A ceremony to mark 100 years since the unveiling of the New Zealand Battlefield Memorial at Messines and Passchendaele took place on Saturday, 12 October.

New Zealand Battlefield Memorials

In 1919, the New Zealand government started building memorials near the battlefields where New Zealanders had fought during World War I. These monuments commemorate the efforts of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and the New Zealand Division. Since 1924, two similar memorial columns have stood in Passchendaele and Messines.

To mark the centenary of these monuments, two new information panels were unveiled, designed by the New Zealand Pilgrimage Trust in close cooperation with the New Zealand Embassy, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, town of Messines and municipality of Zonnebeke.

When the monuments were inaugurated in August 1924, the then mayors of Messines and Passchendaele promised to continue honouring these places. On Saturday 12 October 2024, current mayors Sandy Evrard (town of Messines) and Ingrid Vandepitte (municipality of Zonnebeke) renewed this vow. A symbolic, but above all powerful message that will enable future generations to continue telling the story of these monuments after 100 years.

Below are some photos of the ceremony in Messines in the New Zealand Memorial Park (Nieuw Zeelandersstraat).

12 October - historical background

12 October 2024 marked 107 years since New Zealand took part in the Battle of Passchendaele. On 12 October 1917, the New Zealand division launched the attack to capture the Belle-Vue spur. The result was dismal: 2,700 losses, including 845 killed in less than four hours. As such, that day is forever recorded as the most tragic day in New Zealand history.  

 

Welcome of H.E. Simon Draper, New Zealand Ambassador to the EU and NATO by mayor Sandy Evrard.







Address by Ambassador Simon Draper whose grandfather fought in Northern France during the Great War.







Wreath-laying



















The Ode of Remembrance in Maori and English.





Last Post







The national anthems of New Zealand and Belgium.



Unveiling of the new information panel.


















  Page made by WO1.be / Greatwar.be.