Dubbo heroes to be part of The Belgians have not forgotten exhibition

Belgian Ambassador Jean-Luc Bodson will be in Dubbo to open the international and touring exhibition, The Belgians have not forgotten, at Western Plains Cultural Centre (WPCC).

Created by the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 in Belgium, the exhibition affirms the country’s deep respect and gratitude to the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who gave their lives in Flanders during World War I

Only four communities were chosen to host the exhibition in Australia.

Dubbo and District Family History Society has been compiling the list of Dubbo soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Third Ypres campaign that included multiple battles.

On Thursday WPCC manager Andrew Glassop said it was hoped that the list would be ready for presentation to the Belgian ambassador at the exhibition opening from 2pm. He said the society’s research would also be introduced to the exhibition featuring emotive music and commentary, a large information cube covered in images and information, war artefacts including helmets and bayonets, digital presentations and a looping documentary.

Mr Glassop inspected the exhibition on Thursday morning while revealing a conversation with a returned servicemen in Dubbo. “He was saying that lots of people in Europe in countries like Belgium don’t understand why we connect such significance to Gallipoli when what happened on the Western Front was far worse, far more devastating and far more Australian lost their lives,” Mr Glassop said.

The WPCC manager thinks of mud, senseless loss of life and “almost numbing bravery” when he hears the word Passchendaele. A reported 6000 Australians died on Belgium soil during World War I.

The exhibition will close at WPCC on February 8 and move to Hervey Bay before heading to New Zealand. Ambassador Bodson said Belgians “have not forgotten, so we have decided in this exhibition to say thank you and express our gratitude”.