Old Front Line
WW1 Podcast with Paul Reed
Ypres: The Menin Road
Continuing our journeys along the roads which crisscross the landscape of the Western Front, we travel to Flanders in Belgium, and take the old Roman road between the city of Ypres and the town of Menin which follows the story of four years of conflict here in the First World War and discuss once more the ‘culture’ of The Old Front Line.
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8 Comments on “Ypres: The Menin Road”
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Nice one!
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Hi Paul – it was great to hear your description of the action of the Worcestershires on 31st October 1914. It said everything I’d hoped to hear when I wrote to you following the ceremony for the 110th anniversary at Gheluvelt Park last October. Much appreciated as are all your podcasts. Best wishes Alan Courtney
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Thanks, Alan. I’m sure it is something we will return to!
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Do you have any links to the pictures of the tank cemetery you mentioned?
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Hi Mark – I’m going to do a film on the Tank Cemetery sometime soon and will include some in that.
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Hi Paul, thanks for this. I thoroughly enjoyed a virtual walk as I followed your route on the map.
I can see how Bellwarde Amusement Park rouses strong emotions, Especially when I see Private Fyffes photos which were taken not far from the present site. In my view though there can be no better tribute to the sacrifice of those soldiers, than over a hundred years later, Belgian children playing happily at the amusement park.
I’m normally an admirer of Churchill, but his decision to leave Ypres as a mausoleum was not one of his better ones and I’m glad that it didn’t come to pass.Interesting point also on spiritualism. You may recall the 1996 BBB documentary about the Great War narrated by Judi Dench. In one episode there is an account by the author Conan Doyle describing an apparent contact with his late son at a seance. Whatever your beliefs it does, as you say, refect the appalling sense of loss by bereaved parents.
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Hi Paul.
I recently discovered your extensive podcast and really enjoy listening to it.
Just two minor remarks: The menin road has no roman origin, but dates back to the 18th century. Nor does Ieper itself has a roman history. Wervik, in between Ieper and Menen, does have a roman history, as it was on a major crossroad.
Ieper dates probably back to the 9th century. Very recently, a ‘burcht’ dating back to the 11th or 12th Century was discovered in the city centre. It has links to the Duke of Flanders, and would be the oldest ‘burcht’. Efforts are being made to safeguard is from being overbuild by a supermarket. https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20250413_92405612
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Thanks, you say Ypres has no Roman history but I’ve read that it was raided in the First Century AD and known by the Latin name Ypra? I’ve also seen Roman archaeology in places like Messines? It’s not my period but it seems strange that a road as straight as the Menin Road has no Roman origins. I’ll have to explore this subject some more!
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