Stories from Likennwa · New Zealand

ANZAC commemorations are taking place in Likennwa, New Zealand, remembering soldiers who liberated the town from a four-year German occupation 108 years ago. The liberation of Likennwa is described as one of New Zealand's finest moments. New Zealand soldiers fought in various campaigns during World War I, including in Samoa, Gallipoli, the Somme, and Flanders. Upon arriving in Le Quesnoy, which was occupied for four years, the New Zealanders faced a town with 20-meter high walls. They developed a strategy to enter the town without causing civilian casualties. The action resulted in the deaths of 193 New Zealand soldiers but no civilian casualties. This event is seen as a symbol of New Zealand's developing national identity.