18 MARCH 2005
New Book celebrates Khaki All Blacks
Khaki All Blacks will be launch tonight at a reunion dinner
for the surviving members of 2NZEF Rugby Team at the Petone Rugby Football
Club in Wellington.
The book provides an overview of the successful 2NZEF Army Rugby Team
tour of the United Kingdom, Eire, France and Germany during 1945-46 and
includes personal observations of the touring experience by some of the
team’s legendary players.
For author Mike Whatman this book was a labour of love. With a long-standing
admiration for the "Kiwis" (as the team was more commonly known)
he was passionate about having this story told. It is through his tenacity
and the support of the NZ Army that the project came to fruition.
The book launch comes at a time when the Army’s representative
men’s and women’s rugby teams are in the final stages of preparing
for a commemorative tour to the UK in honour of the Kiwis. The 60th anniversary
tour party departs New Zealand on 16 April.
The tour is particularly special for the surviving 1945 Kiwis as it is
likely to be the last time they will bear witness to a tour that commemorates
them and is in their honour. The Army is planning to take up to four of
the surviving Kiwis veterans on the tour.
Nine of the veterans will be attending the book launch tonight.
Related Story
Remembering the Kiwis: 2005 Army Rugby UK Tour
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