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Passchendale 2008 - the 22nd Battalion Represented
The Battle of Passchendale was fought in early 1918, an event in which more New Zelanders lost their lives in one day than in any other battle. The 90th anniversary was attended by a small contingent of New Zealanders, including the Prime Minister of the time the Hon Helen Clark. Four veterans were included in the party, the oldest being a member of the 22nd Battalion - Doug Froggatt.
Background
The name Passchendaele is synonymous with images of sinking mud, shell holes filled with water, and vast expanse of barren wasteland.
The Third Battle of Ypres, also known as Passchendaele, was one of the major battles of World War I, fought by British, ANZAC and Canadian soldiers against the German Army in 1917.
The aim of the battle was to break through the German defences and capture Passchendaele Ridge then drive north to the Belgian coast and capture the German submarine bases there.
After three months of fierce fighting the town was finally taken by the Canadian forces, but the allies suffered almost half a million casualties, and the Germans almost a quarter of a million.
Allied soldiers who lost their lives at Passchendaele are commemorated at the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing and at the Tyne Cot and neighbouring Commonwealth War Graves cemeteries.
Tyne Cot is the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in the world with nearly 12,000 graves, including 519 New Zealanders, 322 of them unidentified.
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Television News Items
The event at Passchendale was well covered by the news media, including television. here are two newsclips.
Last updated: 18/01/11