Does anyone know if anything is happening actually on the 11th November, especially in Belgium? I'd imagine there'd be some sort of service at Tyne Cot at the least

It is hoped that the planned restoration of the 22nd Div Memorial may have been completed and that an re-dedication/unveiling will take place.

There are I believe ceremonies at 1100 and 2000 at the Menin Gate in Wipers.....no doubt quite a few people at both.......

There will be a parade from the Town Square in Mesen at 11.00 to lay wreaths at the Belgian Monument, the New Zealand Monument and the Island of Ireland Peace Park and Tower. There will also be an official ceremony in the afternoon at the tower, probably at 3pm but this hasn't been confirmed on the www.mesen.be website just yet.

The rededication of the 22nd Division memorial in the hills above Doiran in Macedonia will now take place on 12th November. Change of date is due to a large French commemoration taking place in Skopje on 11 November. Distances involved and time needed to walk up to the memorial at Doiran make it almost impossible for people to attend both ceremonies in a single day.

ALAN

Alan,
Will you be there?

If not will a member of the Salonika Society be able to post some photos?

Interested to see them!

NC

NC,
If Alan doesn't mind me responding on his behalf, the answer to both your questions is Yes.
I'll certainly be taking my camera!

Adrian
(Salonika Campaign Society member)

Great news on the Salonika event....I'll be in Ypres on 11th November....who else is going????

Either to Ypres or Salonika!!!!

Yep, Me and my wife will be at Ypres on the 11th. Looking forward to it.

You'll easily recognize me, I'll be wearing a poppy.

This is the first time we've been lucky enough to go there. We have a full week of learning and seeing as much as we can.

Any idea what's happening on Sunday 9th (Remembrance Day) in Ypres?
Lionboxer

You'll have a life-changing time at Ypres, I'm sure of it. A pack of tissues is always handy...

J.

I am hoping to join a French-organised (I think) walk from Albert to Ypres from November 7-11 which I only found out about at the end of last week. I am expecting details by e-mail today. Applications to take part close on Wednesday.

cheers Martin B

Will be in Belgium from 9th to 12th November - Tuesday 11th in Vichte where my friend's uncle is buried. Visiting my uncle at Belgain Battery Corner and also seeing if we can find where he was killed. Several other cemeteries to remember the lads in and a couple of actions to look at.
Menin Gate on the 10th.

Hi Niall

As Adrian says, I'll be at Doiran on 12 November. I'm actually going over for 5 days and will be staying with the chap who has headed up the memorial restoration project. I'm hoping to get a chance to also visit a few more sites in Macedonia: German cemetery at Bitola, Strumica - where the British had advanced to when the Bulgars signed the armistice, mountains where the Serbs broke through in 1916 and 1918. As Chairman of the Salonika Campaign Society I've also been warned that an interview with Macedonia TV could be on the cards. As they said on Monty Python 'My Hovercraft is full of eels'!!!

ALAN

Anything in France on 11 November, apart from Thiepval?

Will be at Crucifix Corner Dranoutre laying a wreath to Uncle Jack (see signature) at 11am

Chris

Replying to 'several' friends in this post.....

Alan,

Have a nice time in Salonika....hope it won't be too cold!

Martin B....I'll look out for a footsore journalist in Ypres area on the 10th/11th.....

Also to Tony......after saying hello at Quarry Cemetery perphaps we'll run into one another in Belgium this time!


NC

Niall,

never know your luck - still not knowing what the others on the trip will be looking at, apart from the Menin Gate on the 10th and Vichte on the 11th, could be anywhere but I think our first stop on the 9th will be Lijsenthoek late morning.

Be good to bump in to you again.

Tony,

Indeed it would be nice to see you and I can relate the story of me and Mr Corrigan at Thiepval in July 2006.........although he had no idea who I was!

NC

Be aware that there are large group booking being made in the popular retaurants around the Somme region so if looking for a meal out on the evening directly preceding the 11th book early.

Mick

I will be over in Ypres from 8 November until the 12th. I bought a purple poppy off an animal charity website, which is to remember all the animals who were killed in the war too. I then contacted the charity to ask if they could get a purple poppy wreath made up as I would be willing to lay it at the Menin Gate on their behalf.

They were so pleased and I am laying the wreath at the Menin Gate on 11 November at 11am.

I will be the person wearing a red and a purple poppy, so if any of you are in Ypres, please feel free to come over and have a chat, thats if you can find me amongst all the people.

Angela x

Angela,

How nice! I am due somewhere near the Menin Gate at 1100 as the group I'm with are due to spend the whole day in Ypres...I'll certainly look out for you.....to make it easier I might dust off my old beret and wear it!
Usually only gets seen in the months of September in Arnhem.....so if you see an ugly guy with a flat nose wearing a red beret with RAMC badge and carrying a copy of a book that I shouldn't mention on Loos stop me and say hello!
In fact that goes for any forum pal!

Thats going to be hard for me, since I'm working alongside you for them few days............
Great book by the way!

Please do come and chat. I am going with my boyfriend, his daughter and his mother. We are staying at the Novotel. We have been to Arnhem many times too and my boyfriend would be so interested in chatting to you.

We're planning on being in Ypres all day on the 11th and I was just wondering if there is likely to be any public transport running from Kemmel where we're staying, bearing in mind it's a public holiday.

If unlikely, what about parking? Is there plenty? Having never been before I'm thinking of arriving quite early and having breakfast there.

What do you find works best?

Cheers

Stewart.

Gentlemen,

We have every year all over France important ceremonies to commemorate the 11th november.
In Boisguillaume where there are over 600 soldiers from UK and the Commonwealth located on 2 differents places, the mayor and its municipality team, plus other people (about 100 people) put a gerb of flowers at both places with a minute of silence; then we proceed to the French monument with same attention.

We then go back to the city council office (mairie) where the mayor makes a speech and we have a little team that plays the God Save the Queen, the American and Canadian hymns and the Marseillaise.

We hold the same ceremony on the 8th of may, for WW2

Philippe

Hello Stewart,

Public transport runs by bus (so-called "Dial-a-bus"; line Ieper-Westouter-Nieuwkerke), and normally there is service on public holidays.
Reservation is necessary. All info can be found here :
http://www.ieper.be/ieper_en.aspx?SGREF=13722

Regards,

Koen

Many thanks Koen,

We're really looking forward to our visit to Ypres. We have only been to Belgium once before, to Brugge and we found the people there to be amongst the friendliest we have ever meet.

Speaking as one stuck in the States wishing she could be in Belgium or France for the anniversary, I would appreciate if those attending memorial events would post after and let us know what they were like. Any images would also be appreciated. Then I can at least imagine that I was there! Thanks.

For those who are in Ieper/Poperinge on 8th and 9th November. Talbot House have a play about Tubby Clayton on Saturday 8th at 8.00p.m and Sunday Morning at 11.00 a.m the cost is 5.00 euro each phone Marlene 0032 (0)57 333 228 or more info.

In Vlamertinge on Sunday 9th at the church at 8.00p.m is Poppies in Concert cost is 6.00 euro in advance or 9.00 euro on door (if any tickets left), there will be Leith Dundee Boys Brigade Pipe Band, Leith Community Concert Band, Royal High School Fiddle Group from Edinburgh. Ons Kramikkels Vlamertinge and drinks after at De Glilde in Vlamertinge.
You can phone Patrick hu or email him on: 0032 (0)57 33 75 58
patdhu@hotmail.com

for more information.

LizM

I'm based in Cologne and would be very interested in travelling within a couple of hours away to a memorial service. Do you know of any on the 9th within that distance? I was thinking Arnhem, do you think something will take place here, for example?

Unfortunately, Ypres could be a bit too far for this Sunday.

Best wishes,

Deegee

I am also a bit of an Arnhem nut and regretfully in my chats with friends who live in Oosterbeek and other villages close to Arnhem, nothing has been said about any 'armistice' events.....in Arnhem the main remembrance is around May for liberation and then September for Market Garden.....sorry....