New Zealand soldier given final resting place after a century

On 25 February 2013, an unknown New Zealand soldier from the First World War was buried at Messines Ridge British Cemetery in Mesen, in the presence of Mrs Paula Wilson, New Zealand’s Ambassador to Belgium. The Government of Flanders was represented at the ceremony by Secretary General Koen Verlaeckt from the Flemish Department of Foreign Affairs.

Others present at the burial were highly-ranked New Zealand military officials, including Lieutenant General Rhys Jones, Chief of Defence Force, and two New Zealand AFS exchange students. They read a poem in honour of the soldier. The physical remains were buried next to another unknown New Zealand soldier, whose skeleton was found two years ago during excavation works.

In his speech following the ceremony, Mr Verlaeckt stressed the enormous sacrifices of the people of New Zealand during the First World War. The partnership between Flanders and New Zealdn has always been crucial, and will only intensifu during the upcoming centenary of the Great War (2014-2018).