These dried flowers serve as a sad reminder of the thousands of New Zealanders who left to fight in World War II and never saw their families again. They come from the gravesite of Lieutenant-Colonel Ray Lynch who served in New Zealand’s 18th Battalion before dying of wounds whilst a Prisoner of War. The flowers were taken by Ray’s sister when she visited Italy and his gravesite. One can only imagine how difficult it would have been for Ray’s family having him so far from home where they could not regularly visit him. Having a little memento from his final resting place hopefully brought a measure of comfort to his grieving family.