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Introduction

The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial is situated at the eastern end of Ypres (Ieper) on the road to Menin (Menen) and Courtrai (Kortrijk). The memorial was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick. The site of the former east gate was chosen, as the thousands of troops matching towards the Ypres battlefields would have passed through the gate.

Every night, regardless of weather, at 8pm local time, the Last Post is sounded by members of the local Fire Brigade. For more information about this simple, but moving ceremony, please visit the Last Post Association web site.

Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

The Menin Gate Memorial with Cloth Hall in the distance (Stephen Stratford 2011).

The memorial commemorates those personnel of Commonwealth countries, except New Zealand and British casualties after 15 August 1917, who died in the Ypres Salient area and have no known grave.

New Zealand personnel are commemorated by separate memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery, Messines Ridge British Cemetery and Tyne Cot Cemetery.

United Kingdom casualties cover the period from the start of the First World War until 15 August 1917; with some exceptions. British casualties after this date, until the end of the war, are commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Menin Gate Memorial viewed from the ramparts (Stephen Stratford 2011).

View inside the Menin Gate Memorial (Stephen Stratford 2011).

The inscription and sculpture work inside the Menin Gate Memorial (Stephen Stratford 2011).

The names shown in the photograph below are soldiers in the The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).

One of the Name Panels on the Menin Gate Memorial (Stephen Stratford 2011).