Passchendaele Memorial Garden New Zealand

This memorial and garden commemorates more than 5.000 New Zealanders who died fighting in Flanders during the Great War of 1914-1918. During the War from a total population of barely one million, more than 100.000 New Zealanders served overseas. By the end of the war over 180.000 died and remain in foreign lands.

On 12th October 1917, 846 New Zealanders were killed in the vicinity during the attack on Bellevue Spur leading to the Passchendaele Ridge. By the end of the day the total number of casualties including wounded, dead and missing was more than 2.700. This date remains the ‘darkest day’ in New Zealand’s military history.

These casualties are represented by the 846 bronze discs inset in the paving and the 2.700 holes penetrating the remembrance column. The scattering of the discs and the random array of the penetrations symbolize the chaos of war and its impact on the lives of so many. The paving materials, selected to represent the principal islands of New Zealand are Timaru Basalt (South Island) and Maungaturoto Aggregate (North Island).

The special relationship between New Zealand and Belgium was forged during the Great War when families and communities throughout New Zealand gave their hearts to the people of Belgium in a campaign from 1914 to 1920 contributing food, money and clothing to aid families affected by the War. In a statement, a representative of the Belgian government said of the Belgian Relief Fund : "It is so deeply appreciated by my suffering countrymen and will forever be remembered by them."

On behalf of all New Zealanders who served and the mothers and fathers of our peaceful, faraway country whose sons lies forever in Belgian soil, we dedicate this garden to their memory and to the cause of peace.

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Source

• Text: Luc Van Waeyenberge
• Photos: Luc Van Waeyenberge
• Informatiebord Kasteeldomein Zonnebeke