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- May 21, 2011
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Hi all,
Yesterday, my girlfriend and I decided to take a road trip to the Western part of Belgium, more or less the region around Ypres. This area was the face of 4 years of trench warfare during WW1 for my country. Even though I have visited these places with my parents when I was a kid, my girlfriend hadn't so we decided to go on a tour in this area. I find the WW1 history very interesting, yet a tour like this never results in a happy ride home. You'll see why.
Our first stop was Polygon Wood, near Zonnebeke. This site, tactically situated on a hill had known some fierce battles. In 1917, Australian as well as New Zealanders concerred the hill but at quite a cost. There are two cemeteries here. The smallest one has graves that are placed in an irregular order. That has everything to do with the conditions these men fought and died in. Most of them were buried under constant threat of enemy fire, so they were buried the best their comrades could. To honor these circumstances, the later graves at Polygon Wood Cemetery have been kept in the same orientation.
On the other side of the road, there's a large monument for the Australians and New Zealanders, known as Buttes New British Cemetery & Memorial, as well as a larger cemetery where 2000+ soldiers who were KIA and were scattered throughout the region have been brought together on a final resting place. It's really impressive...
Sobering start of the day, to say the least. Next stop was the infamous Tyne Cot cemetery, containing up to almost 12.000 (!) individual graves, many of which belong to unknown soldiers. Their graves often read: unknown soldier of the great war, known unto god... The cemetery is located on a hillside as well, which used to be a German position. Some of the bunkers are still in place at the burial site. The enormous memorial in the middle of the cemetery has been built around the central bunker.
Countless names...
The visitor center showed some relics from the Great War, and I snapped a few quick pics. Here's a British clasp knife, a straight razor and a gas mask (which would relate to the continuation of the story).
If you're sad already, it's not gonna get any better, dear friends.
Next stop was the St. Julien memorial for the Canadian soldiers. It's really impressive. A giant, stone soldier, resting on his rifle.
All wars have at least two opposing parties, hence casualties on both sides. The German cemetery at Langemark is a pretty big contrast with the allied burial grounds. Squared stones on the ground, reading names of the deceased or -as in many cases- something like "zwanzig unbekantene soldaten" (twenty unknown soldiers)...
The row of stones indicate where the trench used to be...
Countless names, once more... to the right of this picture you see the beginning of a bordered piece of land, maybe 20*10 metres. In front of it is a sign that reads: over 20.000 unknown soldiers lie buried here... Total count for this German burial site is at 30.000+...
Next up, the road took us to Zuidschote, near the infamous "Steenstraete" (litteraly: Stone Street) where the German forces used mustard gas for the first time on April 22nd 1915. There's just a big monument here -like there are many in this region- but it did mark an important instance during WW1. I really had to come visit this place because a great-great uncle of mine was killed 2 days after the first gas attack at this same frontline, age 22. I haven't figured out that he was "hit" by the gas, or rather killed by gunfire or explosions. Even though many "logistics" of WW1 casualties are well known, there's no grave for my great-great uncle, nor a mentioning of his name on any memorial. He had a twin brother as well, who suffered to exposure to the German mustard gas. He was taken away from the frontline and died from the consequences almost four years later after the end of WW1 in 1919, age 26. I still have the medals these brothers received posthumously, and proud to have had such brave men in my family.
Here's a simple sign on the front of a house at Zuidschote, in remembrance of those who -out of both my great-great uncles' regiment- were killed in this battle in 1915.
Up next was Diksmuide. Diksmuide and its surroundings have long been the face of Belgian trench war. This is also close to the place where some Belgian soldiers opened the sluice doors of the Ijzer river, which caused the river to overflow and stop the German advance in its tracks. After that, both sides dug in and the trench war began. Here, some original trenches still remain, yet have been fortified with cemented sand bags in order to preserve them better.
Nearby is the Ijzer tower, in memory of the Flemish soldiers who endured a lot of hardship under (mostly French speaking) military leadership. They were seen as the "peasantry" and often used as cannon fodder.
Closer to Ypres, we also stopped at two major hillsides, namely Hill 62 and Hill 60. The former is now a Canadian memorial site...
...whereas the latter is a memoral site as well, yet it's being maintained in it's original shape. Hence: bomb craters everywhere AND soldiers KIA underneath your feet everywhere as well... The hill has been kept intact as a way of remembering.
Last, but not least, we also stopped at a Belgian cemetery, honouring my countrymen who lost their lives in this massive, Great War.
I know, not a lot of Becker content so here's a pic of the tools we used for lunch (some crumbs left too), but that wasn't the main purpose of this thread anyway. Just wanted, even needed to share. I hope you guys found it interesting, can't really say "enjoyed" the read, but I hope it did something to y'all. It didn't leave me unmoved, still feel sick to my stomach typing this.
Cheers guys, never forget the sacrifices of your countrymen, in any war or conflict.
Yesterday, my girlfriend and I decided to take a road trip to the Western part of Belgium, more or less the region around Ypres. This area was the face of 4 years of trench warfare during WW1 for my country. Even though I have visited these places with my parents when I was a kid, my girlfriend hadn't so we decided to go on a tour in this area. I find the WW1 history very interesting, yet a tour like this never results in a happy ride home. You'll see why.
Our first stop was Polygon Wood, near Zonnebeke. This site, tactically situated on a hill had known some fierce battles. In 1917, Australian as well as New Zealanders concerred the hill but at quite a cost. There are two cemeteries here. The smallest one has graves that are placed in an irregular order. That has everything to do with the conditions these men fought and died in. Most of them were buried under constant threat of enemy fire, so they were buried the best their comrades could. To honor these circumstances, the later graves at Polygon Wood Cemetery have been kept in the same orientation.
On the other side of the road, there's a large monument for the Australians and New Zealanders, known as Buttes New British Cemetery & Memorial, as well as a larger cemetery where 2000+ soldiers who were KIA and were scattered throughout the region have been brought together on a final resting place. It's really impressive...
Sobering start of the day, to say the least. Next stop was the infamous Tyne Cot cemetery, containing up to almost 12.000 (!) individual graves, many of which belong to unknown soldiers. Their graves often read: unknown soldier of the great war, known unto god... The cemetery is located on a hillside as well, which used to be a German position. Some of the bunkers are still in place at the burial site. The enormous memorial in the middle of the cemetery has been built around the central bunker.
Countless names...
The visitor center showed some relics from the Great War, and I snapped a few quick pics. Here's a British clasp knife, a straight razor and a gas mask (which would relate to the continuation of the story).
If you're sad already, it's not gonna get any better, dear friends.
Next stop was the St. Julien memorial for the Canadian soldiers. It's really impressive. A giant, stone soldier, resting on his rifle.
All wars have at least two opposing parties, hence casualties on both sides. The German cemetery at Langemark is a pretty big contrast with the allied burial grounds. Squared stones on the ground, reading names of the deceased or -as in many cases- something like "zwanzig unbekantene soldaten" (twenty unknown soldiers)...
The row of stones indicate where the trench used to be...
Countless names, once more... to the right of this picture you see the beginning of a bordered piece of land, maybe 20*10 metres. In front of it is a sign that reads: over 20.000 unknown soldiers lie buried here... Total count for this German burial site is at 30.000+...
Next up, the road took us to Zuidschote, near the infamous "Steenstraete" (litteraly: Stone Street) where the German forces used mustard gas for the first time on April 22nd 1915. There's just a big monument here -like there are many in this region- but it did mark an important instance during WW1. I really had to come visit this place because a great-great uncle of mine was killed 2 days after the first gas attack at this same frontline, age 22. I haven't figured out that he was "hit" by the gas, or rather killed by gunfire or explosions. Even though many "logistics" of WW1 casualties are well known, there's no grave for my great-great uncle, nor a mentioning of his name on any memorial. He had a twin brother as well, who suffered to exposure to the German mustard gas. He was taken away from the frontline and died from the consequences almost four years later after the end of WW1 in 1919, age 26. I still have the medals these brothers received posthumously, and proud to have had such brave men in my family.
Here's a simple sign on the front of a house at Zuidschote, in remembrance of those who -out of both my great-great uncles' regiment- were killed in this battle in 1915.
Up next was Diksmuide. Diksmuide and its surroundings have long been the face of Belgian trench war. This is also close to the place where some Belgian soldiers opened the sluice doors of the Ijzer river, which caused the river to overflow and stop the German advance in its tracks. After that, both sides dug in and the trench war began. Here, some original trenches still remain, yet have been fortified with cemented sand bags in order to preserve them better.
Nearby is the Ijzer tower, in memory of the Flemish soldiers who endured a lot of hardship under (mostly French speaking) military leadership. They were seen as the "peasantry" and often used as cannon fodder.
Closer to Ypres, we also stopped at two major hillsides, namely Hill 62 and Hill 60. The former is now a Canadian memorial site...
...whereas the latter is a memoral site as well, yet it's being maintained in it's original shape. Hence: bomb craters everywhere AND soldiers KIA underneath your feet everywhere as well... The hill has been kept intact as a way of remembering.
Last, but not least, we also stopped at a Belgian cemetery, honouring my countrymen who lost their lives in this massive, Great War.
I know, not a lot of Becker content so here's a pic of the tools we used for lunch (some crumbs left too), but that wasn't the main purpose of this thread anyway. Just wanted, even needed to share. I hope you guys found it interesting, can't really say "enjoyed" the read, but I hope it did something to y'all. It didn't leave me unmoved, still feel sick to my stomach typing this.
Cheers guys, never forget the sacrifices of your countrymen, in any war or conflict.
