Commemoration of the 96th Anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele
We invite members of the public to this most significant Commemoration honouring those brave 846 New Zealanders who were killed within 4 hours on 12th October 1917, on what is now known as our “darkest day” in history.
The Ceremony will take place on Saturday 12th October 2013 at 11.00 am in the First World War Hall of Memories, Auckland War Memorial Museum.
The Guest Speaker will be Maj. Gen. David Gawn MBE, Chief of Army.
The valued participation of the New Zealand Army Band and Auckland Choral will considerably enhance this Commemoration. The music for the item to be sung by Auckland Choral, “In Flanders Fields”, has been specificly composed for this Commemoration by the eminent New Zealand composer David Hamilton.
Maj. Gen. David Gawn MBE, will present his Award (The Chief of Army Commendation) to WO1 Dennis Schofield, Director of Music, The Band of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery, and Mr. Adam Moriarty, Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Presentation of the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Prize to James Costello Ladanyi, Scots College, Wellington, winner of the competition “Why don’t we remember the Battle of Passchendaele” by the Hon. Michael Woodhouse MP, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs.
Georgia Warwick, Dragon Chen and Kobanaa Poopalasingham winners of the Suburban Newspapers’ Passchendaele Tribute Competition, will be invited to lay poppies.
We invite you to join us in the World War I Hall of Memories to remember the sacrifices made on 12th October 1917. Poppies will be available for those wishing to lay them in remembrance of their fallen.
