The Governor-General, The Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy and Sir David Gascoigne will depart for France tomorrow evening to attend official commemorative events marking the liberation of Le Quesnoy by New Zealand troops in the closing days of the First World War.
During the battle, the New Zealanders chose not to bombard the town, and instead scaled the town’s ramparts by ladder, thereby limiting civilian casualties and earning lasting gratitude from the inhabitants and their descendants.
Following the commemorative events in Le Quesnoy, Dame Patsy and Sir David will then travel to London, where they will have an opportunity to see the acclaimed Oceania Exhibition at the Royal Academy. A visit to Oxford will include morning tea with New Zealand Rhodes Scholars.
Programme:
3 November
1545 Opening of the New Zealand Peace Garden, Rangimarie, Le Quesnoy
1930 Heritage trail walk from the New Zealand Memorial in Le Quesnoy
2020 Meeting with members of Le Quesnoy-New Zealand Association
4 November
0930 Le Quesnoy community church service
1030 Official Commemoration Ceremony
1230 New Zealand plaque inauguration at the French War Memorial
1315 Vin d’honneur ceremony at the Town Hall
5 November
1030 Morning tea with New Zealand Rhodes Scholars at Oxford University
1145 Tour of Bodleian Library
6 November
0845 Tour of Oceania Exhibition (private)
1030 Morning tea with New Zealand High Commission and Agency staff
1855 Oceania Creative Industries Reception with NZ-UK LINK Foundation
ENDS
For further enquiries, please contact Nerina Bennett at Government House, ph 021 470 583
Last updated:
Wednesday, 31 October 2018