ANZAC Day op Berks Cemetery Extension

ANZAC Day - Berks Cemetery Extension - Ploegsteert - 24/04/2026

Please find below some pictures of the ceremony on Berks Cemetery Extension at Ploegsteert on Friday 24 April 2026, on the eve of ANZAC Day 2026.

Please find below the detailed programme of this ceremony:

MC: Capt James Barnes (NZDF)

Official Party is led into the cemetery by flagbearers
MC welcome
Opening Prayer Reverend Richard Clement
READING/SPEECH –by Ambassador Jennifer Troup
Hymn “It is well with my soul (When peace like a river)” sung by Lies Verholle
Wreath Laying:
- H.E. Jennifer Troup, New Zealand Ambassador to Belgium
- H.E. Angus Campbell, Australian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, NATO & EU
- Madame Alice Leeuwerck, Bourgmestre of Comines-Warneton
- Brigadier Pat Beath, New Zealand Defence Force
- Rear Admiral Richard Caton, Australian Defence Force
- Col d’Aviation Guy Dobbelaere, representing the Commandement Militaire de la Province de Hainaut
- Mr Xavier Puppinck, Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- Mr Francois Maekelberg, Alliance of Patriotic Associations – Comines-Warneton
- Members of the public
Ode of Remembrance Te Reo Deputy Ambassador of New Zealand Te Aniwa Setters
Ode of Remembrance English Mr David Brightling, Australia Deputy Ambassador
Ode of Remembrance French Mr François Maekelberg, Alliance of Patriotic Associations – Comines-Warneton
Last Post by Belgian Military Buglers
One Minute Silence
Reveille by Belgian Military Buglers
National anthems sung by Lies Verholle
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Belgium (in French)
Final Blessing Reverend Richard Clement
Closing remarks MC
Group photo on Ploegsteert memorial steps (weather dependent)