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Battle of Messines

Written by on May 26th, 2017.      0 comments

BATTLE OF MESSINES

JUNE 1917

Field gun at the Battle of Messines

Messines was the first ‘big push’ of 1917. Meticulously planned, the action started on the 7th of June with the detonation of huge underground mines that rattled the teacups in London and killed 10,000 German soldiers.

The New Zealanders secured their objectives and the battle was considered a great victory. Newspapers described it as “biggest and boldest attack of the war” and initially casualties were reported as very light. But the true cost of the battle started to make itself known as the Casualty Lists and Rolls of Honour were published in newspapers.

Last night’s casualty list was the heaviest yet described issues since the New Zealand Division participated in the battles of the Somme.Evening Post 21 June 1917.

There were 3,700 casualties, of which 700 were killed.

Our Roll of Honour lists the names of the men who died in this Battle.

For more information on the battle click HERE

 

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ABOUT US

The Fields of Remembrance Trust was established in 2012 to honour those who served and died for our nation during World War One.

The Trust is made up of the Passchendaele Society, the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association, New Zealand (RNZRSA) representIng all local RSAs, and the Auckland RSA. It is a registered charity.