A commemoration will be held this afternoon in a French town which our troops bravely recaptured in the dying stages of the First World War.

In November 1918, a week before the war ended, the New Zealand Division seized Le Quesnoy, which had been under German control for four years, and was secure behind a moat and 18-metre high ramparts.

In New Zealand soldiers' last major action in the war, troops used fire brigade ladders to scale the wall, ultimately opening a town gate and forcing German surrender.

The town has a special New Zealand memorial, where a dawn service will be held this afternoon at 4pm.

Defence Force contingent head Commander Tony Masters says they are being made very welcome.

"The locals are extremely friendly," he said. "They've taken us under their wing, and are extremely proud of their town and our previous involvement."

"It's been quite humbling."

Commemorations will also be held in the French village of Longueval, where the New Zealand Division joined the Battle of Somme in September 1916.

New Zealand forces suffered around 12,000 losses in 23 days in France and Belgium - more than during the eight month campaign at Gallipoli.