New Zealand Memorial Museum

Our plan is to create a Memorial Museum at Le Quesnoy to commemorate the efforts of New Zealanders in two World Wars alongside our French Allies. Situated in the basement of the old Le Quesnoy Fire Station, the museum will provide a focus for New Zealanders travelling in France to help to understand the contribution, losses and sacrifices made by their forefathers in the Great War of 1914-1918, and in the Second World War of 1939-1945.

Above: Before and After views of the underground spaces to become the museum

How The New Zealanders Came To Le Quesnoy

Introduction

Herbert Farrant due to his interest in military history has been visiting France and Belgium annually since 1995. Over this period he became a frequent visitor to the Vaubaun fortress town of Le Quesnoy (population 5000 plus) and thus known to its civic authorities. Viewing the towns accommodation constraints it became obvious that there was a prospect under certain circumstances for a small hotel to be commercially viable if the historical New Zealand connection could be enhanced. In 1999 discussions commenced with the Civic authorities to find a site appropriate to the concept of a Hotel and Memorial Museum on the Western Front dedicated to the New Zealand servicemen of two World Wars. After two preliminary attempts the present site was offered with buildings which are superbly appropriate to this proposed development concept. The concept of establishing a uniquely New Zealand hotel in Le Quesnoy was discussed in 2000 with the last remaining survivor of the New Zealand Divisions attack on 4 November 1918, Lt Colonel Laurence (Curly) Blyth. It was his suggestion that the Hotel should be called “The Riflemen” in memory of the rank held by the majority of soldiers of the 3rd NZ (Rifle) Infantry Brigade who stormed the town and lead to its liberation that day in 1918.

Background
During the Great War of 1914 - 1918 New Zealand, with a population of just under 1.1 million people, with some 243,000 men of military age, was to send 100,000 men overseas to defend the Empire. After fighting as a brigade with the Australians at Gallipoli (ANZACS) the New Zealanders were formed into an Infantry Division. With the formation of the 3rd Infantry Brigade (the New Zealand Rifle Brigade) in March 1916 the Division was sent to the Western Front. From April 1916 until the Armistice in November 1918 the New Zealanders were to fight as a Colonial Division in the British Expeditionary Force in France and Belgium.

Throughout that period the New Zealanders were commanded by a Hawkes Bay sheep farmer, Major General Sir Andrew Russell. Russell’s objectives, when he took command in 1916, was to turn the New Zealanders into the finest fighting division in the British Army. By 1918 that objective, as far as such lofty ideals were practical, had been achieved, thanks to a highly effective reinforcement system. During some 32 months on the Western Front the New Zealand Division was to gain battle experience and participate in all the major battles fought by the British Army. Of some 70,000 who would have passed through its ranks, 48,000 were casualties and 13,500 lie buried forever in France and Belgium.

The Decisive Year - 1918
In early 1918 the New Zealand Division was out of the line at Poperinge in Flanders to retrain and reinforce losses after the late 1917 campaigns in Flanders. In particular the Division had been mauled at Passchendaele, one of the few times during the Great War that they had failed to take their objectives. However the British High Command and Army also failed at the battle known as 3rd Ypres.

On 21 March 1918 the Germans commenced the Spring offensive on the Somme to end the war before the Americans could reach full strength in France. The British 5th Army was destroyed and for the first time gaps started to appear in the Allied front east of Amiens. On 26 March 1918 the New Zealand Division was entrained and moved south to plug a five mile gap astride Auchonvilliers-Hamel Road. Here the New Zealanders fought the German Army to a halt by 5 April 1918. For the New Zealanders it was to be a pivotal role in WWI of stopping the German Spring offensive of 1918.

As a result of this change the New Zealanders were now to pass out of Second ANZAC Corps to British 3rd Army under General Sir Julian Bygn and more importantly under 4th Corps commanded by Lt General G M Harper who took a proprietorial interest in the New Zealanders. After the German Spring British Divisions were reduced from three to two Brigades. The New Zealanders, as the only Colonial Division in British 3rd Army, never did this and were subsequently with adequately trained reinforcements able to remain close to divisional establishment strength on the battlefield of some 18,000 men. From 26 July 1918, as the Allies commenced the final offensive to drive Germany from France and Belgium, the New Zealanders were once more in action. As the British 3rd Army swept across France during the last 100 days, including piercing the Hindenberg line, it was the New Zealanders, who over some 56 miles, lead the way for 49 of those fiercely contested miles. At last the abilities of the New Zealand citizen soldiers to excel in open warfare was to be demonstrated and of the eleven Victoria Crosses won on the field of battle in WWI, six number were awarded during that period.

The Battle of Sambre
In October 1918 British 3rd Army, on a frontage of some 30 miles south of Valenciennes, was to advance through the Sambre Valley to take the town of Mauberge, a critical railhead for the Germans. As always in the line of the advance was the New Zealand Division. On 23 October 1918 the New Zealanders bounced the Germans out of Beaudignes and by 28th when, for logistical reasons, the advance was halted were less than 2,000 yards from the Vauban Fortress town of Le Quesnoy. Initially intended to pass north above the town between 28 October and 4 November 1918 the New Zealanders were shuffled sideways and allocated an 1,800 yard frontage in line with the town. The 37th British Division moved South and 61st Division came into the line on the New Zealanders left. The New Zealand Division had therefore been given the role of liberating Le Quesnoy. The magnitude of this task was entirely appropriate as in November 1918 the New Zealanders, on strength alone ,was the most powerful infantry division of the 62 no. British divisions on the Western Front. In November 1918 there were 16,500 New Zealanders in front of Le Quesnoy with 11,500 infantry and only the 3rd Infantry Brigade (Rifle Brigade) was at half strength.

The Order of Battle for Le Quesnoy
The New Zealanders were well aware that Le Quesnoy contained a significant civilian population and that artillery shelling could not be employed beyond the ramparts. The Order of Battle therefore was that a two brigade attack would be put in with the 3rd Infantry (Rifle Brigade) Brigade with four battalion allocated to work into the fortress and subdue the town. The 1st Infantry Brigade (Auckland and Wellington Regiments) would work to the north and south of the town based on having the town totally surrounded by 9.00 a.m. following a 5.30 a.m. start. The 2nd Infantry Brigade would be in reserve and pass through 3rd Brigade to south of the town late in the day to press on the attack into the Forest of Mormal. One of the devices to allow the Rifle Brigade to get in close to the ramparts was the use of 300 Livens projectors firing 300 number flaming oil drums onto the glacis and ramparts of the west walls to create smoke to obscure the German Garrisons response.

Intelligence at that time indicated that the town and the broken ground around Orsinval, north of the town, would be difficult to attack and fierce fighting did ensue. On 4 November 1918 commencing at 5.30 a.m. the New Zealanders executed the Order of Battle with outstanding success. By 9.00 a.m. they had the town surrounded and pressed on into the Forest of Mormal, a distance of six miles, their largest advance of the entire War. That day, of course, produced the penultimate New Zealand casualties of the Great War. The official history suggested that on that day 1st and 3rd Brigade suffered 464 casualties, of which 93 were dead. Our research (just concluded) indicates that 122 men died at Le Quesnoy. Many of these predominately young men had endured the sacrifice of the Division from the Somme to Passchendaele, only to be cut down within seven days of the Armistice.

Summary
Thus Le Quesnoy is the logical location for a iconic national New Zealand presence in France. The people of Le Quesnoy therefore have a strong emotional link with New Zealand and have commemorated the deeds of 90 plus years ago in a song titled “The Liberators”. We may have forgotten but they have not.
The Hotel development is linked to a Museum concept on a prominent site in the centre of the town facing the town square and adjacent the Avenue in Honour of the New Zealanders.
Completion of the Memorial Museum at Le Quesnoy pays tribute to those New Zealanders who served in Europe in the two wars of the 20th century. In so doing we have at last fulfilled our obligations to their sacrifice and honoured their achievements on a world stage for courage, fortitude and persistence on which New Zealanders international reputation still rests today.