Salute to special ties with town
The special relationship forged between the small French town of Le Quesnoy and New Zealanders has been well and truly honoured.
Kiwis and locals alike gathered to remember the 4th Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, who used ladders to scale the defences of Le Quesnoy (pronounced “ken wah”) and liberate the people on November 4, 1918.
The New Zealand Government conducted commemorative services and a plaque was unveiled, with a dedication ceremony for the New Zealand War Memorial Museum being created in the town. The museum is to be created in a former mayoral residence and is expected to be ready in five to 10 years.
Documentary-maker Jude Dobson described a “sea of black” as New Zealanders paid their respects.
“There were at least 1000 Kiwis here, a sea of black, with silver ferns and poppies everywhere. This really is a little piece of New Zealand along the Western Front.”
Le Quesnoy local William Bleuse said his town had a “very special relationship” with New Zealanders. Street names and parks are named after Aotearoa, Helen Clark and even the All Blacks. “When [Kiwis] arrive in the town we greet them, and there
is a strong connection. We feel like we owe New Zealanders.”
On Saturday night, the town’s people had come out and re-enacted the moment 100 years ago when Kiwi soldiers liberated the town from the German occupation.
“The fact the whole town got involved shows how much they appreciate what New Zealand did.”
The Le Quesnoy ceremony was the final New Zealand overseas commemoration of the World War I Centenary.