade, a military parade into St David’s, the World War I Soldiers’ Memorial Church.  The event will include an all-faith remembrance service, an opening address by the Colonel Commandant RNZE, the foundational lighting of the Lamp of Remembrance. Abundant music, both solemn and lively, will underpin this all-ages musical remembrance event.  

Please join active, veteran and civilian servicemen and women to witness and celebrate this very special occasion together,  remembering those who served.

Located within the Great Hall of St David’s, in the newly restored Sappers’ Chapel, the Lamp lets all returned service men and women know that we remember them, and that this sanctuary in central Auckland is here for them. For peace, music, or company.

The event will also celebrate the unveiling of tukutuku artwork panels to adorn the sanctuary of St David's.

Sappers Everywhere
The motto of the Royal New Zealand Engineers (RNZE), also known as Sappers, is UBIQUE, which means 'E nga wahi Katoa' or 'everywhere'.  On the battlefront, Sappers are 'first in, and last out'.  They perform a variety of military engineering duties, such as breaching fortifications, demolitions, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, and road, tunnel and airfield construction and repair. 

The first unit of New Zealand Engineers to be raised was the Canterbury Volunteer Engineer Company, formed in 1865. Permanent New Zealand Defence Force Engineers evolved from the Torpedo and Engineer Corps. On 15th October 1902, No 2 Service Company, New Zealand Permanent Militia was granted the dignity and name of Royal New Zealand Engineers, which with Royal Assent, was changed to the Corps of Royal NZ Engineers, RNZE on 3 September 1903.

A gift from the past to the future – St David’s Memorial Church building
St David’s foundation stone was laid on ANZAC Day 1927 and dedicated as the Soldiers’ Memorial Church. It has been home to the Royal New Zealand Engineers (Sappers) ever since. Once the 'Cathedral of the Presbyterian Church', St David’s is now owned by Friends of St David’s Trust Kāhui Rangi Pūpū, a charitable trust. The name translates as 'gathering place of the heavenly trumpets'. The building’s purchase has been made possible thanks to the support of New Zealanders nationwide, to ensure that St David’s would continue as a living memorial to soldiers and servicemen and women of all services. The building is now home to Kāhui St David’s, a centre for music, community and remembrance.

‘We Will Remember Them’

Further Information and Event Director Peter Mellalieu, Chair Northern | Sappers Association (New Zealand) Inc | +6421420118 |  chr.nth.sprnz@mail.tidyhq.com

Associated with this event see also Sappers Day Walking Tour of the City Rail Link details and booking visit http://thq.fyi/se/3yffixA

About St David’s, the Soldiers Memorial Church

St David’s foundation stone was laid on ANZAC Day 1927. The building is a memorial of national significance. Funded on the understanding that it would be a war memorial for all time, St David’s would ‘keep green the faith and courage and sacrifice’ of those who gave their lives in World War I. The Sappers’ Memorial Chapel was later incorporated into St David’s. As a church, its ministers traditionally served in the Army, such as Reverend Lt Colonel Angus Fionn MacDonald, OBE (1871 - 1934).

Sapper Cyril Royston Guyton Bassett, VC, JP (1892 – 1983) was the first and only New Zealander to be awarded the Victoria Cross in the Gallipoli Campaign of the First World War. Sapper Bassett, later Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of Signals, was married at St David's.

Many artefacts commemorate the early office bearers of the Royal New Zealand Engineers, the 29th and 30th New Zealand Infantry Battalions, and members of the congregation who lost their lives in both World Wars. 

In 2014, an initiative to rescue the building from demolition led to the re-creation of Kāhui St David’s, a centre for music and community. Kāhui St David’s is now a place of connection, opportunity and inspiration for the diverse people of Aotearoa New Zealand and visitors from across the globe.

Further information, visit http://thq.fyi/se/KvFB24o

Associated with this event see also Sappers Day Walking Tour of the City Rail Link details and booking visit http://thq.fyi/se/3yffixA

Bookings essential. For safety management and planning purposes, please register your intention to attend. Get Tickets

Alternative booking site at Eventfinda