Ypres Walks: Menin Gate to Ypres Town Cemetery

Posted on June 3, 2023 by

30 Comments

In this episode recorded in Ypres, we look at the renovations at the Menin Gate Memorial, discuss what Memorials to the Missing mean to us, and then walk to Ypres Town Cemetery following the stories of English Lords, members of the Royal Family, and seeing how the graves themselves are witnesses to the Great War.

BATTLEFIELD MAP:

RECOMMENDED READING:

PODCAST EXTRAS

Category: Flanders, Podcast Episode, WW1 Memorials, Ypres

30 Comments on “Ypres Walks: Menin Gate to Ypres Town Cemetery”

  2. Good morning Paul, your podcast has come at a timely moment. My Son who you met when he travelled with me on your Tours some years ago, is bringing a group of his Comrades from where he works on Whale Island Portsmouth.. He had his interest in the History of the Great War fired by you during those Tours and myself getting him involved, hands on. You can be rightly proud that your passion is being extended to yet another generation. Best wishes Paul, David & Sergeant Lee Hanmore R.M.

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  3. I should have made it clear that Lee is bringing his group of R.N. Personnel to Ypres on Monday next week.

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  4. Fantastic podcast Paul, especially the part of Billy Dunn of the Worcestershires, loved it.
    Great stuff

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  5. Repatriation of the American war dead was a hugely controversial topic after the war. Eventually over 80,000 remains were brought home. Our little country church has the grave of Martin Erickson, the first man from our very rural county to die in the war. He died at Cantigny and in 1922 he came home.

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  7. In Belgium, in theory graves are removed after a period of 10 years. A notice will be placed on the grave when it is due to be removed, after which the concession can be prolonged.

    In practice, graves are removed after a longer period, and there still are a lot of old graves to be found in communal cemeteries.

    Belgian war deads who are buried in a private, family grave, are nog maintained by the government. So as time goes by, they are often forgotten an removed.

    In some cases, a plaque is added to the grave (a Belgian flag), so they will not be removed. But a lot of times, it is not known it’s a grave of a WWI casualty.

    I rome around cemeteries to try and find and locate these private graves, in an attempt to keep them from being removed or forgotten.

    I haven’t been to the Ypres Communal Cemetery, but I suspect there will still be a lot of Belgian war dead, buried in a private plot.

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  8. Listening on headphones while gardening. Apart from an excellent way to pass the time (for me), its wonderful being there with you Paul and hearing the different stories from you meeting Billy Dunn the CEGC gardener but also the stories of the burials in Ypres Town Cemetery in the Great War. It’s so good that you can take us with you on your trips there, with us being at home….wherever we are in the world.

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  9. Amazing. Smashed it out of the park again. And it’s not just what you say, your delivery is always spot on. Three hours in the car today gave me time for three listens! Superb episode.

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  11. Thanks for a great virtual walk. Definitely wish I was there too. Thanks for the stories, both tragic and poignant. It would be good to see Billy Dunne’s YouTube video uploaded to your site as well. Completely agree about the coincidence thing, there “are more things in heaven and earth …”. I could have ordered any book from Amazon yesterday, but I ordered the Beatrix Brice one!

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  12. A review on Amazon said that the wording was a bit archaic, which given that it was written in 1927, isn’t that surprising. In fact that is an aspect of the book that I am looking forward to !

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  13. A most excellent and interesting walk, Paul. Really enjoyed.
    I must have visited the cemetery back in my childhood with my parents and remember some of those stories, but I will definitely be there again at the end of July. As you say, it’s one that slips attention, that will be readdressed.

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  15. Great podcast Paul, Iā€™ve visited that cemetery 2 or 3 times knowing some of the stories but now Iā€™m looking forward to my next visit armed with more of your information ! Iā€™m always struck by the different feel of the place depending on which entrance I enter by and I must admit Iā€™ve got a bit disoriented whilst trying to find Prince Maurice grave to show my companions. I always pay respect to the ww2 men that lie there too.
    Peter.

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  16. We were in Ypres in June, camping within half a mile of the Menin Gate, so listening to your podcast really brought memories back. It’s a beautiful city, with so much to see close by. We easily cycled to Hooge Crater, Yorkshire Trench, Essex Farm, Hill 60, Caterpillar Crater etc and it’s very safe with separated lanes in most places.
    You were right to highlight the splendour of the Cloth Hall and its excellent museum. We also climbed out onto the roof for brilliant views and a perception of just how flat Flanders is.
    Thanks again for all your research that you so generously share with us.

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