Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan said
Australians can register to attend the 100
th
anniversary commemoration service for the Battle of
Polygon Wood later this year.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs Australia, with the assistance of
the Government of Flanders, the municipality of
Zonnebeke and the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917
will hold a Dawn Service to mark the 100th
anniversary of the Battle of Polygon Wood on 26
September 2017.
Members of the public can visit
https://overseascommemorations.ticketek.com.au/ to
register to attend or find out more.
Polygon Wood was the first major battle for the
Australian 5th Division in Belgium and
resulted in 5,770 casualties.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan said victory
at Polygon Wood had come at a great cost but the success
laid the foundation for the 3rd Australian
Division’s victory at the Battle of Broodseinde.
“The Butte is now the site of the Australian 5th
Division Memorial, however many of the Australians who
died at Polygon Wood have no known grave and are
commemorated on the Menin Gate,” Mr Tehan said.
“The Buttes New British cemetery is the last resting
place of more than 500 Australians, half of whom are not
identified.
“As a nation we will honour and remember every
Australian who fought at Polygon Wood.”
Zonnebeke was the centre of Australian operations in
Flanders during the First World War.
Minister-President Geert Bourgeois of Flanders said:
“The huge losses suffered by Australia in the Zonnebeke
region during the Battle of Passchendaele make this
place one that is dear to the hearts of many Australian
families. Australia’s ongoing commitment to
commemoration has only made the ties between Australia
and Flanders stronger over recent years”.
Minister Tehan’s
Office: Byron Vale, 0428 262 894
Department of
Veterans’ Affairs Media: 02 6289 4719