The Western Front Today - New Zealand Memorial and Park/Bunkers
The New Zealand Memorial at the New Zealand Memorial Park in Messines is identical to that located at Gravenstafel.
Also sited within the Memorial Park are two well-preserved German pill-boxes.
The opening day of the 7 June 1917 Battle of Messines saw New Zealand forces - the 3rd Rifle Brigade - attack from Nieuwkerke in a successful mission to seize control of German pill-boxes such as these in the Messines area.
Film Footage of New Zealand Memorial
References:
Before Endeavours Fade, Rose E.B. Coombs, After the Battle 1994
Major & Mrs Holt's Battlefield Guide - Somme, Leo Cooper 2000
A respirator was a gas mask in which air was inhaled through a metal box of chemicals.
- Did you know?
