Jump to content
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

MENIN GATE COMMEMORATION DATES


Greg Bloomfield

Recommended Posts

I'm currently reading Holmes' "Fatal Avenue" in which he states that the Gate has the names of 54 896 British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed before 16th August 1917. What is the significance of this date and where would subsequent salient casualties be commemorated, and why there?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

those killed after that date are commerated at Tyne Cot, the ran out of room at the Menin Gate, so this date was chosen as a cut off date for the British missing Tyne cot also contains the New Zealand missing names from that area for October 1917. New Zealnad wanted their missing to be on seperate memorials as close to the spot where the action happened where they had missing, hence Polygon Wood and Messines memeorials in the Salient. Australian and Canadain missing from the salient after that date are still on the Menin Gate however.

matt

historical information officer for the WFA 4731

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Matt

Cleared that one up nicely.

Greg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

very interesting indeed, the more you read and find out, you realise the more there is to find out! Life would be dull if we had the answeres to everything, but perhaps a little,less confusing!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the link Nigel but I think it throws up more questions than answers!

Would it be fair to say that nobody really knows the definitive answer?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...