1 August 2007
by POWT Phil Bishop
Being part of Exercise Long Look 2007 presented an opportunity to participate in the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of Messines Ridges, in Belgium.
The ceremony was organised by NZDS London, and in true Army style, was meticulously planned and executed. The Royal New Zealand Navy contingent was made up of Lt Cdr McRae, Lt Pevreal, Lt Arndt, and myself.
We were just a few of the 21-strong NZDF contingent, who boarded the Coach heading for the Eurostar. The Eurostar train crosses the English Channel in a tunnel, affectionately known as the “Chunnel”, and takes 35 minutes.
Mesen (sometimes also called by its name in French “Messines") has a special relationship with New Zealand, and more recently with the New Zealand town Featherston. It also has a special significance for New Zealand as the scene of a major and highly successful attack by New Zealand troops in 1917. The people of Mesen have never forgotten this as they were liberated for a short time from the Germans. Mesen fell again to German hands in early 1918.
The twinning relationship between Featherston and Mesen is a special one. This relationship began in 1975 and recognises an historic link between the two towns. Many of the young New Zealanders who came to fight in Belgium set out from the Featherston Military Camp, where they had trained.
The II ANZAC’s were assigned the task of capturing Messines Ridge.
On 7 June 1917, the New Zealanders captured the village of Messines, flanked on one side by the Australians (together forming the ANZAC Corps) and on the other by British and Irish troops. The attack was launched by the detonation of 19 giant mines under the German trenches – the sound allegedly being heard in London. Some of the craters are still visible.
Over 2,000 guns with a third of them heavy or medium batteries, were used. A medium or heavy gun was allocated to every 40 metres of front. 144,000 tons of shells were allotted to the attack. In the bombardment over 1,000,000 rounds were fired.
The Contingent stayed overnight in Lille, France. After some French wine and food, we headed off early to Mesen.
The first Wreath Laying Service we were involved in was conducted at the NZ Memorial. The main service was at the Messines Ridge Cemetery. A karanga was performed by Puna Heremaria and Precious Clark, providing a unique New Zealand touch. Locals would not be outdone, however, and a band and guard were ably provided by the Belgian forces.
The wreath laying was augmented by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa’s ‘Po Atu Rau’ where VIPs, local dignitaries, and children laid poppies. At the conclusion of the service, we marched off to the music of Po Kare Kare Ana and proceeded on foot to a third and final service at Mesen church for the unveiling of a plaque to honor L/Cpl Frickleton, VC. As the sound of the church bells rang 1100hrs, the Unveiling Ceremony commenced. Lt Col John Boswell provided the historical background to Frickletons action that earned him the VC, before the MP Annette King unveiled the plaque.
More than 250,000 servicemen of the “British Empire" lost their lives in WWI in Belgium. Of these, 4,711 were New Zealanders. The trip was an enlightening experience in history, and I am glad to have been apart of it.
See our 90th Anniversary at Messines Image Gallery
Read Major Aaron “Mikki” Mikkelsen's view of the 90th Anniversary Commemorations at Messines.