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Stunning Photographic Exhibition Honours War Dead

19 October 2007

Media Release
Ministry for Culture and Heritage


Stunning Photographic Exhibition Honours War Dead

A photographic exhibition celebrating those who ensure a dignified, fitting tribute to Commonwealth war dead opens in the Hall of Memories, the National War Memorial in Wellingtonon Tuesday 23 October.

Remembered celebrates the 90th anniversary of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission with 27 compelling images of war graves and memorials throughout the world.

The Commission, a non-profit organisation based in the UK, takes care of the graves of 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died during the two World Wars.

New Zealandis a partner contributing to the Commission’s work, along with Canada, Australia, South Africaand India.

The Ministry for Culture and Heritage, which is the Commission’s agent in New Zealand, selected the images for the exhibition from a pool of photos made available to member countries.

The Ministry’s manager of Heritage Operations, Brodie Stubbs, said the selection includes images which touch the lives of New Zealanders.

“The photo of AriBurnuCemeteryin Anzac Cove, Turkey, shows beautifully laid out and carefully maintained graves, including 34 New Zealanders.

The power and tranquillity of the scene is a tribute to the diligent efforts of Commission workers,” said Mr Stubbs.

Photos of other sites where New Zealanders fell are Passchendaele (Belgium), Chunuk Bair (Turkey), the Somme(France), and Cassino(Italy).

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“The Commission ensures families of the war dead can trace their loved ones and pay homage in a place of beauty, not a bleak, lonely graveyard,” he said.

The pictures in the exhibition are taken from the book Remembered: The History of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission .

Award-winning Brian Harris, formerly chief photographer at the Independent newspaper, photographed over 200 cemeteries and memorials for the project. He was impressed by the commitment of those who care for the graves throughout the world.

The Commission is responsible for the graves and memorials at some 23,000 locations in 150 countries. Its guiding principle is equality of treatment for all Commonwealth war dead, irrespective of military or civil rank, race or creed.

The Prime Minister, Helen Clark, will open the exhibition at 4pmon Tuesday 23 October.

She will be accompanied by the Vice-Chairman of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire.

The exhibition runs until 9 November.

Further Information and Images
A selection of high resolution images from the exhibition is available for downloading for press purposes, in connection with the exhibition only, at:

http://www.nationalwarmemorial.govt.nz/cwgc-exhibition.html

Please reference the images to Remembered (the book and exhibition), Commonwealth War Graves Commission. We also have tif copies which we can provide on request if required - email webmaster@mch.govt.nz.

More information on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and New Zealanders at war can be accessed on these websites:

www.nationalwarmemorial.govt.nz

www.cwgc.org

www.nzhistory.net.nz/war-and-society

www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/anzac-day/introduction


ends

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