My Visit to France and Belgium

byRAFStuart

4.9K followers

6 years ago

As promised a very brief resume of the fantastic visit which we made to France and Belgium. The main purpose of our visit was to pay tribute to the 10,000 war widows and veterans which paraded through the streets of Ypres on 8th August 1928.

On the Sunday we made an early start to be taken by coach to Dover, where we boarded the ferry for Calais, then back on the coach to our hotel in Lille. When we got on the coach to begin our trip, we joined members from Yorkshire, I was delighted to see one of my colleagues from the Membership Council was also there.

The Monday saw us visit Flanders fields, have been to some of the sites before, but never seen an original trench, this was made of sandbags and was in Thievel Woods You have to keep to the paths there as they still find ammunition from the First World War in the woods. The woods are by the Connaught Cemetery, across the road is the Belfast Tower. From there to the awe-inspiring site of the Thievel Memorial, where a wreath was laid and I was asked to recite the Act of Homage.

Other cemeteries followed, the Canadian site was where I saw a German trench made in concrete, quite fascinating. This site with one or two others showed just how close the two Armies were to each other at times, often as little as twenty-five metres separating them.

On Tuesday it was off to Paschendale, two remarkable visits, will leave Ypres out, as I have been before and it will figure later. The first was the Pashendale Museum, where a complete underground system is in place, complete with bunks, radio room, kitchen, first aid room amongst other items. Truly amazing, the rooms lead out onto the trenches, this time they are made of wood.

Then onto Tyne Cot, and the largest cemetery, there I had the privelidge of leading an Act of Remembrance, as wreaths were laid the last post sounded, standards dipped and I recited the Act of Homage. It was very moving and watched by 3-400 people many of whom had just popped in for a visit. Some of course, as in many cemeteries, were there to see family graves, or the name on the wall as they have no known grave.

Then on to Wednesday, we gathered early, some 1100 standards with 1100 wreath layers, representing their Counties and Branches. The parade was led by the Band of the Royal Marines, followed by the National Chairman, the National Standards and the Membership Council, as shown below.

This photograph shows the sheer size of the number of Standards that were present. Our faces solemn as we leave the Menin Gate having duly paid our respects to the fallen with a simple service followed by the laying of the 1100 wreaths, this simple ceremony was to me amazing as it took just twenty-three minutes to lay them all, it was really very well-organised.

It was personally moving for me as I stood close by the engraved name of my Mum's cousin, had been the day before to pay my respects. He was one of two brothers who have no known grave.

There were a number of Ambassadors present, laying wreaths on behalf of their Country, I was pleased to see that these included Germany. The Archbishop of York represented the Churches in England.

To give you an idea of the number of the wreaths that were laid have included the photograph below.

This is a family group, the lady with her son and her partner. The Standards are the County Standards of Derbyshire and Staffordshire, with a Branch Standard.

After the parade and March Past, we passed the local War Memorial, where we paid our respects, before falling out for a well-deserved lunch. We then had several hours to ourselves, I changed out of my suit, left the bowler behind, then went to have a close look at the wreaths. It was then time to join the thousands in the square as we enjoyed a concert, by the Band of the Royal Marines, The Central Band of the Royal British Legion and the Welsh Male Voice Choir. It was truly wonderful, the day was made complete by the singing of Land of Hope and by some two thousand plus people who thronged the square.

It was then back to the coaches and back to the hotel after a truly memorable day.

The photograph below is against my better judgment, but thought that you deserved a laugh at me with my bowler hat on.

The next day we were up early, but not too early for our return trip to the UK, despite arriving for the early ferry, the trip still took twelve hours. It took me two days to recover, as the entire visit whilst totally memorable had been very tiring.

So my friends hope that you enjoy this brief account of what will go down as part of the history of the Royal British Legion, the small part that I played made me very proud and humble, marching through the streets of Ypres on our return from the Menin Gate, with the crowds the lined the street clapping and cheering, some shouting out words of encouragement.

Suppose that I could go on for longer, but do not wish to bore you.

Until the next time.

Stuart