Tomb of the Unknown Warrior

These images show the arrival of the Unknown Warrior at Whenuapai Airport at dawn and the transferal of the casket to a Hercules aircraft in preparation for transporting to Wellington. Click on thumbnails for enlargements (only 72dpi versions available for these). Photographs provided by New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).

Commentary: New Zealand's Unknown Warrior Finally on his Way Home

Today at the New Zealand memorial site near Longueval, France, New Zealand’s Unknown Warrior was officially handed over by French authorities to the Chief of Defence Force, Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson and his 78-strong Defence Force contingent that deployed to France specifically for the return of the Unknown Warrior.

Prior to the ceremony the casket was dressed in the Mayor of Longueval’s office and carried by hearse to the New Zealand Memorial site where New Zealand and French Guards of Honour and a Catafalque Guard awaited his arrival.

The casket was then carried to the base of the Memorial by a French Military Bearer Party as a New Zealand Maori Karanga (a call to the Warrior’s spirit) and Karakia Whakatau (prayer to clear the way of a safe journey for all and the welcome back of one of our own) was performed by members of the New Zealand Defence Force Maori Cultural Group.

Over 100 people were there to witness the ceremony, including French and New Zealand Government officials, RSA representatives, Longueval locals and a number of expatriate New Zealanders who traveled from London to be there.

After addresses by Richard Kellaway, Director-General of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, His Excellency Adrian Macey, NZ Ambassador to France and Mme. Claude Dulamon, Sous-Prefete of Peronne, Defence Force Chaplain, Julian Wagg opened the ceremony with a prayer for the Unknown Warrior and ‘all New Zealanders who served the cause of justice and peace in distant lands’.

During the ceremony, the Chief of Defence read from the book of Lamentations before the Last Post was sounded and NZ and French flags were lowered and after the ‘Ode to the Fallen’ was read by NZ RSA President, John Campbell the crowd observed a minute of silence. The Lament and Reveille were then played as the flags were once again raised.

A 25-piece French military band performed both the National Anthems of France and New Zealand.

As a New Zealand Bearer Party removed the casket from the Catafalque a New Zealand Maori Poroporoaki (a farewell call for all those departing and wishing them a safe journey) was performed before the Hearse carrying the Unknown Warrior proceeded directly to the Airport at Lille.

At a reception hosted by the Mayor of Longueval, M. Jean Blondel the Chief of Defence Force thanked the local community for looking over the New Zealand warrior and regarding him as one of their own for all this time.

The contingent members then headed directly to the Airport where the Aircrew from the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s 40 Squadron had their aircraft prepared for departure.

At Lille Airport while waiting to board, all were sincerely thanked by the Contingent Commanding Officer, Lt Col David Russell for the exceptional level of professionalism that has been displayed by Defence Force personnel throughout the mission. RSA President, John Campbell also took the opportunity to address the contingent and thank them for being involved in what is, without question, an historical event.

The contingent arrives in Wellington on 10 November at which time the Unknown Warrior will finally be returned to the nation.

On Friday 5 November, the eve of the Handover Ceremony, the New Zealand Ambassador to Belgium, His Excellency Wade Armstrong, led the New Zealand delegation at the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate, Belgium which is held every evening at 8.00pm.

Commentary: Defence Contingent Salute Fallen Soldiers at Menin Gate

FRIDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2004
Rebecca Reedy, Defence Public Relations Unit, France

The Defence contingent currently in France supporting the Ministry for Culture and Heritage repatriating the body of an Unknown Warrior killed during WWI attended the time-honoured Last Post ceremony at Menin Gate in Belgium this evening.

Arriving in Belgium just before dusk, the 78 Navy, Army and Air Force personnel marveled at the town's architectural restoration since the devastation of WWI as they approached the huge and sorrowful arch known as Menin Gate, where the names of close to 55,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers reported missing in WWI literally line the walls.

Standing inside the monument it seemed hard to believe that this was where more than half a million of the estimated nine million who died in WWI had lost their lives. And despite the absence of New Zealand names (as New Zealand soldiers have been recognised at the sites where they actually fell) emotions flowed.

After having the chance to absorb the atmosphere of the town the entire contingent were welcomed to a reception hosted by the Burgomaster (Mr Luc Dehaene) and other town officials at the Town Hall near the Menin Gate and briefly Belgium and New Zealand service personnel took the opportunity to meet.

It was at 8pm exactly that six buglers stepped into the roadway under the memorial arch and played the Last Post (a traditional salute to fallen warriors that has been sounded at Menin Gate every night since 1929).

As the Last Post played New Zealand officers saluted in respect to the fallen and for a moment it seemed as though traffic ceased and stillness descended over the memorial.

New Zealand’s involvement in the ceremony included a citation by Private Hamish Wright and the Lament played by Lance Corporal Mackenzie Rowe. New Zealand’s presence was then formally acknowledged by the Chairman of the Last Post Committee, as was the huge loss in lives our country suffered as a result of WWI.

Mr Luc Dehaene, the Chief of Defence Force, Mr Wade Armstrong (the New Zealand Ambassador) and Col Rtd. John Campbell (President of the New Zealand RSA) then laid wreaths before the buglers sounded the Reveille and the band performed both the New Zealand and Belgium national anthems.

Locals, renowned for their pride in the simple but moving tribute to the courage and self-sacrifice of those who fell in WWI were there in the hundreds to witness New Zealand’s contribution to the ceremony, which ended in true bi-cultural style with a rousing haka that echoed through the town’s haunting monument.

For many, it was the end of an emotional day. This was particularly so for two members of the contingent, WO Noel Baigent and Sergeant Pani Houia. Both men had separated from the group briefly in the morning for their own personal pilgrimages and to pay respect to their fallen relatives buried in France.

Those with a direct link to the area have not been the only ones to experience overwhelming emotion. New Zealand's Chief of Defence Force, Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson, who was present at the sealing of our Unknown Warrior’s casket on 4 November has described the experience as one of the most emotional occasions of his career.

Tomorrow morning is the official handover Ceremony at the New Zealand Memorial Site where the New Zealand Defence Force will receive the Unknown Warrior from the French military and Mayor of Longueval on behalf of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

They will then return to Wellington on 10 November to bequeath him back to the nation before his Armistice Day burial at the National War Memorial in Wellington.

Commentary: Rehearsals in France for the Return of the Unknown Warrior. Thursday 4 November 2004

Rebecca Reedy, Defence Public Relations Unit, France

The Defence Force contingent sent to France to collect and return the Unknown Warrior to the nation, rehearsed collectively for the first time at the New Zealand Memorial (near the village of Longueval) today in preparation for the official Handover Ceremony on 6 November.

After rehearsals, the 78 Navy, Army and Air Force representatives visited the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, an area where a high concentration of unnamed New Zealand soldiers are buried, before setting out on foot to explore the land where so many New Zealanders fought and lost their lives during World War I. London-based New Zealand Defence Force Historian, Dr Chris Pugsley guided the group and was able to give vivid depictions and a sobering perspective to the horrific events that occurred when the area was a bloody battlefield.

The day came to a close as low cloud crept over the land (which is now expansive ploughed fields) and the New Zealand Defence Force Maori Cultural Group performed a haka that challenged the battlefield and spiritually marked the beginning of the return of the Unknown Warrior.

Many contingent members have mentioned the great honour and emotion they feel to be visiting the once war-torn region and the privilege they have of being intrinsically involved in returning New Zealand's Unknown Warrior.

The contingent, led by the Chief of Defence Force, Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson, will attend the Menin Gate Last Post Ceremony in Belgium tomorrow before receiving the Unknown Warrior from French authorities at Longueval village on Saturday 6 November.