Tribute to Australians and Kiwis at Bastille's Day 2016

http://www.france24.com/en/20160712-australians-kiwis-join-frances-bastille-day-parade

PARIS (AFP) -
Troops from Australia and New Zealand will be the guests of honour in France's annual Bastille Day parade on Thursday to commemorate their participation in one of World War I's bloodiest battles 100 years ago.
The 85 New Zealanders, some wearing traditional Maori dress, and 140 Australian soldiers have been invited to the parade on the Champs Elysees avenue "as part of the centenary commemorations of the Battle of the Somme," General Bruno Le Ray, the military governor of Paris, told a briefing.
They are part of a parade of more than 3,000 men and women on foot, with 241 on horseback.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2016/jul/12/best-photographs-of-the-day-a-maori-on-parade-a-pms-exit

http://www.hultonarchive.com/pictures/maori-soldiers-take-part-in-the-annual-bastille-day-news-photo-547193444

 

Skipper what a beautiful photo of the parade with the Arc de Triumph in the back ground . A great day in France.

Gaines

 

Cheers Gaines, the weather was fine. We had a Bbq despite a short shower, but everythign ended ok.

 

Excellent. And superb photos.

 

Thanks gentlemen




http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/en-images-selfies-kepis-et-maoris-pour-le-defile-du-14-juillet_1812426.html

 

Germans VS Maoris...makes me chuckle every time...
Who would think to meet the worlds most feared warriors in the country side of France!

 

The Germans were afraid of the British using "warriors" from the British Empire and Dominions. There are lots of untrue reports fromm the Germans of being attacked by black British troops. Untrue, but indicative of German fear.

 

Descriptions of Maori trench raids in July 1916.

http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-CowMaor-t1-body-d8.html