Date of publication: 07/02/2013
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has reported that the remains of an unknown New Zealand soldier from the First World War are set to be reburied at Messines Ridge, West Flanders, Belgium.
The remains were discovered during excavations in August 2012 in Mesen, West Flanders.
It has proved difficult to identify the remains of the soldier, but they were officially recognised as being that of a New Zealand citizen based on “unit insignia as well as the location of the find”.
The New Zealand embassy in Brussels has stated that the body is to reburied on 25th February 2013 at the Messines Ridge British Cemetery in Mesen.
The burial will be open to members of the public to attend, and will be overseen by officials, including New Zealand’s ambassador to Belgium, Paula Wilson.
To read further, visit the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website here.
To read details of the burial released by the New Zealand embassy in Belgium, click here.
Images courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.
Posted by: Daniel Barry, Centenary News