New Zealand’s Minister of Defence will visit the WW1 battlefields in Belgium
11/02/2018
- Zonnebeke
- Source: Freddy Declerck
On 14 February 2018, Valentine’s Day, New Zealand’s Minister of Defence will visit the WW1 battlefields in Belgium.
There will be a short ceremony at Buttes New British Cemetery (Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke) at 5.00 pm. Public and press are welcome. At 8.00 pm the Minister will attend the Last Post Service at the Menin Gate.
Buttes New British has been chosen because the only Kiwi killed in action on this day, exactly 100 years ago, is remembered on the New Zealand Memorial to the Missing at the cemetery.
The Hon Ron Mark, Minister of Defence, will be accompanied by the Deputy Secretary of Defence Tony Lynch, the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand Major General Tim Gall, Ambassador Gregory Andrews, Brigadier Chris Parsons and Navy Captain Shane Arndell.