He is currently visiting Faenza Francesca Gladstonedaughter of Arthur Gladstone, a New Zealand sergeant who in December 1944 in the house Curinaza near Celle he accidentally met a girl from Faenza, Antonietta Dalmonte. Arthur and Antoinette began dating and, after the war, after obtaining permission from the New Zealand military authorities, they got married on 1 September 1945 in the church of San Bartolomeo, the church dedicated to the memory of the Fallen.
They moved to New Zealand and they had ten children. All members of the family, which now includes numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildrenthey are very attached to Faenza and periodically some of them come to visit the places where “Arturo and Netta” met. Arthur Gladstone in 2002, as a representative of the New Zealand community, was granted the honor of “Faentino far away”. On 25 April Francesca, who now lives in Australia, accompanied by her daughter Johanna and her granddaughters Bronte and Jetta visited the church of the Fallen where her parents married 79 years ago, where they were welcomed by the volunteers ofNational Alpine Association: Francesco Bassi and Carlo Giuliani.
The people of Romagna from Nelson, New Zealand: “Here in Faenza is where our roots are”
On the occasion of April 25, 2024, Liberation Day, Francesca Gladstone brought her testimony to the city celebrations of Faenza, in front of the War Memorial in Viale Baccarini, introduced by the president of the city council, Niccolo Bosi. “Eighty years ago – he said – my father left his small town in New Zealand to participate to one of the most important events of his life. That journey began in Egypt and continued to here, the place my family considers our second home. This is where our roots are, this is where the journey of our lives began. The influence of this beautiful place, Faenza, was part of our growth. We have become the Romagna people of Nelson in New Zealand. As some of you may know, my father and mother’s love for this place was expressed in many ways. They spent hours talking about it, remembering it and singing. We (their ten children) knew they were happy when we heard them singing together in Italian.”
“To say that it is an honor to participate in your ceremony is an understatement – he continued -. In New Zealand and Australia on April 25, theAnzac day it is probably the most heartfelt day of the entire year. Representing my father today in this place is a great privilege for me. I wear her medals with respect and pride, as my daughter Johanne wears her father’s for the same reason and as my two granddaughters Bronte and Jetta who are here wear the red poppy. We are very impressed with the results achieved by such a small group of New Zealand soldiers. Thank you Faenza for the respect you show to all the young people who now rest in peace on your territory. We in New Zealand know that you have cared for it.”
L’Anzac day (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) It is celebrated on April 25th, it is Armed Forces Day. I remember the landing of Australian and New Zealand soldiers on the beach of Gallipoli in Turkey in 1915 to operate against the army of the Ottoman Empire. The anniversary is also very popular among young people and there is a tradition of gathering to watch the sun rise, entire families, even with children, take part.
