Bruce William White attended the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele to honour his uncle who fought. Photo / Andrew Warner
Bruce William White attended the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele to honour his uncle who fought. Photo / Andrew Warner
A picture of William Campbell White lay against the Mount Maunganui Cenotaph throughout a service commemorating the 100th anniversary of the battle of Passchendaele on Saturday afternoon.
His nephew, Te Puke's Bruce William White, was among the more than 100 people who gathered at the cenotaph to pay their respectsand remember what was described as New Zealand's darkest day of history.
The sun warmed the faces of those commemorating the anniversary.
Ronlee White is the great-grandniece of William Campbell White and said the commemoration of the battle was important because she had a personal connection.
"The battle is very significant to me and my family ... my dad is very proud."
The service was organised by the Hauraki Patriots DFMC, which is a group of people who were military or ex-military with a love of motorcycles.
About 30 members from different clubs of Patriots New Zealand attended the service and their motorcycles lined Marine Parade.
The president of the Hauraki Patriots DFMC, identified only as Morrie, said the service would remember those "who forged our country New Zealand many, many years ago".
"We must remember our past because without remembering our past we are no good heading towards the future."
Brian Geoghan said when he was growing up he didn't know too much about what had happened during the battle of Passchendaele but now thinks it is important to honour "what the hell those poor guys went through".
What does the Battle of Passchendaele mean to you?
Ronlee White, 61, Te Puke
Ronlee White, 61, Te Puke
I've got a personal connection to Passchendaele, my great uncle died on October 12, it's very significant to me and my family.
