12
September 2016 Minister to attend Somme
commemorations
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee leaves
today for France to attend New Zealand commemorations of the
100th anniversary of this country’s involvement in the
Battle of the Somme.
More than 15,000 New Zealanders
served in the Battle of the Somme in 1916, says Mr
Brownlee.
“More than 2000 soldiers were killed, and
thousands more wounded. More than half of the soldiers
killed during the battle have no known grave.”
Amongst
the commemorative events Mr Brownlee will attend include the
Dawn Service, Sunset Ceremony and Wreath-laying ceremony at
Longueval, and the New Zealand National Service
commemorating the Battle of the Somme at Caterpillar
Valley.
“It is an honour to represent New Zealand at
these commemorative events as the Government’s senior
representative,” he said.
Mr Brownlee will also meet
with his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, in Paris,
as well as President of the French Senate Select Committee
for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Armed Forces, Jean-Pierre
Raffarin.
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