What does the Menin Gate commemorate?

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient.

What happens every evening at the Menin Gate in Ypres?

Following the Menin Gate Memorial opening in 1927, the citizens of Ypres wanted to express their gratitude towards those who had given their lives for Belgium’s freedom. Hence every evening at 20:00, buglers from the Last Post Association close the road which passes under the memorial and sound the “Last Post”.

How long does the Last Post ceremony at Menin Gate last?

For many years, the Last Post ceremony lasted barely two minutes. Until the 1980s, those watching could often be counted on the fingers of one hand. On special commemorative occasions or when eminent visitors were present, a more extensive ceremony was organised.

Is the last post still being played in Ypres?

Every evening, at 8pm on the dot, a group of buglers sound the last post under Menin Gate at Ypres in Belgium. The only break in the ceremony was from 20 May 1940 to 6 September 1944, when Ypres was under German occupation. …

What is Ypres WW1?

Ypres (/ˈiːprə/ EE-prə, French: [ipʁ]; Ieper [ˈipər] in Flemish) is a Belgian city and municipality in the province of West Flanders. During the First World War, Ypres (or “Wipers” as it was commonly known by the British troops) was the centre of the Battles of Ypres between German and Allied forces.

What time should I play last post?

Since 1928, the “Last Post” has been played every evening at 8 p.m. by buglers of the local Last Post Association at the war memorial at Ypres in Belgium known as the Menin Gate, commemorating the British Empire dead at the Battle of Ypres during the First World War.

Who plays the Last Post at the Menin Gate?

The privilege of playing Last Post was given to buglers of the local volunteer Fire Brigade. The first sounding of Last Post took place on 1 July 1928 and a daily ceremony was carried on for about four months.

Is Ypres worth visiting?

Is Ypres worth visiting? Yes, Ypres is worth visiting. The city is beautiful with some impressive landmarks, including Menin Gate and Flanders Fields Museum. In addition, Ypres is the starting point for visiting the World War I sites, battlefields, and war cemeteries throughout the region.

How many died in Ypres?

The French lost at least 50,000 at Ypres, while the Belgians suffered more than 20,000 casualties at the Yser and Ypres. A month of fighting at Ypres cost the Germans more than 130,000 casualties, a staggering total that would ultimately pale before later actions on the Western Front.

Where is the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres?

Cemetery Plan – Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial. The Menin Gate Memorial is situated at the eastern side of the town of Ypres (now Ieper) in the Province of West Flanders, on the road to Menin and Courtrai. It bears the names of 55,000 men who were lost without trace during the defence of the Ypres Salient in the First World War.

When is the last post at the Menin Gate?

Crowds gather for the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ieper. Courtesy of the Last Post Association. At 8 p.m. each night, volunteer firefighters from the small Belgian town of Ieper (better known by its French name Ypres) sound the Last Post at the Menin Gate memorial.

What are the words on the Menin Gate Memorial?

Carved in stone above the central arch are the words: TO THE ARMIES OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE WHO STOOD HERE FROM 1914 TO 1918 AND TO THOSE OF THEIR DEAD WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE. HERE ARE RECORDED NAMES OF OFFICERS AND MEN WHO FELL IN YPRES SALIENT BUT TO WHOM THE FORTUNE OF WAR DENIED THE KNOWN AND HONOURED BURIAL GIVEN TO THEIR COMRADES IN DEATH.

Where is the Commonwealth war graves memorial in Ypres?

Ypres (now Ieper) is a town in the Province of West Flanders. The Memorial is situated at the eastern side of the town on the road to Menin (Menen) and Courtrai (Kortrijk). Each night at 8 pm the traffic is stopped at the Menin Gate while buglers of the Last Post Association sound the Last Post in the roadway under the Memorial’s arches.