New Zealand landscapers and architects are being invited to submit proposals for a peace garden in Le Quesnoy, the French town liberated by New Zealand troops in their last major action of the First World War.
The suggested site is at the foot of the formidable ramparts scaled by soldiers of the New Zealand Division to capture Le Quesnoy on 4 November 1918.
It’s part of a project to create a memorial trail of around 15 peace gardens in Northern France during the final year of the WW1 Centenary.
Honouring the dead of many countries who fell on French soil in the Great War, the scheme has been initiated by art & jardins Hauts-de-France and France’s Centenary coordinator, Mission Centenaire.
The deadline for submissions is 17 March 2018. For details, see WW100 New Zealand.
Le Quesnoy’s liberation, in the final days of the First World War, was one of New Zealand’s most remarkable Western Front operations as Allied forces pushed the Germans out of France. Troops used a ladder to climb into the town over its 17th century ramparts and overcome stiff resistance.
Strong ties were forged between Le Quesnoy and New Zealand after the war, and a series of events will take place to mark the 2018 Centenary.
These include a ceremony in Le Quesnoy on November 4, part of New Zealand’s official programme of WW1 commemorations. A permanent New Zealand Memorial Museum is planned.
November 4 will also see the unveiling of ‘Victory Medal’, the commemorative sculpture by New Zealand artist Helen Pollock which has already been displayed in Arras and Messines.
A centenary conference, France and New Zealand during the Great War, will be held on November 2 and 3, jointly organised by Le Quesnoy Town Council and the University of Waikato.
Source: WW100 New Zealand/art & jardins, Hauts-de-France, Wikipedia
Images courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington (Photograph by Henry Armytage Sanders – Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association:New Zealand official negatives, World War 1914-1918. Ref: 1/2-013786-G – No known copyright restrictions)
Posted by: CN Editorial Team