All of their uniforms and the band’s instruments are missing, meaning out of respect and protocol they will not be able to take part in the dawn ceremony alongside Australia and Turkey.
“I think it’s the first time we haven’t had a ceremonial role at the dawn service,” New Zealand Defence Force lead John McLeod told Newshub.
He has been to Gallipoli commemorations 12 times.
“I’ve never experienced this. All I can say though is no Gallipoli experience is the same, they’re always very different, always a privilege to be in the space.”
Dubai International Airport has found 35 of the 65 missing bags and is now racing against time to have them delivered to Anzac Cove, ahead of the big day. However, even then, they will only have half of what they need.
In an update later on Wednesday morning, the New Zealand Defence Force said they had received the first of those bags.
Kiwi ingenuity is at play, with the band using spoons as drums, and the Anzac spirit is alive and well, with Australia offering to loan us their bugler for our Chunuk Bair service if necessary.
Regardless of what arrives from the airport, the New Zealand Chunuk Bair commemoration will go ahead, even if it is scaled back and slightly less ceremonial. It is at the main Dawn Service where our absence will be most obvious.