The New Zealand soldiers killed while liberating the French town of Le Quesnoy during World War One will be honoured in Whangamata next week.

The ceremony will be held at the WWI Memorial Forest site in the recently renamed Le Quesnoy Park on Wednesday, November 4 – the anniversary of the battle.

A story board at the Le Quesnoy Memorial Forest site in Whangamata describes the battle that New Zealand troops fought on 4 November 1918. Photo: TCDC

Thames-Coromandel District mayor Glenn Leach says 122 native trees have been planted at the reserve in honour of the 122 soldiers who were killed in the battle.

'Tens of thousands of our young men – and quite a few women too – went overseas 100 years ago and many did not come back, they made the ultimate sacrifice.

"On the 100th anniversary of the Great War, we want to pay tribute to these brave people with our Memorial Forest project, by creating groves of native trees in each part of the Coromandel where people can go for a walk and remember our shared history.”

The Whangamata ceremony, organised by Thames-Coromandel District Council staff in Whangamata in conjunction with the local Lions and RSA, will also serve as the official opening of Le Quesnoy Park.

Special guests will attended the ceremony including NZ Military Historical Society president Herb Farrant who will tell the story of the battle.

Herb hosts historical tours of Le Quesnoy and is in contact with the mayor about the battle's commemoration in Whangamata.

Also attending will be the niece and great-nephew of Sergeant Vincent Stephenson Twidle who was killed in the battle, Beryl Wharton and Timothy Clarke.

Timothy approached the council about participating in the Le Quesnoy commemoration ceremony after he learned about his great uncle in a school project. With his grandmother Beryl, they will both pay tribute to Sgt Twidle.

The people of Le Quesnoy still remember the sacrifice of our Kiwi soldiers nearly 100 years ago, with streets named after New Zealand places as well as a New Zealand memorial in the two.

A primary school and street is also named after Lieutenant Leslie Averill, who was the first up the ladder to scale the old town's walls during the assault on November 4.

The Le Quesnoy Memorial Forest is one of seven sites across the Coromandel making up the WWI Memorial Forest, or Te Wao Whakamaumaharatanga.

About 3,000 trees have been planted so far at the seven sites.

The Le Quesnoy Memorial Forest planting will take place at Le Quesnoy Park in Whangamata on Wednesday, November 4, from 10am.

For more information about the Thames-Coromandel District Council's New Zealand World War One Memorial Forest visit: www.tcdc.govt.nz/ww1memorialforest