In his book, McNeill explores the Battle of Messines in detail. While campaigns such as Gallipoli, the Somme, and Passchendaele are primarily remembered as tragic failures, the Battle of Messines stands out as a rare success. Here, the strategic objectives were indeed achieved, thanks in part to the effective use of deep mines and meticulous planning. The New Zealanders played a key role in this success.
Despite this, the operation faded into obscurity, possibly overshadowed by the drama that soon followed at Passchendaele. McNeill reconstructs the battle using highly detailed maps and combines his geographical expertise with military history. He describes how approximately 8,000 New Zealand soldiers ascended the Messines Ridge in what was one of the most sophisticated and precisely planned operations up to that point. More than 1,000 of them would remain behind, lost in the folds of the land.
His narrative goes beyond the New Zealand experience alone. By also consulting German and British sources and incorporating personal testimonies from both sides, he presents a nuanced and comprehensive account of the Battle of Messines.
About Jeffrey McNeill
Dr. Jeffrey McNeill is a New Zealand geographer and public policy analyst. He is an honorary research associate at Massey University in New Zealand. Originally trained as a geographer, he became captivated by the First World War, not least because of his grandfather’s wartime past; who fought with the New Zealand Division during the Battle of Messines.
During the 90th commemoration of that battle, Dr. McNeill noticed the striking lack of in-depth reference works on the subject. This realization motivated him to address the gap himself, ultimately resulting in the book Taking the Ridge: Anzacs & Germans at the Battle of Messines 1917.
Practical
- Date: Thursday 2 October 2025 at 7 PM
- Location: Research Centre, Ieperstraat 1, 8980 Zonnebeke
- Entrance: € 10/person, including a drink. Payment on site (cash or payconiq)
- Free entrance for Friend, Corporate and Ambassadors of the Passchendaele Membership
- The lecture will be held in English
- After the lecture, the book will be available for purchase at € 35
- Register here