The June 7 Commemorations
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Messines schoolchildren lay poppies at the |
New Zealand was represented by the Hon. Annette King, Minister of State Services, Minister of Police, Minister of Transport and Minister for Food Safety. Mr Paul Breyne, Governor of West Flanders, represented the province while the Rt Hon. Derek Twigg, Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, represented the UK. Mr Willie O'Dea, T.D., Minister of Defence, represented Ireland.
During her address, Mrs King said: "We come from a number of countries today to remember that war and those soldiers. Some of us are a long way from home, almost as far as it is possible to be. And yet, here, in this beautiful cemetery, amongst these gravestones, in this landscape, we are close to a part of our history that has helped to make us who we are.
"We honour the men who died in this battle, those who survived but carried physical and psychological wounds for the rest of their days, and those who returned here to rebuild their lives and this town once the battle was over. "
Mrs King added that "today we rightly emphasise the peaceful resolution of disputes, using the United Nations and other institutions. We also know that sometimes peaceful intentions must be supported by a firm resolve to defend basic freedoms and principles of justice and we honour the men and women of our military forces.
"Today, in remembering the Battle of Messines, we commemorate the spirit of those who fought and died 90 years ago, and we re-commit ourselves to continue the struggle to promote peace and to defend the principles that they fought for."
The wreath-laying at the Stone of Remembrance, which had a guard with World War One clothing and equipment at each of its four corners, was led by Mrs King, Mr Breyne, Mr Twigg, Mr O'Dea, the Ambassador of Australia and the Charge d'Affaires of Canada. Then followed Mr Sandy Evrard, Mayor of Messines, and Mrs Adrienne Staples, Mayor of the South Wairarapa district which includes Featherston, twin town of Messines.
The mayors of Komen, Zonnebeke, Heuvelland and Ypres were next followed by the defence attaches for New Zealand and Germany, the Provincial Commander of West Flanders and the defence attaches of Australia, the UK, the USA and Canada. Children from the Messines primary school then laid poppies with the wreath.
During the service, which was led by Canon Ray Jones of St George's Memorial Church in Ypres, Amie Fournier, a New Zealand exchange student in Belgium, read a letter which had been written by Rifleman Edward Millar after the assault. Two members of Ngati Ranana, Puna Heremaia and Precious Clark, led the official party in with the karanga and also sang the karakia during the service. Brigadier Paul Southwell, New Zealand Defence Attache, recited The Ode.
The Royal Band of the Belgian Air Force provided music as well as sounding the Last Post and Reveille. The Catafalque party was formed from New Zealand servicemen and the Belgian Army's Ypres Barracks formed the guard. A number of Belgian veterans were present, as was the current Miss Belgium, who comes from the town.
Representatives of the families of two Victoria Cross winners in Flanders were present: Commander Alistair Hunter Blair RN (Retd) represented the family of William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse, the first airman to be awarded the VC and a man of Maori and English descent.
And at the end of the service there was a parade to the church, where a plaque to Samuel Frickleton VC was unveiled by Mrs King. Two of Samuel Frickleton's grandchildren, Mrs Julia Tatam and Mr Mark Frickleton, laid a wreath beneath the plaque, while Sam Frickleton, aged 17, wore a replica of his great-grandfather's Victoria Cross medal group.
As the dedication concluded, the children of the Messines school sang two verses of the New Zealand national anthem in Maori, something that made a considerable impression on the New Zealanders present.
90th Commemorations Gallery
Plaque to Samuel Frickleton VC