The assault resulted in a tremendous loss of life for New Zealand, with over 840 deaths in the space of only a few hours and 3700 casualties throughout the day.
The conditions surrounding the Belgian village of Passchendaele preceding the attack were not ideal. A sudden onset of rain had turned the ravaged battlefield into a muddy and treacherous bog. This not only hindered the transport of adequate equipment and supplies to support an advance, but also the ability of medical units to evacuate the wounded.
In the aftermath of Passchendaele, it took three days for stretcher-bearers to clear New Zealand casualties from the battlefield. One stretcher-bearer souvenired a bullet-riddled bugle from a dead German soldier that is a poignant reminder of what was endured, for both sides, in the mud of Passchendaele.
Mourning for lost friends and discouraged by what seemed a futile attack, the tragedy at Passchendaele greatly affected the morale of New Zealand soldiers. The news of the huge death toll had a devastating impact upon communities at home in New Zealand, many families suffering more than one fatality. The total number of casualties on 12 October 1917 remains the highest New Zealand has experienced in a single day while serving overseas.
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