Ypres or Ieper (pronounced Eeper) as the Belgians call it, is linked intrinsically with the First World War. You cannot avoid it, so it's time for a sombre post on the blog! Devastating battles took place around here and as a result they have the Last Post ceremony at the Menen Gate every evening at 8pm. This has been carried out every day since 1928 apart from 4 years during the second World War when Ypres was occupied by the Germans. The ceremony is very moving with the Buglers playing the Last Post and then many remembrance wreaths being laid. The Menen Gate is in remembrance of all those soldiers, 54,000, who were killed in Belgium and who were never found or never identified and therefore have no proper burial place. All their names are written on the walls, they go on and on, it's mind-blowing, very moving.
Buglers performing the Last Post.
It was particularly significant for me as my grandfather was killed in The First World War and as I turned round after the ceremony, there behind me on the wall was the list of those killed from his Regiment. There must have been about 600 names. Not my grandfather, as he was killed in France, near Arras and is buried in a military war cemetery there.
The Menen Gate, Ypres.
The next day we cycled to an outdoor art installation about 7km from Ypres. Also linked to WW1 but quite spectacular. I'll let Geoff tell you about that in the next post.
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