PHOTO
Ashburton Cadet Unit commander Major Cezarne Rodgers and 16-year-old sergeant Maddie Kennerley have had a whirlwind 13-day trip visiting military sites in Europe.
All with strong links to New Zealand.
The pair, along with nine other cadets and two officers from New Zealand, took part in “ANZUK Exchange” between units from Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom.
Rodgers said since 2017, and especially in lockdown, units from the three countries had been in contact, doing events online and exchanges.
Ashburton Cadet Unit (ACU) joined the group in 2020 as a way to keep the local cadets engaged and fill the need for contact during lockdown.
“In 2023, I was the lead exchange officer guiding the UK and Australian cadets around the North Island and then joining them with some New Zealand cadets to go to Australia for a week,” Rodgers said.
"When the opportunity to apply for the outbound tour to the UK came up, I jumped at it and applied.’”
It was a trip Maddie found out about through Rodgers.
"I wasn't invited to go on this trip; I had to apply, and I was fortunate enough to be selected out of an unknown number of applicants to represent New Zealand Cadet Forces (NZCF),” Maddie said.
It was her first overseas trip with NZCF.
Rodgers, on the other hand, had made many friends through the online exchanges and her 2023 experience and said it was an “amazing opportunity” to see them all again and visit the UK.
"My poppa served in World War 2 and I have always wanted to see some of the places he flew over, and wear his medals over there,” she said.
The trip included visits in London of Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abby, Tower of London, Royal Hospital Chelsea, Hammersmith, Australia House (NZ House is being renovated), Cavalry and Guards Club and military army base at Bovington, and airfield at Middle Wallop.
They also visited battlefields and memorials in France including Caterpillar Valley, The Somme, Albert, Newfoundland Park, Lochnager, Villers-Bretonneux, Wellington Tunnels and Thiepval,
In Belgium they spent time at Passchendaele, Menin Gate, Ypres, Tyne Cot, Hill 60 and Messines.
“We also were able to tour many museums and visit, and stay and play on defence bases where the public would just not get to go,” Rodgers said.
At the sites they visited, there were history presentations. Services were held including laying wreaths and poppies, “speaking” to the soldiers, readings, prayers, the playing of the last post and the ode in English and Te Reo.
“At Caterpillar Valley and at the Kiwi memorial at Hyde Park the Kiwi team laid a wreath, said the ode and did the NZCF Haka.
"These were both very personal and moving services just done by the Kiwis for the Kiwis.
"At Caterpillar Valley we also got to stand where the unknown solider in Wellington was moved from. Having been there too, it was full circle seeing both resting sites,” Rodgers said.
For Maddie, there were many trip highlights including the service at the Caterpillar Valley, marching in uniform under the Menin gate and watching the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London.
"I have always wanted to visit, as the Tower has been one of my favourite places for almost my entire life, so actually standing within its walls, and looking up at the Bloody Tower, felt quite surreal.
"I could hardly believe that I was actually there.
"The Ceremony of the Keys itself was shorter than I had anticipated, and we were unable to explore the grounds in full, but it was still an extraordinary experience nonetheless, and definitely one I would jump at the chance to repeat,” she said.
As a cadet, visiting such historic places, undertaking services and being with like-minded people wanting to learn and commemorate those who passed was special, she said.
“It's a trip I will remember for the rest of my life, and I would encourage anyone who can to apply if they ever get the chance,” Maddie said.