SteveMarsdin Posted 28 May , 2011 Share Posted 28 May , 2011 Good afternoon All, When I've arrived in Belgium at Zeebrugge I've occasionally stretched my legs on the seawall* and stopped to read the memorial there, before journeying on further South. Today I decided to make the 5 minutes detour to the Zeebrugge CWGC cemetery [poorly signposted for once ! but just head for the church spire]: * Bits of the old mole can still be seen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMarsdin Posted 28 May , 2011 Author Share Posted 28 May , 2011 Zeebrugge centre is very small virtually surrounded by water (docks and canals) and literally by dual carriageways, but quite pleasant nonetheless if you want some fresh air or a bakers, before you start your journey. There's a memorial to Belgians killed in both World Wars just outside the cemetery and a mixture of German and British graves within. This is a monument to German torpedoboats S15 and S20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMarsdin Posted 28 May , 2011 Author Share Posted 28 May , 2011 Ivy has grown over the original German entrance arch and also one of the smallest memorials to the missing (according to "Before Endeavours Fade") which has consequently got even smaller ! It commemorates four "missing" from the raid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMarsdin Posted 29 May , 2011 Author Share Posted 29 May , 2011 There are considerably more Germans buried in the cemetery than British; this isn't immediately obvious as most have been given the same white headstones. Most of the graves in this photo are German. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMarsdin Posted 29 May , 2011 Author Share Posted 29 May , 2011 As you would expect there are many Royal Marines commemorated there, with two more recent memorials to these VC holders: There is also the grave of a WW1 airman: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger H Posted 29 May , 2011 Share Posted 29 May , 2011 Steve An interesting place. I think you will have encouraged a few more visitors! Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted 29 May , 2011 Share Posted 29 May , 2011 It is also not far from the memorial to the 1918 raid, which tells the story very well. Instead of just getting off the ferry and beetling south, it is worth stopping an hour in Zeebrugges. Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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