NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE TO MARK THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF MESSINES

The Messines commemoration is one of seven major overseas commemorations to mark thecentenary of the First World War. It is the first of the two major Belgium commemorations this year –the second being the Battle of Passchendaele in October.

Messines was a meticulously planned Allied attack in comparison to many of the previous attackson the Western Front. The New Zealanders' task was to capture the town of Messines and the ridge on which it was located. It was a stunning success but success came at a heavy cost –700 dead and 3700 casualties. Even though a German counterattack was beaten off many New Zealanders were caught in the open by German artillery counter-bombardment fire.

The commemoration will consist of a national service at the Messines Ridge British Cemetery and a sunset ceremony at the New Zealand Battlefield Memorial at Messines. There are 130 New Zealanders buried in the cemetery and 828 memoralised on the Wall to the Missing. This is one of three New Zealand Memorials to the Missing in Belgium – the others are at Tyne Cot Cemetery and Buttes New British Cemetery. Unlike other Commonwealth Countries New Zealand chose to memorialise the missing at the locations where they fell rather than on major monuments such as the Menin Gate.

The New Zealand Battlefield Memorial Park which is the location of the sunset ceremony was the scene of some of the heaviest fighting on 7 June 1917. It is near the location of the German forward trench line and two German pillboxes are located within the Park. This is one of two New Zealand Battlefield Memorials in Belgium –the other is at Gravenstafel near Passchendaele which was the location of a successful attack on 4 October 1917.

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is responsible for organising the Messines commemorative service and sunset ceremony. The NZDF contingent includes ceremonial personnel, musical element, Māori Cultural Group, youth representatives and event personnel as well as a colour party carrying the Regimental Colour of the 2ndBattalion, Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. The NZDF contingent will also include Mr Derek Nees, the representative of the RNZRSA.

It is expected that 600-800 visitors will attend the New Zealand commemoration, many of whom have travelled from New Zealand. One New Zealander – Samuel Fricketon was awarded the Victoria Cross in the battle and his descendants will be attending the commemoration.

Please find below some pictures of the ceremony at 8.00 AM at Messines Ridge Cemetery.





























































































































The Last Post



















A nearby old German Bunker.



Trees of remembrance on the frontline have also been planted at Messines.



  Page made by Westhoek.be / WO1.be - Greatwar.be.