Menin Gate

We took the Eurotunnel to France for the first time for three years today and drove across the Belgian border to Ypres or Ieper as they now call it.
We’re staying here in the Motorhome for a few nights to give us chance to see the WW1 battle fields and memorials of the Ypres Salient.
We cycled to the town this evening and had a beer then waited for the buglers to play the Last Post at the Menin Gate as they have done almost every night since 1928 except during German occupation. It’s a very special and moving ceremony. Tonight there were many serving and ex British military people. Some with visible injuries from more recent conflicts and many visibly moved. They were quite rowdy beforehand but you could hear a pin drop during the ceremony. Many of them were on fund raising tours for Help for Heroes and other  charities.
Just a phone shot taken from ground level to show part of the Menin Gate with its thousands of inscribed names. We shall take a closer look at some point.