They march for those who no longer can: A town remembers its veterans

Gisborne will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II this Sunday with a Combined Services Remembrance Day service to honour local veterans. Among them is 98-year-old Royal New Zealand Navy veteran Ken Gordon, described as a “living legend.”

Gordon, who served on HMNZS Gambia and witnessed Japan’s formal surrender aboard the USS Missouri in September 1945, will attend the ceremony alongside his daughter Fiona and son Alister outside the Returned and Services Association (RSA) rooms.

Honouring a lifetime of service

Guest speaker Jack Donnelly, BEM, a Navy veteran of 34 years, will share Gordon’s striking wartime story with attendees. Donnelly told the Gisborne Herald that Gordon’s account was “very graphic and descriptive,” capturing the gravity of those historic events.

Also present will be Tuwhakairiora “Toti” Tukhaka, QSM, one of Gordon’s former trainees and a veteran of the Korean War in the early 1950s.

The March to Remember

“They march for those who no longer march and in the footsteps of those who are no longer with us. Their pride, discipline and bearing will shine through. We thank them for their service.”

Donnelly said the March to Remember, featuring Gisborne veterans, will be one of the most moving parts of the event—a tribute to all who served and sacrificed for peace.

Author’s Summary

The town of Gisborne gathers to honour 98-year-old WWII veteran Ken Gordon and all who served, reflecting on courage, remembrance, and the enduring spirit of those who marched before.

NZ Herald — 2025-11-07