In Flanders Fields

**Niblox** · 27th August 09, 12:11 PM

Just back from a trip to Flanders, bordering both France and Belgium. This was a cycling trip organised by the Cyclists' Touring Club of the UK and we had a great week based in St Omer in France and Ypres in Belgium. The memorials to the First World War are numerous and the contribution of Scottish regiments to this is significant. A few pics with a commentary are attached. I won't go into this in great detail, it was overwhelming.

The memorial to the Scottish and South African soldiers

The plaque on the memorial

Headstone of Scottish soldier awarded the VC

Menin Gate, Ypres. The names of soldiers with no known grave are recorded here

Centre of Ypres. This town was completely flattened in WW1 and was totally reconstructed, down to the last brick, afterwards.

Berks cemetary extension, near Massines

Memorial plaque to John McCrea who wrote the poem "In Flanders Fields" (he was a Canadian of Scottish origins)

Execution site for deserters, Poperinghe.

**pdcorlis** · 27th August 09, 12:21 PM

Lest we forget... Thank You.

**Chas** · 27th August 09, 12:26 PM

Man's inhumanity to man. Thanks for posting.

Regards

Chas

**McMurdo** · 27th August 09, 12:29 PM

Thanks for posting those photos.

**KFCarter** · 27th August 09, 12:43 PM

Thank you for these pictures. They are very moving for me.
My father used to recite "In Flanders Field" to me every year on 11/11...
I hadn't thought about that in a while...
Again, thank you.

**English Bloke** · 27th August 09, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Niblox

... Menin Gate, Ypres. The names of soldiers with no known grave are recorded here

54,896 Names; and that's not all of them. There are another 34,959 missing listed on the walls of Tyne Cot Cemetery in Zonnerbeke close by. I also have a relative buried in Tyne Cot who was killed at the third battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) in September 1917.

I have been to Ieper (Ypres) and it's surrounds many times as well as all along the former British Commonwealth, French, US and German front lines, down to Albert (on The Somme) in France.

Niblox is right. It is overwhelming. Destruction and Death on such a scale is unimaginable. It humbles you to stand amidst those sleeping men.

I must go again.

**Niblox** · 27th August 09, 12:46 PM

Sorry, folks, I posted a pic of Ypres town centre twice, I meant to put up the Berks Extension cemetary: here it is: lots of Scots soldiers and their regiments commemorated. It is close to Massines where the Irish Peace Park is also located.

**Dr. Mac** · 27th August 09, 12:50 PM

Sobering scenes and needed reflections... appreciate you sharing your journey with us.

**Jock Scot** · 27th August 09, 12:50 PM

Thank you for posting the pictures. Sadly My family have more than one name on the Menin Gate. Did you by any chance hear the silver bugles being played there in the evening? For those that don't know, members of the local fire brigade play the last post as an appreciation of the sacrifices of British soldiers made during WW1. Fittingly, but rather strangely, clapping or some such is not encouraged after the ceremony as it is regarded as mark of respect and not a tourist attraction.