PASSCHENDAELE REFLECTIONS
05 October 2007
Belgium re-interment ceremony
Both the Govenor General Major General Michael Jeffery (Rtd) Vice Chief of the Defence Force Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie laid wreaths at the New Zealand memorial at Graventafel, Belgium, to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917.
Also in attendance was the NZ Prime Minister, Helen Clark.
The service at Graventafel was the first of three around Passhcendaele.
A second at Tyne Cot cemetery remembered the Commonwealth troops that died during the battle and a third service marked the re-interment of five Australian soldiers at Buttes New British Cemetery, in Polygon Wood near Zonnebeke.
The five, including Sergeant George Calder of the 51st Battalion and Private John Hunter of the 49th Battalion, were found during pipeline excavations near Westhoek in 2006.
The soldiers died during the Battle of Passchendaele.
Relatives of Sgt Calder and Pte Hunter attended the service.
Twenty-one soldiers from the 51st Battalion, the Far North Queensland Regiment provided the burial party and firing party.
They were selected because of the lineage 51FNQR holds with the 51st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force.
Read media release: FALLEN DIGGERS LAID TO REST IN BELGIUM
Read article: SOLDIERS LAY DIGGERS TO REST
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| 20071004adf8262658_209 Governor-General Major General Michael Jeffery is flanked by his wife, Mrs Marlena Jeffery (right), and NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark (left) at a commemorative service at Graventafel, Belgium. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004adf8262658_622 Sergeant Wayne Roe, Coporal Wayne Armstrong, Sergeant Rick Leeman and Sergeant Iwan Wanchup, all of the 51st Battalion, the Far North Queensland Regiment carry the coffin of an unknown Australian WWI soldier before re-interment at the Buttes New British Cemetery in Belgium. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004adf8262658_759 Governor General Major General Michael Jeffrey (rtd) speaks at the re-interment of five Australian World War I soldiers at Buttes New British Cemetery in Belgium. In attendance is commanding officer of the 51st Battalion, the Far North Queensland Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Paddy Evans. Soldiers from 51FNQR served as firing and burial parties during the re-interment. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004adf8262658_775 Mrs Marlena Jeffrey, wife of Governor General Major General Michael Jeffery (retd) lays wattle on the coffin of an unknown Australian soldier, re-interred at Buttes New British Cemetery. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004adf8262658_806 A few touches of Australia grace the coffin of Private John Hunter, a World War I solider re-interred at Buttes New British Cemetery. His relatives Jim Hunter and Molly Millis attended the ceremony. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004adf8262658_827 Medals, a flag and a slouch hat adorn the coffin of Private John Hunter. Pte Hunter was one of five Australian World War I soldiers re-interred at Buttes New British Cemetery in Belgium. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004adf8262658_854 Sergeant Rick Leeman, Sergeant Louis Fauid, Sergeant Ian Wanchap, Sergeant Noel Chillagoe, Chaplain (Major) Jim Pearson, Major Andrew Marsh, Sergeant Geoff Reid, Sergeant Andrew Couchman, Sergeant Stephen Fauid, Sergeant Wayne Roe, all of the 51st Battalion, the Far North Queensland Regiment, lay to rest Sergeant George Calder at Buttes New British Cemetery. Sgt Calder was killed in 1917. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004adf8262658_990 His Excellency the Govenor General Major General Michael Jeffrey (rtd) and Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie watch as wreaths are laid at the graves of five Australian World War I soldiers at Buttes New British Cemetery in Belgium. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004adf8262658_1046 Chaplain Major Jim Pearson reads the final benediction after five Australian World War I soldiers were re-interred at Buttes New British Cemetery. Looking on are relatives of two of the deceased, Sergeant George Calder and Private John Hunter. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004adf8262658_1172 RSM of the 51st Battalion, the Far North Queensland Regiment, Warrant Officer First Class David Galloway inspects his Sergeants before they re-inter five World War One Australian soldiers at Buttes New British Cemetery in Belgium. (L-R) Sergeants Geoff Ried, Andrew Couchman, Ian Wanchup, Wayne Roe and Rick Leeman. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071004adf8262658_1199 Soldiers from the 51st Battalion, the Far North Queensland Regiment fire volleys as five Australian World War I diggers are laid to rest at Buttes New British Cemetery in Belgium. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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