White crosses to commemorate Passchendaele

As part of events to commemorate the World War 1 Battle of Passchendaele, more than 5000 white crosses have been erected outside Fort Takapuna in North Shore City.

At Passchendaele in just a few hours on October 12, 1917, 845 New Zealanders were killed - more than the combined total from the eruption of Mt Tarawera, the Hawke's Bay earthquake, Tangiwai rail disaster, sinking of the Wahine and Erebus.

Veterans' Affairs Minister Judith Collins said today that along with Gallipoli, Passchendaele remained a byword for the terrible sacrifice made by a young New Zealand during the war.

An exhibition at Fort Takapuna and, other events such as a march past and review, commemoration ceremony and massed bands performance, honour the sacrifice of thousands of New Zealand soldiers on the Western Front during the war.

More than 5000 New Zealanders had been killed by the time troops were finally withdrawn from Flanders in February 1918, double the number killed at Gallipoli.

Among the casualties was the first All Blacks captain, Dave Gallaher, who led the 1905 "Originals" on their tour of Britain and France. He died of wounds at Passchendaele in 1917.

An exhibition, Passchendaele: The Belgians Have Not Forgotten, is on display in the fort.

Compiled by the Passchendaele Memorial Museum, it features photographs, movies, music, information and artefacts from battles fought 92 years ago and follows the journey of New Zealand soldiers from Gallipoli through Flanders to Passchendaele.

The exhibition has been on display in Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Featherston and Waiouru, before finishing its tour of New Zealand in North Shore City.

- NZPA