Ypres 2010 - Brooding Soldier Monument

On the 22nd April 1915 the Territorials of the Northumbrian Division were settling into their billets to the rear of the Ypres Salient. Mobilised in August 1914, they had been training in the north east and had spent the previous week moving to Belgium. They now looked forward to some hard training to prepare them for taking their part in the line. At around 5 pm that evening, the Germans released chlorine gas, opening the 2nd Battle of Ypres. The Northumbrians were hastily deployed into the maelstrom of gas, shelling and German attacks as they fought to stem the German attempts to breakthrough.



The Brooding Soldier monument was erected to the Canadians who gallantly held against the German gas.






It was near here the Durham Light Infantry and York and Durham Brigades reinforced units in struggle to hold the line. To the south of the monument is St Julian. It was here that the Northumberland Brigade was the first Territorial formation to fight as a formed Brigade.

Ypres 2010 - La Brique Cemetery

 

 La Brique is where Gunner William Fiswick is buried. Gunner Fishwick had joined the 5th Durham Battery from Hebburn in March 1914 aged 17. The Hebburn Battery was part of the South Shields based 4th Northumbrian (County of Durham) Howitzer Brigade RFA (TF), one of the predecessor units of 205 (3DVA) Battery Royal Artillery (V). He was the first casualty of the Northumbrian Gunners on the Western Front, killed by German shelling 8th May 1915, aged 18.

Gunner William Fishwick CWGC Record

Ypres 2010 - 50th Division Memorial

The 50th Northumbrian Division memorial not only commemorates the fallen of 1914 – 1918, the Northumbrians of the Second World War fought in Ypres to hold the German advance and gain valuable time for the evacuation at Dunkirk. The 50th Division were one of the last off the beaches.


50th Northumbrian Division Memorial

Ypres 2010 - Essex Farm Cemetery

Essex Farm Advanced Dressing Station and Cemetery
It was at the Essex Farm advanced dressing station on the 24th April 1915, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrea wrote the poem that immortalises the First World War, ‘In Flanders Fields’. On the 24th April 2010, ninety five years later, that same spot was visited. Next to the Advanced Dressing Station is The Essex Farm Cemetery.



In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.




Royal Artillery Graves Essex Farm Cemetery

49th(West Riding)Division Memorial
Essex Farm is also the location of the 49th (West Riding) Division Memorial

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

Durham January 2010

3rd Northumbrian Bde RFA
Durham City Battery
Market Square Durham
Departure for France April 1915




In April 1915, the Northumbrian Division left the North East for the Western Front. The Division moved by train to Southampton, across the channel to Le Harvre, and then again by train to Ypres.

Durham Market Square & Market Tavern January 2010



Durham January 2010




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