Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Gov-Gen visits Belgium for Passchendaele Commemorn

Media release
6 July 2007

Governor-General visits Belgium for Passchendaele Commemoration

The Governor-General of New Zealand, the Honourable Anand Satyanand, will honour the thousands of New Zealanders who lost their lives or were injured during the Battle of Passchendaele when he visits Belgium next week.

On October 12 1917, in what is now known as the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele), more than 800 New Zealanders died and more than 2,000 wounded in one morning alone. It was the most disastrous day in New Zealand’s military history. The battle had begun the previous July and the ruins of Passchendaele were eventually captured by Canadian forces. New Zealand forces remained in the area until 12 April 1918.

On Thursday July 12, the Governor-General and Her Excellency Susan Satyanand will represent New Zealand at the 90th anniversary commemorations being held at Tyne Cot cemetery, the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in the world. The Governor General will also privately lay a wreath in the New Zealand Apse (part of the cemetery’s Memorial to the Missing). The battle was initially scheduled to begin on July 12, although did not actually begin until 31 July.

They will also attend the inauguration of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Memorial and the Official Opening of the Tyne Cot Visitors Centre by Queen Paola of Belgium, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. They will also meet the Mayor of Ieper (Ypres in French), Luc Dehaene and take part in a special Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate, Ieper, where His Excellency will lay a wreath.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

On Friday 13 July, Their Excellencies will visit the New Zealand Memorial at Mesen and tour the Messines Ridge Battlefield with noted New Zealand military historian, Dr Christopher Pugsley, who is a Senior Lecturer in War Studies at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. At noon, the Governor-General will unveil a work of art by Kingsley Baird, who is the first New Zealander to be the Artist-in-Residence at the In Flanders Field Museum in Ieper. Mr Baird also designed the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Wellington. They will also visit and lay a wreath at the New Zealand Memorial at ‘s-Graventafel, which is on the site of the Passchendaele battlefield.

The Governor-General said the Battle of Passchendaele stood alongside the Gallipoli Campaign as a landmark point in New Zealand’s history.

“The Battle of Passchendaele was one of the bloodiest battles of World War I and October 12 1917 was the most disastrous in New Zealand’s military history. Given that New Zealand’s population at that time was little over a quarter of what it is today, the thousands of deaths and injuries suffered made an indelible mark on New Zealand society. As with ANZAC Day, the Passchendaele Commemorations are an opportunity to remember and to pay tribute to those who so bravely served their country.”


ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.