Post; Kiwis remember Passchendaele

Infern0 · October 4th, 2007

Scores of Kiwis, including veterans and All Black fans following the World Cup, have gathered near the Belgian village of Passchendaele to mark the 90th anniversary of the bloodiest battle in New Zealand's history.
PM wants more prominence given to Passchendaele... View video
Services were held at several venues around West Flanders, in Belgium, to commemorate the two battles of the Passchendaele campaign, which began on October 4, 1917.
The second assault, on October 12, was the worst death rate in a single day for New Zealand, with 845 killed, many more missing presumed dead and hundreds dying later of their wounds. More than 2000 more were wounded in both assaults.
The commemorations early this morning (NZT) were marked by the signing of an agreement between New Zealand and the Flemish regional government that requires both parties to preserve the cemeteries, memorials and historic sites from the battle.
The agreement formalises work which already occurs, but is designed to ensure that the memories of the bloodshed of World War I do not fade with time.
It was signed by Prime Minister Helen Clark and Flemish Foreign Policy Minister Geert Bourgeois after a moving ceremony at the Tyne Cot cemetery, built on a key strategic objective during the campaign.
Nearly 12,000 white headstones - 520 of them belonging to Kiwis - stretch out in rows for several acres across the site.
A memorial wall lists the names of 34,857 men who died, but whose graves are unknown. More than 1100 were Kiwis.
Miss Clark said the second Passchendaele battle had been overshadowed by Gallipoli and the Somme, but it was a "byword for disaster" and should be remembered for the horror it was.
"Our soldiers were bombarded by their own guns on the start line. The planned artillery barrage failed to provide the necessary support. Uncut wire barred the way forward. Enemy machine gunners cut a swathe through our division's ranks."
"But Passchendaele is also a byword for courage and adversity. It speaks of people bravely doing their duty as their comrades around them were being cut down, of desperate efforts to advance under a merciless hail of machine gun bullets, of stretcher bearers struggling to extricate the wounded lying in the quagmire."
Yesterday's ceremonies were also attended by Defence Force chief Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, several veterans from later conflicts who had relatives at Passchendaele, Australian Governor General Michael Jeffrey and members of the Australian army.
Ceremonies were also held at the Graventafel memorial, the site of the October 4 fighting, and at Messines.

October 4th, 2007
Infern0 Banned	Post; Kiwis remember Passchendaele Scores of Kiwis, including veterans and All Black fans following the World Cup, have gathered near the Belgian village of Passchendaele to mark the 90th anniversary of the bloodiest battle in New Zealand's history. PM wants more prominence given to Passchendaele... View video Services were held at several venues around West Flanders, in Belgium, to commemorate the two battles of the Passchendaele campaign, which began on October 4, 1917. The second assault, on October 12, was the worst death rate in a single day for New Zealand, with 845 killed, many more missing presumed dead and hundreds dying later of their wounds. More than 2000 more were wounded in both assaults. The commemorations early this morning (NZT) were marked by the signing of an agreement between New Zealand and the Flemish regional government that requires both parties to preserve the cemeteries, memorials and historic sites from the battle. The agreement formalises work which already occurs, but is designed to ensure that the memories of the bloodshed of World War I do not fade with time. It was signed by Prime Minister Helen Clark and Flemish Foreign Policy Minister Geert Bourgeois after a moving ceremony at the Tyne Cot cemetery, built on a key strategic objective during the campaign. Nearly 12,000 white headstones - 520 of them belonging to Kiwis - stretch out in rows for several acres across the site. A memorial wall lists the names of 34,857 men who died, but whose graves are unknown. More than 1100 were Kiwis. Miss Clark said the second Passchendaele battle had been overshadowed by Gallipoli and the Somme, but it was a "byword for disaster" and should be remembered for the horror it was. "Our soldiers were bombarded by their own guns on the start line. The planned artillery barrage failed to provide the necessary support. Uncut wire barred the way forward. Enemy machine gunners cut a swathe through our division's ranks." "But Passchendaele is also a byword for courage and adversity. It speaks of people bravely doing their duty as their comrades around them were being cut down, of desperate efforts to advance under a merciless hail of machine gun bullets, of stretcher bearers struggling to extricate the wounded lying in the quagmire." Yesterday's ceremonies were also attended by Defence Force chief Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, several veterans from later conflicts who had relatives at Passchendaele, Australian Governor General Michael Jeffrey and members of the Australian army. Ceremonies were also held at the Graventafel memorial, the site of the October 4 fighting, and at Messines.