For Napier Reserve Forces soldier Dave Garden it was a deployment filled with honour as he joined a large number of Kiwis for the Le Quesnoy commemorations in France last Sunday.
He said he was proud to represent Hawke's Bay and New Zealand at the commemorative services which had a strong Kiwi influence, as it was the New Zealand forces under the leadership of Major General Sir Andrew Russell which freed the small French town from German occupation.
The link between the town and New Zealand has been strong since with several streets bearing Kiwi names, while there is a New Zealand memorial as well as a primary school which bears the name of a New Zealand soldier who fought in the battle for the town on November 4, 1918 — just seven days before the end of the war.
Staff Sergeant Garden, a Reserve Forces soldier with 5th/7th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, was one of two escorts ceremonially guarding the Regimental Colour of 7th Wellington (City of Wellington's Own) and Hawke's Bay Battalion at the ceremony.
The Colour, which bears the battle honour of Sambre (Le Quesnoy), was front and centre of the commemorations.