We will remember
The push to create a memorial museum in a French village liberated by heroic New Zealand troops has received a major boost.
The push to create a memorial museum in a French village liberated by heroic New Zealand troops has received a major boost. reporting by Jude Dobson
For most of World War I, the 3000 citizens of Le Quesnoy were prisoners within the high walls of their fortified town in Northern France. The German army occupied the town until New Zealand soldiers embarked on a mission, on November 4, 1918, to liberate the locals and capture the enemy.
Shelling the town was ruled out because of the certain casualties that would result. The New Zealanders took all the risk upon themselves.
Simply put, courage and a ladder enabled the Kiwis to scale the wall at its only accessible low point. The first up the ladder, soon followed, one by one, by his mates, was Leslie Averill. Smoke, gunfire and fire followed as the New Zealanders defeated the Germans, killing some and taking many prisoners. Although 135 New Zealanders died, not a single civilian life was lost.
It’s the stuff of legend, with the New Zealanders’ remarkable achievement reported on the front page of the New York Times. The citizens of Le Quesnoy have, for more than a century, honoured the New Zealanders’ heroic rescue, naming streets after Averill, the All Blacks, even Helen Clark who visited while prime minister. Year round, shop windows are adorned with ornamental kiwis and mostly handwritten signs welcoming any passing New Zealanders to come in.
Anzac Day is commemorated each year with a ceremony, parade and a lunch involving the entire town of 5000 and any visiting New Zealand dignitaries or tourists. The children of the school named after the revered Averill are a key part of the ceremonies.
Le Quesnoy is the location of the New Zealand War Memorial Museum and visitor centre, which will educate visitors from all over the world, especially young New Zealanders on their OE or school trips, and commemorate the sacrifice of New Zealanders in both world wars.
The project lay dormant on the drawing board for years and New Zealand has remained the only country from those conflicts without a place of its own on what was then the Western Front. That changed in 2017 with the purchase of an elegant historic building in the centre of the town that is being developed as the museum and visitor centre. The French Government came to the party, discounting the purchase price by about half its estimated value, including maisonettes that are destined to become visitor accommodation. The French are keen collaborators in the project, seeing the economic, cultural and tourism value for the town, as well as further cementing the century-old friendship.
The chairman of the trust behind the project, Sir Don McKinnon, says three themes underpin the museum: freedom, friendship and the future. The effort is funded entirely by donations from private individuals and trusts. McKinnon says the trust has raised about half of its goal but needs many millions more to support the project. He has been astounded by the generosity of some major donors.
“Only a few weeks ago, our extraordinary founding partner Richard Izard generously donated $3 million along with an Izard Scholarship for a student exchange with a New Zealand secondary school. That has given us a huge boost.
“Another major partner, the Lindsay Foundation, announced a gift of $1 million as part of its amazing support to enable this project to enter an exciting new phase.”
Other donations have come in ranging from $10 up to $500,000.
“We are grateful to all our donors. They are enabling us to do what New Zealand should have done decades ago – recognise and honour those who served, and educate and inform future generations of New Zealanders. It’s also vital that we maintain the friendship born out of sacrifice. Le Quesnoy is an enduring success story for New Zealand from that terrible war.”
This Anzac Day, New Zealand flags will fly from the houses of Le Quesnoy, but lockdown prevents the usual Dawn Service and Town Hall Mayoral Lunch. Although crowds can’t gather, a small delegation will be at the town walls to remember those who came from the ends of the Earth to ensure their freedom.