Ypres 2020 - Menin Gate Last Post

Menin Gate Last Post Ceremony Sunday 15th March 2020.

On the 14th March 2020, Belgium went into a lockdown as part of the response to the Covid-19 virus. The Last Post Association announced that public attendance at the daily 20:00 ceremony was suspended. The Fire Brigade buglers would continue with the daily ceremony in remembrance of the soldiers of the British Commonwealth.

The ceremony on Sunday 15th March 2020 was conducted with no crowds and no formal ceremony, only the buglers sounding Last Post.

Menin Gate Last Post

Sunday 15th March 2020

Ypres Cloth Hall

Sunday 15th March 2020

Ex Reflect Somme - 2nd Northumbrian Brigade RFA

2nd Northumbrian Brigade RFA
Ypres Extension Cemetery

On the 24th May 1915 the 2nd Northumbrian Brigade RFA were at Potijze, two miles NE of Ypres. The Brigade had deployed one month earlier as part of the Northumbrian Division and was immediately engaged in the 2nd Battle of Ypres.

The Germans had released gas and tried to breakthrough the British lines, but were held by gallant actions of Canadian and British troops.

Gas Attack 2nd Battle of Ypres

The 50th Northumbrian Division were used to reinforce formations fighting in the Salient. The 2nd Northumbrian Brigade RFA deployed in support of 28th Division.

2nd Northumbrian Brigade RFA Location 24th May 1915

It was on the 24th May the Germans renewed their attack on this date in an attempt to
capture the Bellewaarde Ridge. The Brigade War Diary of records intensive artillery fire from the early morning.

At 7pm a German shell exploded on No. 1 gun killing 5 of the detachment and severely wounding the No 1. The war dairy records the loss of;

Corporal JA Carr and Gunners JW Clarke, G Robinson, JW Rowbottom, AW Venus.

At 08:30 Driver Wilson was killed.

The six men were buried at 11:20

 The Gunners remains were discovered  in 2013. They were identified from their shoulder titles which identified them as members of the North Riding Battery from the 2nd Northumbrian Brigade RFA.  Two of the six men could be identified; Gunners JW Rowbottom, AW Venus.

They were all reinterred on April 20th 2016 at a ceremony held in Ypres Town Cemetery Extension Cemetery. In the presence of the British Ambassador to Belgium and families, a burial party from 4th Regiment RA finally laid the men to rest.

World War One Soldiers laid to rest - a farewell for six fallen heroes

Ypres Town Cemetery Extension Cemetery

The opportunity was taken whilst in Ypres to visit the graves.

North Riding Battery Graves
Ypres Town Extension Cemetery

The six men are buried in Plot F II - Graves 33 to 38



F II Grave 33

A SOLDIER OF THE GREAT WAR
Royal Field Artillery

F II Grave 34

A SOLDIER OF THE GREAT WAR
Royal Field Artillery

 F II Grave 35

1308 Gunner
A.J. ROWBOTTOM
Royal Field Artillery

F II Grave 36

A SOLDIER OF THE GREAT WAR
Royal Field Artillery

F II Grave 37

A SOLDIER OF THE GREAT WAR
Royal Field Artillery

 F II Grave 38

1817 Gunner
A.W. VENUS
Royal Field Artillery






At the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate on the eve of the 1st July 2016 I laid a wreath in memory of the men of the 6 Gunners of the 2nd (Northumbrian) Brigade Royal Field Artillery.

Ex Reflect Somme - Menin Gate 1st July 2016

 

Menin Gate
1st July 2016



Ex Reflect Somme - Menin Gate 1st July 2016

On the evening of 1st July 2016 laid a wreath at the 30394th evening ceremony of the Last Post at the Menin Gate.

Menin Gate
1st July 2016

The wreath was laid in memory of the Gunners of the 2nd (Northumbrian) Brigade Royal Field Artillery who had been recently laid to rest in the Ypres Town Extension Cemetery.

Ex Reflect Somme - 2nd Northumbrian Brigade RFA

 

Menin Gate
1st July 2016

Cadets from Northumbria ACF laid wreaths for the Armey Cadet Force, Tyneside Scottish and Tyneside Irish

Northumbria ACF
Menin Gate
1st July 2016

LAST POST ASSOCIATION 1st JULY 2016 



Ypres 2016 - Menin Gate Ceremony

Attended the 30,251st Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate on 10th March 2016

LAST POST ASSOCIATION

Ypres - At the going down of the sun

 Ypres Menin Gate

Ypres Menin Gate Last Post Ceremony

Ypres Menin Gate Last Post Ceremony

Op Drum - Menin Gate Ceremony

Recently paraded at the Menin Gate with the Royal Artillery Association Tyneside Scottish Branch. Lead by the Somme Battlefield Pipe Band, who included the Flanders Jocks in their ranks, we marched from the Grote Market upto the Gate. Heaton Manor (Tyneside Scottish) Detachment ACF.

The ceremony was as ever very moving. The exhortation  'For the Fallen' by L.Binyon being read by Colonel David Middleton Commandant Northumbria ACF.

Hearing Highland Cathederal echoing around the arches was excellent.

The march off entailed a counter march under the Menin Gate before marching back down the Meninstraat with the skirl of the pipes from Somme Battlefield Pipe Band playing on the road to Paschendaele.

A momentous occasion.

Last Post Association - 6th October 2012

Somme Battlefield Pipe Band lead the narch from the Grote Market

Menin Gate 6th October 2012

Somme Battlefield Pipe Band lead the march off

 

Ypres - Menin Gate Ceremony 23rd April 2010

Every evening since 1928, the last post ceremony has been played under the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium. This daily tribute - performed by a team of local buglers - serves to honour the memory of the soldiers of the British Empire, who fought and died in the immortal Ypres Salient during the First World War.



The 23rd April 2010 was the 28,096th Last Post Ceremony

Last Post Association Web Site





Royal Artillery panels on the Menin Gate