The importance of the town of Ypres is reflected in the five major battles that occurred around it during the war. During the First Battle of Ypres (subsequently referred to by the Germans as “The Massacre of the Innocents”), the Allies halted the German Army’s advance to the east of the city. The German army eventually surrounded the city on three sides, bombarding it throughout much of the war. The Second Battle of Ypres saw the Germans use gas on the battlefield for the first time in the Great War. Third battle in 1917 is more commonly referred to as Passchendaele, and the fourth and fifth battles occurred during 1918.
The names of over 57,000 Commonwealth soldiers with no known graves who died in the Ypres Salient are commemorated on the Menin Gate, where every evening at 20:00, buglers from the local fire brigade close the road which passes under the Memorial to sound the Last Post.
The Last Post has been sounded at the Menin Gate every night since the 11th of November 1929. The only exception to this was during the four years of the German occupation of Ypres from the 20th of May 1940 to the 6th of September 1944 when the town was liberated by the Polish. During the occupation the daily ceremony was instead continued in England at Brookwood Military Cemetery in Surrey.
Itinerary
Below is an example of some of the sites to visit. As each tour is bespoke, you will receive confirmation of your personal itinerary with your booking confirmation.
- Ypres
- Menin Gate Memorial
- Passchendaele Museum
- Langemark Cemetery
- Tyne Cot Cemetery
- Passendale
- Frezenberg
- Essex Farm
- Hooge
- Geluveld
- Sanctuary Wood (Hill 62)