A Kiwi soldier whose heroic actions in the Battle of Messines earned him a Victorian Cross is being honoured on the battle's 90th anniversary.
Around 400 soldiers were killed and another 4,000 wounded in the World War I battle in Messines, Belgium.
Eight thousand New Zealanders - the size of the country's defence force today - were in the attack. Amongst the Kiwi contingent was Lance Corporal Samuel Frickleton.
Frickleton earned a Victoria Cross after he rushed into oncoming fire and hurled hand grenades into two enemy machine-gun posts.
Frickleton died in 1971 at the age of 80, but his bravery will be marked long after he has gone - commemorations will also take place in Messines on Thursday night where a plaque will be unveiled in his honour.
"I'm just glad they remembered him because a lot of these things today...get lost in time," says Frickleton's great nephew Peter Love.
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