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Armistice Program Ypres 2011


chrislock

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Would Tommy have have understood most of this ?

No

Ypres seems the place to promote your cause, be it sport or politics. To be honest I am getting a little jaded with all this carrying on like a jamboree at the Menin Gate. I would never go on such occasions, give me a windy February evening any time.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I was at the Menin Gate on the 13th 14th and 15th of this month, and for the first time ever the lights were turned off. I asked the policeman and he explained it was some sort of energy saving weekend for all the public buildings in Ieper. In actual fact I felt it really added to the solemnity of the occasion on each evening, with everyone focussed on the sound of the Last Post, the silence that followed, a pipers lament on the saturday, and then reville. Very well done to the Last Post Association.

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I also totaly agree with Bob G. Iv been many times to the Last Post Ceremony, and also on the 11th November. When i first went in the early 1990`s, it was a very solemn ceremony and very respectful and quite rightly so. Nowadays it seems to have lost a lot of that. My opinion of course. But, i know my close family members who fought and some who died would not like it.

Regards Frances

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  • 2 weeks later...

I've never been on the 11th of November and although it is apparent the day will be totally different from the norm, it will be an education. I was in Rouen with my wife last week and we paid our respects to her great-uncle David Millar, buried at St Sever and I expect we will go to Divisional to stop at the grave of my great-uncle Les. Remembrance is for every day of the year, so whatever we do on the 11th is wholly separate...if you see what I mean.

Mark

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Good evening,

I think we need to separate the Armistice Programme from the thoughts on the daily Menin Gate celebrations, on which there are several threads already.

Chris' post refers to the Armistice Programme. I don't see anything to find fault with in the day's programme for the 11th; on the other days the theme is peace which surely fits in with the Armistice title ? In "celebrating" the armistice it isn't just about remembering the sacrifices made but also that peace that came with the cessation of hostilities (and whose permanence has proved so elusive since).

It's not a part of the programme that I would personally find attractive (I also see Robert Fisk was a past speaker) but I do feel that in context it is relevant.

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Thank you Steve. The topic seems to have wandered off a tad. The original post was as per regarding the revealed programme of events and how it fits in with the Great War Armistice and not the Last Post Ceremony itself.

Chris

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  • 2 weeks later...

I had an interesting day in Ypres on the 11th. The procession of worthies, Olympians, service personnel etc was fine to see. I remain confused to know why the minutes silence was held at about 1118 - and assume from comments heard that this was due to the late arrival of Princess Mathilde of Belgium - but I really don't know. I am prepared to be enlightened.

I was proud to be there with my family and friends regardless. The concert in the cathedral was a very nice occasion to follow this up. The next day we stopped at Divisional cemetery to pay our respects to my great-uncle. God bless him and keep him. So, all in all, the concept of the occasion and the actuality - may have been a tad unusual for all tastes - but I think the spirit of Remembrance remained intact.

Mark

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Glad you had a great trip but would it be possible to stick to the original topic as reminded in post 8 and not wander off topic please. Thank you.

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Hi there all,

I was wondering about bringing my mother to visit grave and memorial of her two uncles next year. (Le Touret Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L'Avoune and the Thiepval Memorial) Could anyone advise if these are close together and where would be a good (and reasonable) place to stay. Also, is there a time to avoid.

Regards

Frank

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Hi there all,

I was wondering about bringing my mother to visit grave and memorial of her two uncles next year. (Le Touret Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L'Avoune and the Thiepval Memorial) Could anyone advise if these are close together and where would be a good (and reasonable) place to stay. Also, is there a time to avoid.

Regards

Frank

Frank. Look at Battlefield touring for sites to stay...

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I had an interesting day in Ypres on the 11th. The procession of worthies, Olympians, service personnel etc was fine to see. I remain confused to know why the minutes silence was held at about 1118 - and assume from comments heard that this was due to the late arrival of Princess Mathilde of Belgium - but I really don't know. I am prepared to be enlightened.

I was proud to be there with my family and friends regardless. The concert in the cathedral was a very nice occasion to follow this up. The next day we stopped at Divisional cemetery to pay our respects to my great-uncle. God bless him and keep him. So, all in all, the concept of the occasion and the actuality - may have been a tad unusual for all tastes - but I think the spirit of Remembrance remained intact.

Mark

Any pic's you'd like share :)

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I can only assume that the city of Ypres is now seen, by its worthies, to act as a focus for the need for World Peace (ie the end of war) to enable humanity to realise that war only brings suffering and pain. If so,it is a message for politicians, most of whom will not be listening

I am however unconvinced that it bears any influence on the real world or would be understood by the majority of those who fought in the Salient

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Thank you for that one Stephen: that is exactly how I feel but I felt your interpretation was only mine. I can now relax in the understanding that other(s) have also come to the same conclusion. Thank you. :thumbsup:

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Thank you for that one Stephen: that is exactly how I feel but I felt your interpretation was only mine. I can now relax in the understanding that other(s) have also come to the same conclusion. Thank you. :thumbsup:

Other cities much affected by the world wars such as Verdun and Caen also have/have had events or permanent displays devoted to peace. It is perhaps easier for them to link the ravages that occurred around them to the present day and a hope for a peaceful future. It may be futile but it is an honourable goal; I may not find it particularly interesting but I can't deny its relevance to the location.

As an aside:I was very disappointed by the IFF museum when I visited it for the first time, earlier this year; for similar reasons as those that Chris alludes to; I hope that the current alterations are genuine improvements.

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Hi there all,

I was wondering about bringing my mother to visit grave and memorial of her two uncles next year. (Le Touret Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L'Avoune and the Thiepval Memorial) Could anyone advise if these are close together and where would be a good (and reasonable) place to stay. Also, is there a time to avoid.

Regards

Frank

Frank-PM sent

Michelle

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"It is a great pity when you come to regard things afterwards that men should be coerced or compelled to kill one another for the gratification for a few others in power"

Sergeant Tom Worthington, 1/6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, writing home after the Third Battle of Krithia.

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Good evening,

I am interested in many aspects of World War One, if I visit Ypres it is to further that knowledge and pay my respects. I don't go there to learn about the struggle for world peace since 1918. However that is my narrow self-centred perspective and I can see no better places than the likes of Ypres, Verdun etc to concentrate the mind on that goal. These may seem contradictory viewpoints but that perhaps stresses why it is important for such places to have those twin foci, to remember the past but to remind us for the future.

John's post reminds us that by 1918, this 2011 Armistice Programme may have resonated rather well within the ranks of all the combattant nations.

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