5,ooo brave Kiwis give their lives

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New Zealanders are encouraged to seize the last opportunity to view a moving exhibition in honor of those who fought bravely in the Battle of Passchendaele and to attend a final ceremony to close commemorative events in North Shore City.


Since it opened in March more than 25,000 visitors have viewed the exhibition. It has toured Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Featherston, Waiouru and Fort Takapuna in North Shore City, where it has been on show since 4 October.

Exhibition tour manager, Jo Kane says the exhibition has helped to raise awareness of the tragic battle.

New Zealand was such a tiny nation at the time of the First World War and we lost so many people on the Western Front, that battles had a profound effect on the social fabric of our country - yet, few people spoke of the tragedy. This exhibition has given many Kiwis the opportunity to remember their family members and consider the sacrifice of our countrymen.

It has also been a wonderful example of the relationship forged between New Zealand and Belgium a bond that started all those years ago, when our people fought for their country, and a bond that continues today, she says.

Following the closure on Sunday, a blessing ceremony will be held at dawn on Monday 16 November.

The 5,000 white crosses, erected outside the Fort in remembrance of the New Zealanders lost in Belgium during the First World War, will be removed at this time and given new homes.

North Shore exhibition organiser and former Honorary Consul of Belgium, Iain MacKenzie says members of the community who have named one of the crosses, or have an ancestor lost at war they would like to remember, are welcome to collect a cross at the final ceremony.

To ensure the crosses are well cared for in the long term we are welcoming members of the community, who would like to remember lost loved ones, to give the crosses a meaningful home.

A significant number of the crosses will also be sent on request to RSAs across the country, who would like to remember the New Zealand casualties from their localities.

At the dawn ceremony, 50 white doves will be released by students of Vauxhall Primary School in memory of the fallen, and laments will also be played by a bugler and piper.

His Worship the Mayor of North Shore City, Andrew Williams, says the ceremony is a fitting way to end the series of events that have taken place in North Shore City since October 4, for the anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele.
The sacrifice of our men at war is of course something that is very close to the hearts of New Zealanders and it has been an honor to be able to provide occasions at which to recognize the price paid by many.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• kiwi
• new zealand battle
• Passchendaele
• peace
• ww1
• peace dove
• auckland

[DannysDoos]

The first tune the piper plays is called Flowers of the Forest, if I remember correctly. I play the bagpipes :)

[ThePigeonpals]

Beautiful tribute!

Thank You