Continuing with the theme of history and heritage…
Every year on Anzac Day, Kiwis remember those who gave their lives for our country on April 25th, 1915, when Allied soldiers landed on the shores of Gallipoli. This day has come to stand as a memorial for all those killed in World War One and in subsequent wars.
But while Gallipoli and the symbol of the red poppy for Anzac Day ring a bell for all of us, how many of us remember the battle of Passchendaele in World War One?
The Passchendaele campaign began on October 4th, 1917 – in the second assault, on October 12th, New Zealand experienced its bloodiest day ever on the battlefield. On that day, 845 soldiers were killed, many went missing in action and hundreds more died later from their injuries. More than 2,000 soldiers were wounded in the two battles.
Kiwis, including Prime Minister Helen Clark, gathered at Tyne Cot cemetery in Belgium to commemorate the 90th anniversary of this bleak and violent day in our history. At the cemetery, nearly 12,000 white headstones (520 marking the graves of New Zealand soldiers) stretch out across the land. A memorial wall lists the names of 34,857 men (including 1,100 Kiwis) who were killed, but who are not buried in marked graves.
Our own Prime Minister pondered why the battle at Passchendaele was not more widely remembered, considering it resulted in the greatest number of New Zealand deaths in a single day. Of the day, she said: “It is true that it has not had the visibility in the New Zealand consciousness in more recent decades that Gallipoli’s had… but Passchendaele should never be forgotten.”
She’s right; remembering this dark day in New Zealand history will not only commemorate lives lost, but also help us prevent a repeat of this terrible event.
