From 1914 to 1918 the 'Westhoek', the western part the Province of West-Flanders, was the scene of the Great War. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers of more than 20 nationalities fell in this conflict.
... I think Memorials like this are exceptionally important because the allow military leaders to remember the faults of our forefathers and let us learn from their mistakes in order to create hopefully a better world...
The Menin Gate/Menenpoort Ypres
Designe by Sir Reginald Blomfield, and unveiled by Lord Plumer in 1927, the Menin Gate commemorates 54.338 men of the British Commonwealth except New Zealanders, who died in the Ypres salient in the Great War, up August 16, 1917 and have no known grave. After dat date, those with no known grave are commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial. All Canadian and Australian soldiers with no known graves in the salient are commemorated on the Menin Gate. The Last Post has been played here every night 8pm, by members of the Ypres Volunteer Fire Brigade since 1928.
Tyne Cot Cemetery near Passendale
This is the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world. There are 11,976 war graves from WW1 here, including 8.961 from the United Kingdom. 1.368 from Australia, 1.025 from Canada, 520 from New Zealand, 90 from South Africa, 6 from Geuersney, 2 from British West Indies and 4 from Germany. Of these 8.366 or 70percent, are "Known unto God". At the rear cemetery is " Tyne Cot Memorial" which commemorates 34.887 men with no known graves of Britain (33.707), New Zealand (1.179) and Newfoundland (1).
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