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

Ypres 2020 - LEGO Menin Gate

LEGO Menin Gate

Located in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission information centre in Ypres is a LEGO model of the Menin Gate. The model consists of 54,000 bricks, one for every casualty named on the Menin Gate.

CWCG - LEGO Menin Gate

LEGO Menin Gate

LEGO Menin Gate inscription

LEGO Menin Gate

Buglers and Pipe Band

LEGO Menin Gate

Spectators

Op Drum - Menin Gate 2012

Somme Battlefield Pipe Band

CWGC Information Centre Ypres

Ypres 2020 - Fray Bentos Tank

At Pond Farm on the N313, 11km north east of Ypres (near St Julian) is a replica WW1 tank. It commemorates the longest tank action of World War One. 

Replica WW1 Tank - Pond Farm St Julian

Replica WW1 Tank - Pond Farm St Julian

The tank was F41 'Fray Bentos' of F Battalion 3rd Tank Brigade, nicknamed after a tinned corned beef supplied to troops during WW1. A working replica has also been built.

Poelcapelle Association 1917 - Tank Replica

F41 Fray Bentos working replica

Early on the morning of 22nd August 1917 Fray Bentos ditched in no-mans land near St Julien whilst supporting an infantry tank during the Third Battle of Ypres.

H41 Fray Bentos diched in No mans Land St Julian

The tank was left stranded when the British infantry was forced to withdraw at 07:00. The Germans attempted to seize the tank, but the tank crew firing their 6 pounder gun held them off. On the night of the 22nd, Germany infantry got on the roof of the tank, British infantry thinking it had been captured and turned into a strong point fired on F41. The crew were now caught in cross fire from German and British infantry.

German infantry attack F41 Fray Bentos

The following day the crew of Fray Bentos continued to enage the enemy. On the evening of the 23 / 24 August the Germans once again attacked the tank, and were beaten off. 

German infantry night attack on F41 Fray Bentos

By dawn of the 24th one crewman was dead, all but one man were wounded and ammunition was low. One crew member manged to crawl back to British lines to outline the predicament  of the crew, so firing on the tank by friendly forces ceased. This allowed the remaining crew to make their escape during the night.

Action of 22 August 1917

The crew of F41 Fray Bentos had been in action 72 hours engaing the Germans throughout the time, and not succumbing to the attacks on the tank. 

Their actions resulted in the crew becoming the most  most highly decorated tank crew in WW1.

Captain DH Richardson - Military Cross 

Second Lieutenant G Hill - Military Cross

Sergeant RF Missen - Distinguished Conduct Medal

Gunner W Morrey - Distinguished Conduct Medal 

Gunner EW Hayton - Military Medal

Gunner FC Arthurs - Military Medal 

Gunner PE Budd - Military Medal 

Gunner JH Binley - Military Medal

Lance Corporal EH Braedy - Killed In Action

Ypres 2020 - Hill 60 Memorials

Hill 60 situated 5 km south of Ypres was the scene of bitter fighting over the four years of the First World War. The feature changed hands several times during the conflict. The detonation of five mines in 1915 blew the top of the hill, and the explosion of two large mines at the start of the Battle of Messines 1917 added to the topography.

Hill 60 is now a Battlefield Memorial Park containing a number of memorials.

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Hill 60 Battlefield Memorial Park

The Hill 60 Battlefield Memorial Park site is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and regarded as a war grave, as remains  of those killed during the bitter fighting still lie beneath the land.

It was taken over by the Imperial War Graves Commission in 1930 and the site is maintained in the state in which it was left after World War One. 

A memorial stone records the history of the Hill 60 from 1914 to 1918.

Hill 60 Memorial Park

A memorial stone records the history of the Hill 60 from 1914 to 1918.

Hill 60 Memorial Park Commemoration Stone

Hill 60 Memorial Park Commemoration Stone

HILL 60, THE SCENE OF BITTER FIGHTING, WAS HELD BY GERMAN TROOPS FROM THE 16TH DECEMBER 1914 TO THE 17TH APRIL 1915, WHEN IT WAS CAPTURED (AFTER THE EXPLOSION OF FIVE MINES) BY THE BRITISH 5TH DIVISION. ON THE FOLLOWING 5TH MAY IT WAS RECAPTURED BY THE GERMAN XV CORPS. IT REMAINED IN GERMAN HANDS UNTIL THE BATTLE OF MESSINES (7TH JUNE 1917) WHEN, AFTER MANY MONTHS OF UNDERGROUND FIGHTING, TWO MINES WERE EXPLODED HERE; AND AT THE END OF APRIL 1918, AFTER THE BATTLES OF THE LYS, IT PASSED INTO GERMAN HANDS AGAIN. IT WAS FINALLY RETAKEN BY BRITISH TROOPS UNDER THE COMMAND OF H. M. KING OF THE BELGIANS ON THE 28TH SEPTEMBER 1918. IN THE BROKEN TUNNELS BENEATH THIS ENCLOSURE MANY BRITISH AND GERMAN DEAD WERE BURIED, AND THE HILL IS THEREFORE PRESERVED, SO FAR AS NATURE WILL PERMIT, IN THE STATE IN WHICH IT WAS LEFT AFTER THE GREAT WAR.

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Queen Victoria's Rifles Memorial

The Queen Victoria's Rifles Memorial commemorates those who lost their lives serving with the Queen Victoria's Rifles (9th Battalion The London Regiment).

Queen Victoria Rifles Memorial

The QVR were one of the first Territorial Force battalions to serve in France arriving in Le Havre 5th November 1914. The battalion were on Hill 60 on the 20th April 1915 when the Germans launched a counter attack to try to regain the feature which had been lost to the British five days earlier.

The QVR were involved in a bitter fight which prevented the Germans taking the Hill. When they were relieved on 21st April, only 14 men out of 150 remained. Second Lieutenant Geoffrey Woodely would receive the Victoria Cross for his actions during the engagement. 

2.Lieut Geoffrey Woodley VC

Queen Victoria Rifles

Second Lieutenant Geoffrey Wooley VC

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1st Australian Tunnelling Company Memorial

The Royal Australian Engineers deployed three mining companies to France in May 1916 formed from men with mining experience. Their role was offensive and defensive mining which included counter mining operations against German miners. 

On 7th November 1916, the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company took over tunnels and mines below Hill 60 from the Canadians. Two mines primed  with explosives were already in place below the Caterpillar and Hill 60. The Aussies were tasked with maintaining the mines for the forthcoming campaign in Flanders including preventing the Germans destroying them through by counter-mining. 

An underground war developed between the Australian and German miners which would result in around 30 Australian casualties. Despite enemy counter mines being blown, the operation was successful and at 03:10 7th June 1917 both British mines were detonated. Two of the nineteen mines which exploded along the Messines Ridge.

Following the Battle of Messines the Austrians continued tunnelling, digging deep dugouts in the Second Army area around Ypres.

A monument was erected in 1919 by the men of the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company to those who lost their lives in the mining and defensive operations of Hill 60. It was replaced in 1923 by the current memorial. During World War Two the monument sustained damage from fighting around Ypres in 1940.

1st Australian Tunnelling Company Memorial

1st Australian Tunnelling Company Memorial

Damage from WW2 visible

Officers 1st Australian Tunnelling Company

23rd June 1917

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14th (Light) Division Memorial

14 Light Division Memorial

The 14th Light Division was formed in September 1914 from Rifles and Light Infantry  battalions of Kitchener's  New Army and Regular Army battalions released from overseas garrison duties. It deployed to the Western Front in May 1915 where it's first major was the Action at Hooge, part of the 2nd Battle of Ypres. It was during that action that liquid fire was first used by the Germans. The Division would also be engaged in the Second Battle of Bellewaarde in September 1915. 

Originally the memorial was located at Railway Wood in the area of Bellewaarde, north of Hooge. It was moved to Hill 60 in 1978 due to problems with subsidence. 

14th Light Division

Long Long Trail

The 14 Light Division memorial records the units that served in the Division including the Divisional Artillery.

14 Light Division Memorial

Divisional Artillery

The 46th to 49th Brigades Royal Field Artillery together with the Divisional Ammunition column were the original artillery units of the Division. The 46th, 47th and 48th Brigades were equpped with 18 pounder guns, the 49th Brigade with 4.5 inch Howitzers. The 49th (Howitzer) Brigade was broken up in October 1916, the 48th Brigade becoming an Army Brigade in January 1917.  

Ypres 2020 - Hill 60

Hill 60 German bunker IJ

Hill 60 takes it's name from a spoil heap formed during the construction of the railway line from Ypres - Comines, which opened in opened in 1854. 

Ypres - Comines Rail Line

 Before World War One the mound left from the digging of a rail cutting was called "La Côte des Amants", Lovers Knoll.  The spoil excavated was piled either side of the railway cutting. On the west side, a 270 metre long ridge known as the Caterpillar resulted, on the east side,  a mound 60 feet high (18 metres) gave the feature it's name. Hill 60 would provide an excellent view of Ypres and Zillebeke. 

To the south west of Hill 60 is St Eloi and the Messines Ridge running 12 km south through the villages of  Wystsheate and Messines to Ploegstreet Wood.

The Hill was initially held by the French, however it was captured by the Germans in December 1914 during the First Battles of Ypres. The British took over from the French in the sector on the night of 1/2 February 1915.

The importance of the hill for artillery observation made the feature vital ground and the struggle for control would result in bitter fighting over the next four years. A tunnelling war developed with both sides blowing mines to destroy defences as part of the efforts to secure the feature.

In March 1915 tunnelling work commenced to place  five mines underneath Hill 60. These were blown on the morning of 17th April, their effect not only destroyed German defences, it blew the top off the hill reducing it's height to less than 20 feet (6 metres) metres, leaving prominent craters. The 1st West Kents and 6th Kings Own Scottish Borderers quickly overcame the defenders and consolidated their position.

Hill 60 Mine Craters

The hill was retaken by the Germans during the afternoon of 18th April after three attacks, however, by the evening a British counter attack regained the lost ground . An German attack on the 21st April, prior to the Second Battle of April was repulsed. It was during this action that Second Lieutenant Geoffrey H Woolley, serving with Queen Victoria's Rifles [9th (County of London) Battalion London Regiment], was awarded the Victoria Cross, the first VC to be awarded to a Territorial Officer.

Defence oh Hill 60 19-21 April

2.Lieiut Geoffrey Wooley Victoria Cross Action

Defence of Hill 60 Queen Victoria Rifles - 9th London Regiment

Hill 60 would once again fall to the Germans in May 1915. A A series of gas attacks starting on the 1st of May and bitter fighting finally resulted in the Germans regaining the hill on the 5th May. British counter attacks on the 7th May failed to remove the enemy defenders. 

Hill 60 Trench Map August 1916

Hill 60 Front Lines

British Front Line - German Front Line

Caterpillar

Hill 60

In August 1915 tunnelling operations began on two mines, one under the Caterpillar, the other under Hill 60 to prepare for a future campaign in Flanders. 

Hill 60 and the Caterpillar would remain in German hands for nearly two years. This gave the  Germans the opportunity to strengthen their positions including the building of strongpoints and bunkers.

German fortifications Hill 60

German bunker Hill 60

At 03:10 on 7th June 1917 following a the 12 day preliminary bombardment, mines under Hill 60 and Caterpillar were detonated. 

Battle of Messines Mines

The 23rd Division on the extreme left flank of Second Army's assault on the Messines Ridge were tasked with seizing Hill 60 and the Caterpillar. Leading the X Corps attack with axis an on Hill 60, were the 69th and 70th Brigades who were able to seize the shattered remains of the German defences. The 68th Brigade, which included the 10th and 11th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers, and 12th and 13th Battalions Durham Light Infantry would follow on to consolidate the objectives.

Hill 60 destroyed German bunker

In April 1918 the German Army launched the second of it's Spring Offensive operations, Operation Georgette. The British were pushed back to the River Lys and once again Hill 60 changed hands and it was back under German control. On the 11th April 1918 Field Marshall Haig issued his 'backs to the wall' message urging no further retreat of British Forces, and the German advance faltered. Despite further German attemps to breakthrough, notably on the River Aisne, the Spring Offesive failed.

In August 1918 the Allies went on the offensive forcing the Germans into a retreat. An Army Group commanded by King Albert of the Belgians launched an offensive in Flanders in September, and on the 28th September Hill 60 was regained by the Aliies, and would remain in their hands till the Armistice, November 11 1918.

A memorial plaque on Hill 60 records the fight for control over four years of war.

Hill 60 Commemoration Stone

Hill 60 Commemoration Stone

Hill 60 had seen many major actions over the four years of war resulting in thousands of casualties, many of whom remain buried in the ground of the hill as it was pulverised by artillery and mine explosions. 

Hill 60 WW1

The site is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and regarded as a war grave as remains  of those killed during the bitter fight still lie beneath the land. 

Hill 60 2020

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Hill 60 Donkeys

Ypres 2020 - Messines Ridge NZ Division Memorial

The New Zealand Division Memorial is situated on the western edge of the village of Messines. A stone obelisk records it's purpose; 

‘In honour of the men of the New Zealand Division. The Battle of Messines 7th to 14th of June 1917′

The memorial It overlooks the battlefield on which the Kiwis fought and is inscribed with their exploits;

'The New Zealand Division on the 7th of June captured this ridge and advanced 2000 yards through Messines to their objective on the Eastern side‘.

New Zealand Division Memorial Messines

On the outbreak of World War One, New Zealand formed an expeditionary force consisting of two brigades, the New Zealand Infantry Brigade and the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade. The brigades became part of the New Zealand and Australian Division fighting in the Gallipoli Campaign from April 1915 to December 1915. Following their evacuation from Gallipoli the division withdrew to Egypt. 

The New Zealand Division was formed Egypt in in March 1916 ,moving to France the following year. They fought in the later stages of the Battle of the Somme, their first major engagement being the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in September 1916.

New Zealand Division

The NZ Division was part of 2nd ANZAC Corps in the Battle of Messines. It was tasked with the capture of the village of Messines.

Messines - New Zealand Division objective

The 2nd ANZAC Corps was on the right of Second Army's assault on the Messines Ridge with its axis on the village of Messines. To their left, in the centre IX Corps would attack Wytschaete and the left flank was allocated to X Corpswith an axis on an old Roman Road, the Dammstrasse.

The New Zealanders were at the centre of the three division assault, 25th Division left, 3rd Australian Division right, with the 4th Australian Division in reserve. 

The NZ Division would attack uphill towards German fortified positions. Within the memorial gradens a panorama of the battlefield overlooks the ground over which the Kiwi's would attack. The remains of two German bunker show the defences they would need to overcome.

New Zealand Division Battlefield Panorama

New Zealand Division Battlefield Panorama

German Bunkers 

New Zealand Memorial

German Bunkers overlooking New Zealand Division Battlefield

A preliminary bombardment lasting from  26th May to 6th June preceeded the assault. Royal Engineer Tunnelling Companies had placed 25 mines with 542,542 kg of explosives along the Messines Ridge to destroy German strongpoints at Zero Hour. 

At 03:10 7th June 1917, nineteen of the mines detonated along the Messines Ridge destroying German defences, shocking and disorientating the defenders, inducing panic.  A creeping barrage commenced and the infantry left their trenches. 

Infantry Assault Messines Ridge

Two brigades lead the attack with a pincer movement on Messines, the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade right, the 2nd New Zealand Infantry Brigade right, with tanks in support.  The 1st New Zealand Infantry Brigade was in reserve for the initial attack. 

Battle of Messines 7th June 1917 New Zealand Division Assault

The effect of the preliminary bombardment, the mines and the creeping barrage meant the leading troops quickly secured the forward German positions and advanced on Messines, fighting through the ruins clearing the village by 07:00. 

New Zealand Division Messines

Messines Village

The 1st New Zealand Brigade leapfrogged the two assault brigades to exploit beyond Messines and consolidate on the ridge line. The Phase 1 objectives had been achieved.

1st Otago Battalion after Battle of Messines

Messines Kiwi Soldier Statue

During the fighting Lance Corporal Samuel Frickleton won the Victoria Cross singlehandedly taking out two machine gun posts pinning down his section.

L/Cpl Samuel Frickleton VC

L/Cpl Samuel Frickleton VC

In support of the New Zealand infantry were the Divisional Artillery, together with attached Army Artillery Brigades and Heavy Artillery Groups. 

New Zealand Field Artillery on the move 

The Divisional Artillery consisted of the 1st and 3rd Brigades New Zealand Field Artillery, each Brigade consisting of three 18 pounder batteries and a 4.5inch howitzer battery. 

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New Zealand Division Memorial Messines

The New Zealand Division Memorial at Messines is one of four obelisks instituted to remember the New Zeland soldiers who died on the Western Front. The others are located at Passchendaele, Le Quensoy and Longueval on the Somme. The memorials all bear the inscription "From the Uttermost Ends of the Earth"

The memorial was unveiled by King Albert I of Belgium on the 1st of August 1924.

New Zealand Division Memorial Messines

Opening 1st August 1924