Final Preparations for Somme Centenary in France
Media Advisory
31 August 2016
NZDF Makes Final Preparations for Battle of the Somme Centenary in France
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) contingent travelling to France to commemorate New Zealand’s involvement in the Battle of the Somme will gather at Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Base Ohakea near Palmerston North. Media are invited to attend their final preparations to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme on Tuesday 6 September at 1.30pm.
The contingent comprises a ceremonial guard, a Māori Cultural Group, a musical group of three buglers and three drummers, and the 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly’s Own) and Northland Battalion’s regimental colour party. The colour carries 21 battle honours and is the only New Zealand battle colour to carry both the “Flers-Courcelette” and “Somme 1916, 18” honours. Media will be able to view the regimental colour before it is cased for travel.
Media will be given a preview of new waiata especially composed for the Battle of the Somme and a special musical arrangement by the NZDF musicians that evokes the day of a soldier on the Western Front one hundred years ago. The contingent’s vocalist, Able Musician Rebecca Nelson, who will perform selected songs and the National Anthem, will be available for interview as well as members of the contingent who have family links to the Somme.
There will be three services commemorating New Zealand’s involvement in the Battle of the Somme in France on 15 September – a Dawn Service and a Sunset Service at the New Zealand Battlefield Memorial near Longueval and a National Commemorative Service at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery.
The Battle of the Somme was New Zealand’s first major engagement on the Western Front. It took a huge toll on the 15,000 members of the New Zealand Division who were involved.
The New Zealand Division sustained 8000 casualties and 2111 soldiers were killed in action at the Battle of the Somme, from 1 July-18 November 1916. The New Zealand Memorial to the Missing in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery lists 1204 names.
For more information about the Battle of the Somme commemorations, visit www.WW100.govt.nz/somme.
ENDS