Lowered flags mark burial of Sir Robert Gillies KNZM

Flags outside Far North District Council offices will be lowered to half-mast today to mark the burial of Sir Robert ‘Bom’ Gillies KNZM.

The 99-year-old was the last remaining member of the 28th Māori battalion and served in B Company during World War 2 from 1942 to1945. He will be buried alongside his wife in Rotorua.

The flag is half-masted by first raising it to the top of the mast and then immediately lowering it slowly to the half-mast position.