The Somme

On September 15 I got to attend the 90th Anniversary Memorial Service of the Battle of the Somme in Longueval, France. That date was chosen as it was the date that the first New Zealand battalions joined the battle. The push they made that day only covered a few miles, but it was the largest amount of ground covered by any group of soldiers throughout the battle.

I got to go as a representative for DIA, and Ariane came along as a groupie. It was a long journey in a mini-van, but it was made up for by going through the chunnel (they loaded us onto the train in our van - that was weird, sitting in a van on a train!) and the service itself.

The Somme was literally a bloodbath, but today the memorial to our fallen soldiers is a beautiful patch of green in the middle of open fields, just down the road from the tiny village of Longueval. Amongst the attendees at the service was the NZ ambassador to France, the Australian, Indian, German and South African ambassadors to France, the head of the French Defence and his aides, and the Mayor of Longueval.

First, four NZ soldiers dressed in WWI uniform took up watch at end corner of the memorial. Local Veterans led the procession and a unit from the French Army provided the brass band. The procession was greeted by Jodie who sang a traditional Karakia and then we listened to (on cd) Kiri Te Kanawa singing Poi Kare Kare Ana. By now there wasn't a dry eye.

Many speeches were made, and schoolchildren from France and NZ laid flowers. One of the children read a letter from a NZ soldier who had fought at the Somme which described, in typical laid-back kiwi style, how horrific the fighting had been. He was still positive and ended the letter remarking how he couldn't wait to get back into the fray to help his friends. He was killed in battle not long after. (More tears from Angela.)

We were invited back to the Town Hall where the whole town had turned out, and we got to sample many delicious french tid-bits. Ariane provided my entertainment. On the bus with us was Major Steve Guerney and his lovely wife who had just arrived from NZ. It was their first visit to Europe so they wanted to stay on in France and go directly from the service to Paris. We got talking to the Head Advisor of the French Defence Force - who was absolutely charming - and when Ariane found he was headed back to Paris that night promptly asked him if he could give Steve and his wife a ride! He wasn't able to, but he was so gracious he found out about possible trains for them. And people say the French are rude...

It was a moving service and I was surprised at how well attended it was by Kiwis who were travelling in the area.