Passchendaele exhibition makes final appearance

News release

For immediate release

8 September 2009
Passchendaele exhibition makes final appearance

A moving exhibition, paying tribute to our country’s bloodiest battle, will make its final New Zealand appearance at the historic Fort Takapuna this October – on the 92nd anniversary of the events it commemorates.

Passchendaele: The Belgians Have Not Forgotten, by the Memorial Museum Passchendaele and with the support of North Shore City Council, is a silent reminder from the Belgian people that they have not forgotten New Zealand’s major contribution to their freedom.

More than 5,000 New Zealanders had been killed by the time troops were finally withdrawn from Flanders in February 1918, double the number killed at Gallipoli. 

It was the greatest New Zealand sacrifice in battle ever before or since; with a devastating effect on the social fabric of what was then a very small nation.

Despite the great number of casualties, exhibition organisers say the battles on the Western front have largely slipped from national consciousness.  It is hoped this exhibition will get more people thinking about the significance of the events.

Former Honorary Consul for Belgium and organiser of the exhibition, Iain MacKenzie says since March the display has been mounted in Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Featherston and the National Army Museum in Waiouru, before making its way north

“The exhibition in North Shore City will be officially opened at a ceremony, 11am on October 4, and it will run to November 15.  There will also be a commemoration ceremony taking place on October 12, which was the day of the greatest casualties,” he says.

“Visitors will be able to view photographs, battlefield artefacts, movies and information, which follow the journey of New Zealand soldiers from Gallipoli through Flanders to Passchendaele.” 

Mr MacKenzie says among the interesting relics are miniature copper war-time figurines, by well-known Belgian artist Rik Ryon, made from the driving bands of British and German WWI shells.

Together with haunting images, by award winning UK photographer Michael St Maur Sheil, and other exhibits such as a WWI machine gun, original armour and items excavated from captured German bunkers, the exhibition brings Belgian memories of New Zealand’s great sacrifice to life.

“Unique to the exhibition this time around will be a room dedicated to allowing visitors to record the memories of family members involved in WWI and stories that have been passed down through the generations,” says Mr MacKenzie.

Passchendaele Museum Curator, Franky Bostyn says New Zealand left an important part of its history in Flanders.

“…Not only the events, but also the men, the men are all here, a part of our land.

“92 years later we have what we have now – one of the most prosperous areas in Europe – and it is thanks to these men who came here, voluntarily to fight for freedom. Our gratitude to them will last forever.

“In the early years after the war, New Zealanders couldn’t afford to come to Belgium to commemorate your people buried in our graveyards and so it has been our duty to guard and commemorate them.”

Along with other Passchendaele commemorative events, Passchendaele: The Belgians Have Not Forgotten will be part of North Shore City’s annual Heritage Festival (October 2 – 12).  During this period, New Zealand and Belgian flags will hang side-by-side in North Shore’s main streets.

Fort Takapuna was built in 1886 and regretfully there is no wheel chair access to the venue.

ENDS

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