For those who are not aware... Trenches, still with Human remains, artifacts and and general Militarily have been dug up close to the Village of Ypres, in Northern France, It appears that those digging the site consider it to be a huge historical scoop.
I beg to differ... I consider that the remains of so many who died in those Fields should be left there and the fields be considered a war grave... Especially as a few, a very few of those brave men Are still alive, furthermore their relatives have long past buried their loved ones in their memories......Let them Rest In Piece.... The only tradition that should remain is the 2000hr playing of the last post by Ypres Fire Brigade as a tribute to the fallen.... this ceremony is conducted 356 days of the year
RIP Ypres
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The Battle Field of Ypres
The Battle Field of Ypres
The Honourable Lord Mike of Loch Borralan
.........................Because I AM Worth IT..xxxx.......Never Mistake Motion for Action
.........................Because I AM Worth IT..xxxx.......Never Mistake Motion for Action
I think some of the problem Nimrod is tracing the relatives after all this time. It is not only the bodies that can cause the problem, it is the vast amount of unexploded ordnance that is found which include unexploded gas shell that are weeping all over the place. When you think of the amount odd fired during WW1 there must be quite a lot of it still knocking about. I was watching a programme about Waterloo the other week and chap was digging musket balls up all over place and that battle only lasted
for half day.
for half day.
-
Frank S.
- Guest
well
I saw a program on Discovery? about unexploded Ordnance from WW1 and they went round with some people digging them up and blowing them and they said at the rate they are going it will take them intill 2132 i think he said to clear them all and they were getting trucks full of stuff everyday
Dis i spell that right?
Mike,
Ypres is a bit more than a village but as it was a salient and had Germans on three sides obviously there is scope for quite a bit to be discovered thereabouts. Unexploded ordnance is still ploughed up regularly by local farmers. In a way the fact that the recent unearthing was by responsible people is a blessing, often local farmers/builders unearth collapsed trenches and such, complete with bodies and don't declare it because it would hold up their project. This means that some bodies remain for ever unaccounted for and will stay represented only by names on the Menin Gate rather than having a gravestone. The whole area around Ypres and towards Paschendale is very sobering, lots of cemetaries including the biggest at Tyne Cot and small clusters of grave stones marking where miners were judged to have reached when tunnelling under enemy trenches, but who never returned from their digging. The Last Post ceremony (usually by the local fire brigade unless other volunteers take a turn) is a very lump in the throat, hairs standing up on neck experience. We owe the young men of that period a great deal.
Barry
Ypres is a bit more than a village but as it was a salient and had Germans on three sides obviously there is scope for quite a bit to be discovered thereabouts. Unexploded ordnance is still ploughed up regularly by local farmers. In a way the fact that the recent unearthing was by responsible people is a blessing, often local farmers/builders unearth collapsed trenches and such, complete with bodies and don't declare it because it would hold up their project. This means that some bodies remain for ever unaccounted for and will stay represented only by names on the Menin Gate rather than having a gravestone. The whole area around Ypres and towards Paschendale is very sobering, lots of cemetaries including the biggest at Tyne Cot and small clusters of grave stones marking where miners were judged to have reached when tunnelling under enemy trenches, but who never returned from their digging. The Last Post ceremony (usually by the local fire brigade unless other volunteers take a turn) is a very lump in the throat, hairs standing up on neck experience. We owe the young men of that period a great deal.
Barry
BC
When you think of it this battlefield is about ten miles wide and several hundred miles long. Sooner or later there will be buildings and roads on it. Just look what has happened at some of The British Battlefields which have been built on over the years. The one good thing you can say is that Belgians have done there best to honour our fallen.
I have just got back from Ypres, where I participated in the Menin Gate ceremony, laying a wreath on behalf of the Falklands Veterans Foundation. Before we went to Ypres, the group I was with, members of the Kent Fire and Rescue Service went to the 'Plugstreet' cemetery. While there, I saw a child, 10-12 years of age picking out shell casings and detenators from a plastic bag. He and his family had just been across one of the fields and picked up all this ordanance. He, nor his family, had any idea just how dangerous these things were. Taking back memories of your trip are fine, but souvenirs this dangerous should be well left alone.
If anyone is thinking about going to Ypres next year, don't think.. just go.
Lest we forget.
If anyone is thinking about going to Ypres next year, don't think.. just go.
Lest we forget.
I was lucky enough to go to Ypres in '65 for 11 Nov. at the invite of Toc H. I was a young (very pretty) Junior then. I was also lucky enough to meet Chubby Clayton (or was it Tubby?) Only 38 years and I've forgotten already!?! 
In any event, it was a privilege.
Nice place with an eerie sense of what had happened there pervading the atmosphere - particularly in view of the date.
Or maybe it was a result of my first taste of Trapiste beer. Should be banned for 16yr olds!
Anyway........... I hope the current activities give some comfort or sense of connection for the families of those identified. And if some additional facts about the horrors of what went on can be gleaned so much the better.
In any event, it was a privilege. Nice place with an eerie sense of what had happened there pervading the atmosphere - particularly in view of the date.
Or maybe it was a result of my first taste of Trapiste beer. Should be banned for 16yr olds!
Anyway........... I hope the current activities give some comfort or sense of connection for the families of those identified. And if some additional facts about the horrors of what went on can be gleaned so much the better.
Sorry. I have been AWOL for a month or two working on the Poppy Appeal. I will be spending the next few hours picking out which posts to read but this one caught my eye.
For what it is worth here are my thoughts.
Firstly, I disagree that they should be left in situ. The site is going to be built on and the men deserve to lie with their comrades in arms in a well cared for place rather than be part of the foundations for a house or supermarket.
There are thousands of enquiries every year to the Commonwealth War Graves Commision relating to the whereabouts of men killed in conflict since 1914. I personally only found my Grandfathers grave 3 years ago and he was killed in 1917. He is buried in a little Belgian town called Vlamertinghe along with 2000 others. I know from experience that Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren are still hoping that their relatives are found and that due respect can be paid.
The number of remains found vary from year to year. I have not got my copy of this years CWGC report but in the year ending 31 July 2002 there were a further 112 found. The year before there were 45.
The ordnance being found is a daily occurence in Flanders and is known as 'The Iron Harvest'. As the farmers plough the fields and unearth the ordnance they place it near special markers at the road side and the Military make regular collections.
As Strongbow said, if anyone is thinking of going to Ypres then just do it. It is both a rewarding and humbling experience. Apart from Ypres itself and the Menin gate ceremony there are many other sites in Flanders. Vimy Ridge is a remarkable memorial and is one of the many places where you can go underground into the actual tunnels used and also walk the preserved trenches. The drawback is that there are acres of ground where you walk at your own risk due to the unexploded ordnance.
There are loads of books available on the World War I but I would suggest 'Before Endeavours Fade' by the late Rose Coombs, MBE as a must for any visitor. ISBN 0-900913-85-1.
It's nice to be back
For what it is worth here are my thoughts.
Firstly, I disagree that they should be left in situ. The site is going to be built on and the men deserve to lie with their comrades in arms in a well cared for place rather than be part of the foundations for a house or supermarket.
There are thousands of enquiries every year to the Commonwealth War Graves Commision relating to the whereabouts of men killed in conflict since 1914. I personally only found my Grandfathers grave 3 years ago and he was killed in 1917. He is buried in a little Belgian town called Vlamertinghe along with 2000 others. I know from experience that Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren are still hoping that their relatives are found and that due respect can be paid.
The number of remains found vary from year to year. I have not got my copy of this years CWGC report but in the year ending 31 July 2002 there were a further 112 found. The year before there were 45.
The ordnance being found is a daily occurence in Flanders and is known as 'The Iron Harvest'. As the farmers plough the fields and unearth the ordnance they place it near special markers at the road side and the Military make regular collections.
As Strongbow said, if anyone is thinking of going to Ypres then just do it. It is both a rewarding and humbling experience. Apart from Ypres itself and the Menin gate ceremony there are many other sites in Flanders. Vimy Ridge is a remarkable memorial and is one of the many places where you can go underground into the actual tunnels used and also walk the preserved trenches. The drawback is that there are acres of ground where you walk at your own risk due to the unexploded ordnance.
There are loads of books available on the World War I but I would suggest 'Before Endeavours Fade' by the late Rose Coombs, MBE as a must for any visitor. ISBN 0-900913-85-1.
It's nice to be back
If I wanted to listen to an *rsehole, I'd fart!
