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Cabinet Minister Annette King yesterday honoured those who fought in the Battle of Messines in a speech in Belgium commemorating the battle's 90th anniversary.
Yesterday's services included the unveiling of a plaque at the British Messines Ridge Cemetery commemorating the bravery of New Zealand Lance Corporal Samuel Frickleton.
He earned the Victoria Cross for his act of "magnificent courage" and "extreme heroism" when he charged into an artillery barrage and wiped out two German machinegun posts.
Ms King said as she looked at the beautiful countryside she found it hard to imagine the devastation the area had faced.
"It is natural for us to try to think more of the comradeship, the heroism, the loyalty and sheer determination shown by those men," she said.
"We remember, too, the women and families back home who hardly understood what was going on, as they struggled to make ends meet and to hold families together."
Those gathered honoured not only the soldiers who were killed but also the men who survived but carried physical and psychological wounds, she said.
Messines was also to host several other events this week, including an exhibition of New Zealand winners of the Victoria Cross and battlefield walks.
- NZPA
Messines
* The strategic Belgian village of Messines was occupied by the Germans from November 1916.
* On June 7, 1917, nine divisions of the British Second Army took the Messines Ridge and the Anzacs formed the southern end of the attack, with the New Zealand Division taking Messines.
* Military historians believe the battle was one of the most successful on the Western Front. It was also costly: 700 NZ soldiers were killed in three days.
