Remembrance Day: Menin Gate

The Menin Gate is one of four memorials to the missing in Belgian Flanders which cover the area known as the Ypres Salient.

The Salient was formed during the First Battle of Ypres in October and November 1914, when a small British Expeditionary Force succeeded in securing the town before the onset of winter, pushing the German forces back to the Passchendaele Ridge, the Second Battle of Ypres began in April 1915.

There was little more significant activity on this front until 1917, when in the Third Battle of Ypres an offensive was mounted by Commonwealth forces to divert German attention from a weakened French front further south. The campaign finally came to a close in November with the capture of Passchendaele.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Every night at 20:00 hours a moving ceremony takes place under the Menin Gate in Ieper.

Some evenings, particularly in summer, there are large crowds of visitors. Every evening the busy road through the memorial is closed to traffic shortly before the ceremony.

For a few moments the noise of traffic ceases and a stillness descends over the memorial. At exactly 20:00 hours up to six members of the regular buglers from the local volunteer Fire Brigade step into the roadway under the memorial arch. They play Last Post, followed by a short silence and then play Reveille.

On some occasions the ceremony may be extended, visitingg individuals and groups may lay a wreath and there may be music by bands, choirs, orchestras, or a parade by Standards and military personnel.

The Last Post Ceremony has become part of the daily life in Ieper (Ypres) and the local people are proud of this simple but moving tribute to the courage and self-sacrifice of those who fell in defence of their town.

In October 2010 I did a 5 day tour of Belgium and French Memorials and sites of famous battles and even though it wasnt very warm the Menin Gate was completely packed with spectators.

Below is my not very good attempt at capturing what the Gate looks like, look out for Sgt Jeffery in a couple of pictures.

The Menin Gate: Wikipedia
The Menin Gate Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commision: Menin Gate

The Last Post Ceremony: Menin Gate

SMI Perkins
OC Long Stratton Detachment