War Memorial


In the capital of New Zealand, a lot of attractions , but none of them are so closely connected with the world history, like a military memorial, also known as the Wellington cenotaph. This monument is designed to perpetuate the memory of all residents of the country who died in the First and Second World Wars, as well as in a number of local conflicts of military origin.

History of creation

The military memorial in Wellington was first opened to the public on April 25, 1931. This day is a holiday for the inhabitants of Australia and New Zealand and is known as ANZAC day. Strange abbreviation stands for simply - Australian and New Zealand army corps. This date is famous for the fact that it was at this time in 1915 that the corps soldiers landed on the shore of the Gallipoli peninsula. However, the operation was very unsuccessful, and most of the participants in the landing were killed. In 1982, the cenotaph was officially recognized as a historical monument of national importance and appropriated to it the I category.

Modern view of the monument

The obelisk is made of natural stone and is decorated with three-dimensional relief sculptures that look like living. At the top of the monument is a bronze rider, stretching one arm to the sky, which symbolizes the willingness of New Zealanders to defend their homeland again. After the end of the Second World War, the obelisk was completed with two figures of lions made of bronze and bas-reliefs. Each of them is dedicated to a certain type of troops, in which New Zealand soldiers served during wars. You can take pictures of the cenotaph, and it's free.

There are various interpretations of the symbolism of the monument:

  1. Specialists suggest that the horse at the top symbolizes Pegasus, trampling on the hooves of the horrors of the war, her blood and tears, and rushing to heaven, where peace reigns and peace, to bring them to earth.
  2. On the back of the base is a figure of a pelican who feeds the children with his blood. It means all women and mothers who, during wars, went to great sacrifices for the sake of children.
  3. The front of the monument depicts the figure of a sad man - a soldier who is sad, parting with his loved ones.

Solemn events

Every year on the day of its opening on April 25, the memorial becomes a place where residents and guests of Wellington celebrate Memorial Day. To make it to her, you have to get up early: the ceremony begins at sunrise, exactly at the time when the first New Zealand landing troops landed at Gallipoli. Not only veterans of all wars of the 20th and 21st centuries join the solemn torchlight procession, but also ordinary citizens.