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The New Zealand Forces Memorial
 
   
French version / Version française    
   
                           
Since the advent in 1901 of shells loaded with explosives, the fortifications were no longer effective to defend the town.
It seemed wiser to gather the available troops in the armies of maneuver than to immobilize them in fortresses. During the 1914-1918 war, the city had to ensure the mobilization of several battalions of infantry.
     
These units quickly left the city to participate in military operations.

On August 25, 1914, the Germans had invaded Belgium and they won Charleroi, they stand before the city. They threw shells into the town and they entered it.


     
     
After four years of fighting, the exhausted German troops were gradually pushed back towards the border.

With the help of the English armies, enemies have gradually abandoned the country.
 
Heavy fighting was delivered to the passage of the valley of the Selle and the storming of the forest Mormal.

This picture show you the path to the New Zealand Forces Memorial.

     
Gradually, the New Zealand troops invaded the city and after a bombardment of eighteen days, November 4, 1918, they took the town by climbing the walls.
     
       
                       
 
These 2 photos show the monument, whose inauguration was presided over by Maréchal Joffre, victor of the Battle of the Marne.
  
                       
 
To access this monument, you can pass the gate of New Zealanders if you start from the Place du General Leclerc.
                       
 
 

The name of the school Averill was chosen to pay tribute to the Commander of New Zealand troops, Lieutenant Averill, who liberated Le Quesnoy in 1918.
 
  Dr Averill
Our town has retained close links with the city of Cambridge in New Zealand, and each year at the Anzac Day 26 April (ANZAC: Australian and New Zeland Army Corps), the city is visited by the ambassador and Ministers of New Zealand.
 
On the way to the monument, the flag of New Zealand.
 
 
Here are some more recent pictures of this monument
 
  At right, is the Jeanne d'Arc boulevard
 
                         
  We accede to the monument
by tunnel
     
  again some meter
                         
  then you turn left
                         
 
                         
The monument is now
in front of you
                         

It is this wall to the left
which was climb by


the New Zealand troops
     

This piece of wall where is the monument belongs to the
New Zealand

 
     
     
     
   
     
   
  THEY CAME FROM THE UTTERMOST ENDS OF THE EARTH
     
 
     
   

We find the same pattern on the painting found in the Town of Quesnoy.

Quercitain, I always have known this painting.

All those New Zealand soldiers killed in these conditions compel our respect.
                         

The same place

     
Here are some photos of New Zealand troops who liberated the city.
A New Zealand, 18-pounder gun, in action
near Le Quesnoy on October 29,1918
                       
 
                       

New Zealand soldiers to where they started the successful attack on Le Quesnoy.
                       

New Zealand military transport moving along a road near Le Quesnoy
on October 30, 1918.
                       
 

The gate near the monument

 
                         
 

Here we understand that

the wall is very high.

You have to imagine that soldiers

climbed on a ladder these walls

under enemy fire.

This reinforces the idea that these

soldiers were really exceptional.
 
Finally, the city released
New Zealand troops marching through Le Quesnoy, the November 10, 1918
New Zealand troops, on parade in Le Quesnoy's square, November 1918