2007 Ypres, The Poppy Parade And Winter Battlefield Walk

2007 Ypres, The Poppy Parade And Winter Battlefield Walk

Flanders Tours continued to offer the emotive Armistice Tour to Ypres , combining a battlefield walk on the 10^th and participation in the events at the Menin Gate on the morning of the 11^th, followed by an optional guided overview of a part of the battle during the afternoon.

Our battlefield walk on the 10^th, in a series of short walks, explored key sites on the Messines Ridge.

The ceremonies on the 11^th included the annual “Poppy Parade”.

The battlefield tour for the afternoon took us to visit the sites where some the more well known literary characters and poets either fought or are commemorated. The starters for ten were: Hedd Wyn, Francis Ledwidge, Edmund Blunden and Peter Pan! We returned to Ypres in time for the afternoon concert in the Cathedral.

For our other tour to the Ypres Salient go to 2007 Ypres Memorial Walk

For previous photos go to Ypres Remembrance Tour Photo Gallery

Friday 9th

Travel to our hotel.

Saturday 10th

Messines Ridge. We discussed the great mining offensive that commenced in early 1915. This was intended to support the great offensive of 1916 in Flanders. Key sites were the Lost Mines at Ploegsteert, Kruistraat craters, Spanbroekmolen and the Petit Bois sector. The battle of the 7^th June 1917 was meticulously planned by Plummer.

The afternoon walk commenced at Kemmel and followed the line of attack of the 16^th Irish Division and 36^th Ulster Division.

Photo taken at Spanbroekmolen on the 7th June 1917

Sunday 11th

Rembrance Services.

Teddy Noyes

The afternoon tour took us to visit the sites where some the more well known literary characters and poets either fought or are commemorated.

We visited Artillery Wood for Hedd Wyn and Francis Ledwidge and the site of Hedge Street Tunnels where Edmund Blunden was “Town Major”. Peter Pan is buried in Voormezeele Enclosure No 3.

The grave of 2nd Lt G L Davies, stepson of Sir J M Barrie. George Davies was the real life person Peter Pan was based upon.

Monday 12th

Our brief tour on Monday morning provided an overview of the “other side of the wire” by means of visits to the German cemeteries of Menin and Langemark. These are very different to the CWGC cemeteries we are used to seeing.

Go back to the 2007 Tour Programme, the Flanders Tours Home Page or the Flanders Tours Booking Form