angelab Posted 13 April , 2007 Share Posted 13 April , 2007 I did do a search, honestly, but so many thousands of replies came up to the query "last post" that I had to give up looking... Concerning the playing of the Last Post under the Menin Gate at Ypres, I just need to say (for a book): "This has been done every night (apart from the years of occupation during World War II), since xxxxxxxx" I had gathered 11 November 1928 from some source. But a proof-reader has queried it, and I have trudged back through websites and my original documentation, but nothing agrees. The Last Post Association's own site www.lastpost.be says "every day at the Menin Gate since July 24 1927." Another site ( www.greatwar.co.uk ) very specifically says it was first played on 1 July 1928 (i.e. a year later), then played daily for 4 months. Then reinstated in spring 1929. I am more confused than ever! My inclination would be to take the Last Post's own word for it. I wonder, though, if there is something "weaselly" about "every DAY ....since July 24 1927"? i.e. was it played at lunchtime? Can anybody point me to the definitive source? Many thanks Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 13 April , 2007 Share Posted 13 April , 2007 at 9 pm on 1st July 1928 the 12th anniversary of the start of the battle of the Somme. Ran out of money in - 30 Sept 1928 suspended. resumed - 1 May 1929. suspended in WW2 Had the newsletter today and I think it is the 27,000 on 25th April (ANZAC Day) stevem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 13 April , 2007 Share Posted 13 April , 2007 I think it was certainly sounded at the Inauguration in July 1927 but did not become a nightly event immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Tucker Posted 13 April , 2007 Share Posted 13 April , 2007 Menin Gate inaugurated by Plumer on July 24 1927, Sassoon wrote 'On Passing the New Menin Gate' the next day in his Brussels hotel room. The sounding idea was that of Mr P Vandenbraambussche, Superintendent of the Ypres Police. First sounding 1.7.1928 with a daily ceremony for 4 months. Reinstated in Spring 1929 when the Last Post Committee was set up. From 11.11.1929 every night except 1940-44. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelab Posted 14 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 14 April , 2007 Thanks guys! So it looks as if I would be OK to say it was first sounded on 1 July 1928, and has been a nightly event since 11 November 1929 (except WWII). Brilliant. :-) Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 14 April , 2007 Share Posted 14 April , 2007 Ignoring rehearsals, the Last Post was first sounded at the Menin Gate on Sunday 24th July 1927 by 2nd Battalion The Somerset light Infantry. It was followed by "The Flowers of the Field" played by Pipers of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards. These details come from the Order of Ceremonial for the Unveiling and Dedication. (Courtesy of Geoff501) The King of the Belgians and Lord Plumer were present. It would seem that the wonderful regular nightly sounding dates from 1928 , but I wonder if there was any sort of ceremony on Remembrance Sunday 1927? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 14 April , 2007 Share Posted 14 April , 2007 but I wonder if there was any sort of ceremony on Remembrance Sunday 1927? Ian, Dominik Dendooven (Menenpoort & Last Post) for 1927 only writes : "Het jaar voordien, in 1927 zouden er al sporadisch uitvoeringen van de ceremonie zijn geweest, maar dan slechts bij hoge uitzondering." (p. 115) (it is said that ... sporadically ... very exceptionally ... Information from a letter to F. Ware, 10 July 1928) No mention of a date. Maybe Remembrance Sunday was one of them ? Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest geoff501 Posted 14 April , 2007 Share Posted 14 April , 2007 Ian, Glad you got it! Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 14 April , 2007 Share Posted 14 April , 2007 Geoff - Many thanks for your sending me the scanned copy of the order of service for the Menin Gate inauguration. Apologies for the delay in me acknowledging this. Aurel - Yes, I suppose we shall never know if the Last Post was sounded again in 1927 - but getting the buglers trained and ready to go in less than a year is a good effort - and to then keep it up for a further 79 years and counting is simply fantastic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest geoff501 Posted 15 April , 2007 Share Posted 15 April , 2007 It was followed by "The Flowers of the Field" played by Pipers of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards. Would this be the Scots Guards? Picture from Sunday Herald 24/07/1927. It may have been taken at rehersal (woodbine may be a give-away!), I don't have papers for the following monday. 10,000 travelled to Ypres from the UK for the ceremony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 16 April , 2007 Share Posted 16 April , 2007 No doubt our uniform experts will enlighten us but it would seem likely that we have here a photo of the first of the great line of Menin Gate musicians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Light Bob Posted 17 April , 2007 Share Posted 17 April , 2007 Hi Would be interested to know if anyone has a photo of the Buglers at the Dedication Ceremony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest geoff501 Posted 17 April , 2007 Share Posted 17 April , 2007 Would be interested to know if anyone has a photo of the Buglers at the Dedication Ceremony This is from the same edition, whether its one of the actual buglers or taken from the paper's photo archive, I don't know. Is this an SLI man? Try a few newspaper archives, there may be pictures in the following Monday's papers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Light Bob Posted 18 April , 2007 Share Posted 18 April , 2007 Thanks - He's wearing Somerset collar badge so presume authentic - I can't make out where is standing or is it a montage Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borden Battery Posted 20 September , 2010 Share Posted 20 September , 2010 The Last Post Association - Menin Gate at Ypres The Last Post Association is an independent, voluntary, non-profit organization. The Association founded the Last Post Ceremony in 1928 and is still responsible for the day-to-day organization of this unique act of homage. This daily tribute - performed by a team of local buglers - serves to honour the memory of the soldiers of the British Empire, who fought and died in the immortal Ypres Salient during the First World War. It is the aim of the Last Post Association to maintain this ceremony in perpetuity. NOTE: Guests may arrange book special commemorations via email. [CEF Study Group - Sept 2010] http://www.lastpost.be/en/index/index/slug/home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dycer Posted 20 September , 2010 Share Posted 20 September , 2010 Having attended the Last Post Ceremony,at the Gate, this July may I express an opinion. The Service,is important, but the bugle calls resonate and that is my point. The calls are offered, in my mind, not only to the men who are commemorated on the Menin Gate but also to their Colleagues,who lie in CWGC maintained Cemeteries,Memorials and individual graves,wherever they are and would love/hate to answer the "wake up" call George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 26 July , 2023 Share Posted 26 July , 2023 (edited) This lantern slide says 'MENIN GATE 1928'. Looks like the then Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII there: Edited 26 July , 2023 by Ivor Anderson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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