846 New Zealanders dead on the morning
of 12 October. And many more to die from wounds over the days to come…
By the end of that day the total number of casualties, the wounded, the dead and the missing was 2,740. It took two and a half days to clear the battlefield of the dead and injured.
90 years later on 4 October 2007 (the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Broodseinde) the Rt Hon Helen Clark ONZ, our then prime minister, was in Ypres to sign the Ypres Agreement together with the Flemish government.
The Agreement committed New Zealand to cooperate in “increasing broad community recognition… educating younger generations… honouring the war dead… preserving heritage material… and encouraging tourism to commemorative and historical sites in Flanders and New Zealand”
This agreement inspired the 2009 exhibition “Passchendaele: The Belgians Have Not Forgotten” and the erection of 5,000 white crosses on the parade ground of Fort Takapuna.
The Passchendaele Society (Inc) was subsequently formed in March 2011 by a dedicated group of people who wanted to contribute to the aims of the Ypres Agreement and to ensure New Zealand’s darkest day is never forgotten.
The Society’s goals
Increase community awareness of New Zealand’s history in the First World War at Passchendaele and the Western Front
Educate younger generations of New Zealand about this history
Honour the war dead
Facilitate access and promote visits to historic and commemorative sites
Support conservation and interpretation of heritage material from Passchendaele and the Western Front
Maintain contact with the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage and other organisations who share our objectives
The desired outcomes
Raising the levels of awareness in the community
Greater knowledge of Passchendaele and the Western Front in young people
Remembering the war dead through commemoration services
Encouraging the community to visit Passchendaele and the Western Front
Making it possible for the community to view heritage material
The measurable outcomes
Anecdotal and quantifiable levels of awareness
Number, quality and awareness of ceremonies
Tourist numbers to Passchendaele and the Western Front
Exhibitions in New Zealand
We have had success in achieving community awareness, giving support to younger generations, honouring the war dead, enhancing historic and commemorative sites, contributing to heritage material and establishing contacts with key partners.
Community Awareness
Provided information to television, radio, newspapers and magazines
Set up the Fields of Remembrance Trust which established more than 100,000 personalised white crosses in Fields of Remembrance throughout New Zealand
Historic and Commemorative Sites
Planned a New Zealand Garden and Memorial in the Passchendaele area which was opened at the Centennial Commemoration of the Battle of Passchendaele
Younger Generations
Established Fields of Remembrance in almost all New Zealand schools
With the Ministry of Education established a competition “Their Stories - Our Stories”. Presentation at Parliament by Minister of Education
Planned a competition through the Ministry of Education “Why I Want To Be In Passchendaele in October 2017”. 10 winning students went to Passchendaele
Heritage Material
Supported exhibitions of heritage material supplied by the Passchendaele Memorial Museum 1917 and the New Zealand Defence Force
Honouring the War Dead
Established the annual Passchendaele Commemoration Ceremony at the Auckland War Memorial Museum
Was described by Museum Director Roy Clare as “the perfect blend of reflection, thoughtfulness, music, reverence, honour and ceremony”
Promoted details of 1914 - 1918 commemoration ceremonies in Passchendaele and the Western Front
Contacts with Ministry of Culture
Established regular and continuous contacts with the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, the WW100 and other related organisations
