By Tim Cooper
Last Sunday saw a 26 year tradition go out with a bang.
For the last 26 years, members of the group portraying British Soldiers of Number 10 Company 2nd 65th Yorkshire North Riding Regiment of Foot stationed in the greater Auckland area 1861-1865, have presented a living history display at Howick Historical Village monthly Live Days.
The 65th was the longest-serving British Army Regiment deployed to New Zealand during the Land Wars (1847-1865).
The Regiment fought in the Wellington, Taranaki and Waikato Campaigns.
The living history group presents a historically-accurate display of uniforms, musketry, military manoeuvres and encampment. They have demonstrated these to thousands of people at events in the North Island during its’ decades of history.
Monthly Live Days at the Village are another casualty of the post-Covid world with the village moving to four larger events annually.
The group marked the passing of this monthly tradition with a parade, short regimental history, reading of past-comrades’ names and an eight gun salute.
Unit Commanding Officer Major M Brooke and dignitaries from the Howick and District Historical Society attended the ceremony.
Special mention was made of Corporal A Culhane who has remained on active service for all of the units’ 26 years.
