KEY POINTS:
New Zealanders attending the Rugby World Cup in Europe or watching games at home are being urged to wear RSA poppies to mark the 90th anniversary of the worst disaster in New Zealand's history.
On October 12, 1917, on the battlefield of Passchendaele in Ypres, Belgium, more than 2800 New Zealand soldiers were either killed or wounded.
Among those killed at the start of the campaign was Sergeant Dave Gallaher, of the Ponsonby Rugby Club, who had been captain of the Originals, the 1905 All Blacks who toured Britain and France.
Launching a commemorative Poppy Pack at the club yesterday, Returned Services Association president John Campbell said the pack would help New Zealanders to understand the significance of the country's contribution to the Western Front campaign in France and Belgium during World War I.
The $30 pack includes information on where to find key war memorial and war graves in Europe, gives profiles of Gallaher and nine other All Blacks killed on the Western Front and provides further reading and websites to trace grave sites.
Each pack has six poppies and four postcards of battle scenes.
Mr Campbell said a strong contingent of New Zealanders, including former All Blacks, would attend the October 12 commemoration in the course of their trip to Europe for the World Cup.
He hoped New Zealanders would wear a poppy as they watched the All Blacks in Europe, whether they were at a stadium or following the games at home.
On October 12, they could place their poppies at war memorials in towns throughout the country and join in heart and mind with those making the pilgrimage to attend the commemoration.
"War and rugby are two areas in which New Zealanders have proven themselves on the world stage and this is personified by the 10 All Blacks killed on the Western Front," said Mr Campbell.
The RSA hoped the packs would provide the focus for learning more about Passchendaele in the run-up to the anniversary.
All Black Anton Oliver, who attended the launch yesterday, has visited Gallaher's grave at the Nine Elms Cemetery near the town of Poperinge. He recalled a team visit to the battlefields in 2000.
"A lot of our boys did not know much about Passchendaele. I was astonished that they didn't and that it was not part of our school syllabus to teach us about our past.
"On this day, tears flowed remarkably freely. It was a special place and I was proud to be there as a New Zealander."
Gallaher's granddaughter Karen McLachlan was a guest at the launch and said she felt humbled by such a tribute to her grandfather and others who gave their lives.
"To tie it in with today's present players and supporters and returned servicemen is a wonderful tribute."
She is yet to visit her grandfather's grave but hopes to one day.
Another guest at the launch was Fred Allen, former All Black captain, selector, coach and returned serviceman from World War II.
Mr Allen said that on the 50th anniversary he passed the crossroads where Gallaher was shot and found it "very touching".
He said Gallaher was a special inductee in the International Rugby Hall of Fame.
War historian Ian McGibbon said the fighting in France and Belgium was much less familiar to New Zealand than the Gallipoli campaign against the Turks.
But the fighting was far more deadly.
The courage of the New Zealanders under fire in the most adverse circumstances deserved to be better known to New Zealanders.
Dr McGibbon said October 12 was the worst disaster to befall New Zealand in terms of lives lost on a single day.
About 846 New Zealand soldiers were killed and 2000 were wounded in the morning attack on German forces. Another 138 died of their wounds over the next week.
Eight days earlier, in a successful attack at Passchendaele, 275 men died.
Poppy Packs can be ordered through ANZ branches and sale proceeds go to the RSA welfare funds to support veterans and their families.
Pack sponsor Young & Lee Tours says 1200 members of its tour parties will attend commemoration ceremonies in Ypres (now known by its Dutch name leper).
