Ypres

biffo

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Ypres

· Posted: 01.12.2014 · #1

Hi to all, finally have the trip to France booked for April. Am heading to Ypres to find the grave of my grand uncle who was killed fighting in 1917.
Any advice on sites or aires appreciated in or around Ypres.

richhill

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 01.12.2014 · #2

Hi Biffo, lovely area. There is parking permitted in the street to the left as you approach the Menin Gate heading into town. A Campsite backs onto this street and is just a short walk away too. I can't remember the name of it at the minute - a grey cell moment! There are not many aires listed in All the aires" book, however, we found that you could safely park in a carpark in many of the surrounding villages nearby across the border in France.

richhill

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 01.12.2014 · #3

meant to say. we stayed overnight at carparks at many of the British Wargraves Commission grave sites too. Some parks just have room for two or three cars, others are larger. Around Hamel and beaumount Hamel, Thiepvel, hill 62, the Sunken Road, from non-grey cells memory, all had ample parking available.
If you look on the British / Commonwealth Wargraves Commission web site, you can find the actual location of your grand uncle's grave or name on a wall. The website gives the name of the memorial site where he is along with the row and grave number. Also the staff at Thiepval can search for you too, they are very helpful.

biffo

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 01.12.2014 · #4

Thanks for that,plenty to work on.

Bob

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 01.12.2014 · #5

you can park overnight at the theipval memorial to the missing
use the coach parking area

jacktherev

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 01.12.2014 · #6

You can also get detail on the War Grave web sites if you have his name and number. It will tell you where he's buried and the number of the grave.

Bob

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 01.12.2014 · #7

great acsi site in albert only 3 miles from theipval and on the POPPY TOUR

eirebus

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 01.12.2014 · #8

The site in Albert is v good there is also an interesting museam about the town in the war
Is wild camping legal in Belgium ?????

Bob

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 01.12.2014 · #9

the museum in albert is the basillica

shaysue

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 01.12.2014 · #10

We stayed on a very tidy and centrally located municipal site in Ypres a few years ago. Handy cycle or walk into Ypres. Don't miss Menin gate ceremonies each evening. Great museum in centre of town. (Site may have been named Jeugdstadion)

jacktherev

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 01.12.2014 · #11

Alos make sure you pay a visit to St Georges Church in Ypres. It's well worth a visit.

jacktherev

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 01.12.2014 · #12

I see you are going in April next year. I am there from the 1st April until 6th or 7th and will be leading the Act of Remembrance at the Menin Gate on the Tuesday. As already has been said don't miss this as its a very moving ceremony but be sure and get there early to get a good view. I led the Service last year and it was estimated there were over 1500 people there.

biffo

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 02.12.2014 · #13

Thanks for all the info guys,am sorry I'll miss you jack but we don't leave until the tenth. Probably make an overnight somewhere between Cherbourg and Ypres.

jacktherev

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 02.12.2014 · #14

Be sure and visit the Passiondale Cemetery which is the largest one and also the Peace Tower. You will also see a lot of small cemeteries dotted all over the place. These are known as Battlefield Cemeteries where battles took place and they buried the dead close by. There are also lots of other places but take your time and don't rush things. You can always make a revisit. I made my 32nd visit in June this year. Next year I will be there 4 times in all and I can honestly say each time I discover something new. I am sorry you won't be there when I am as you could have tagged along with me and got all the information as we visit the main sites.

Bob

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 02.12.2014 · #15

visit the grave of john condon from waterford
killed age 14
youngest soldier killed

biffo

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 03.12.2014 · #16

Right.........this started out as a trip to find my grand uncles grave.........pay my respects..........have a day or two looking round.............and then go explore some more of France.
That's gone out the window,will plan a little bit more and see about staying for a while. It's not that I won't have enough info to go on . Thanks to all who contributed and keep it coming.

Bob

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 03.12.2014 · #17

the area itself is beautiful
plenty of sites and aires available too

if you visit the somme area you can follow the poppy trail
its a signposted route round the battle areas and the road signs have a poppy on them for you to follow
two poppies means there is an interesting site to see and three poppies means there is a must see site

unhappy camper

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 03.12.2014 · #18

Make sure you visit the ulster tower you will be sure of a warm welcome they have all the information you need also willie mc brides grave (green fields of france) not far away the people in the tower will give you directions

Bob

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 04.12.2014 · #19

yes, teddy and phoebe will look after you and give you any info required on stopovers or sites to see

im out to lunch with them next week as the tower is closed for winter and they are home for a few months

jacktherev

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 04.12.2014 · #20

There's a very good article on WW1 in the December issue of MMM that focuses on Ypres.

tribute615

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Re: Ypres

· Posted: 09.02.2015 · #21

You can park near the gates in Ypres . Head for the gates then turn left as someone has said and then go past the houses and then parking bays are on left (the bays are marked out so you can overhang at the back not as shown on google maps).I was there in oct last year and the year before and the both blogs have pics.
heres a few links for you
https://goo.gl/maps/MwzP5
http://rebbyvid.blogspot.co.uk…-2014.html
http://rebbyvid.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/germany-2013.html
http://www.rebbyvid.co.uk/#/going-to-france/4542257529

biffo

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War graves

· Posted: 10.02.2015 · #22

Right guys, just working on info from all who contributed.................have discovered that my grand uncle George is buried in a cemetery called Hageldump. It is about 35 kilometers north east of Ypres.
So.........a little adjustment to the plan..........but not a lot.
Once again many thanks to all who contributed.

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