Old Front Line
WW1 Podcast with Paul Reed
Ypres: The Menin Gate
Back in the city of Ypres in Flanders, in this episode we follow the walls, the old Ramparts, seeing British bunkers, visit the Ramparts Cemetery, discover more about military historian Rose Coombs, and end at the Menin Gate. Each night at 8pm the Last Post is sounded under this Memorial to the Missing, but who does it commemorate and what does it mean to us today?
Podcast Extras: Ypres Station & Ramparts
Podcast Extras: Menin Gate
21 Comments on “Ypres: The Menin Gate”
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Old Front Line 
Another great podcast. Thank you Paul. I have attached an article talking about Justin Trudeau playing the part of Talbot Papineau in a CBC miniseries. Interesting connection. https://www.macleans.ca/multimedia/photo/the-mr-dressup-prime-minister/
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Thanks Burke.
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Another great listen , thankyou. I am always very moved by the histories of the missing from WW1. I remember clearly as a child my grandmother sobbing quietly at the TV on Remembrance Sunday and not understanding why. Her father CHJ Meek 1/4 NF did not return and is on the Ploegsteert Memorial. She was 2 when he volunteered and 4 when he died. I know he returned home on leave after being wounded at the Somme in 1916 but she would never see him again, I often wonder what memories she may have held of him. I now appreciate and fully understand why she sobbed quietly as I do now for her each Remerberance Sunday.
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Gosh, that’s a very moving story, Nigel. Thanks for sharing it.
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Another great listen , thankyou. I am always very moved by the histories of the missing from WW1 having seen my grandmother, when I was a child ,mourn the fact that her father remains in Flanders. I didn’t appreciate it then but I do now.
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Enjoyed this podcast very much. Some facts l had no knowledge about, so thank you!
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Thanks, Vickie.
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Really enjoyed this one. Decided to listen today for a change while pottering in the garage (I usually leave new episodes for my early Monday morning delivery round!), and was very glad I did! Thanks Paul
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Thanks, Matt.
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Dear Paul,
Everyone of your podcasts is excellent but the most recent have been superb. Ypres, the Ramparts and the Menin Gate have been my most treasured spiritual places since the late 1970’s and I thought I knew them well. You have added to my knowledge and enriched my thoughts.
The same is true of the Somme and especially the “Forgotten” battlefield areas of the Western Front.
Very many thanks. I will be in touch soon with specific ideas and I look forward to meeting you soon but wanted to thank you without delay.
Kindest regards and very best wishes,
Gerald
Gerald Allison
>
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Thanks for your kind comments, Gerald. Your support is always appreciated.
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Really fascinating insight thank you very much ,your knowledge adds to my interest of this historic beautiful part of the world .hope to return asap .great stuff , thanks
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Thank you, Jason.
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Another fascinating episode. Can’t wait to actually be able to visit for real.
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Great episode…never met Rose C but her book was one of the first if not the first Great War book I bought! Keep up the good work.
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Thanks, Niall.
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Another superb podcast. Good to hear Rose Coombs. Her funeral sounds like and event in itself! I would loved to have been a fly on the wall in the pub afterwards to listen to some of the conversations. Good to hear about John Laffin too. I read his “Jackboot” in the early 70s and I think that was one of the best concise histories of the German Army. It introduced me to the Flesquieres Gunner, which further added to my interest in the Great War.
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Loved this one. I almost felt like I was on the ramparts with yuou!
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Thank you, Kevin!
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Another great cast Paul, sorry it’s late, I’m catching up when I can.
Its great to be put back where we want to be, the places we’ve walked many times, in my case firstly with my parents and then by myself or with colleagues. I look forward to the day we can return. Thanks.
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Thanks, Rick.
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