Sorry if already posted pics of the Last Post Ceremony today in Ypres somewhere else on the Form. A little surprsied that I didn't see any (yet), but maybe I missed them ?

Anyway, there was an immense crowd, and it turned out impossible for me (I arrived at 10.50 a.m., i.e. 10 minutes before the ceremony began) to take up a good position for some pics. But actually I prefer standing "backstage".

The weather was far from nice ! The sun came through at noon, right after the ceremony....
But before that : rain for a great part of the ceremony, right after the Last Post itself.
And also when the poppies came down from the openings in the vaults.

The white helmets (fire brigade) were wet with rain, and I couldn't help noticing that the paper poppy leaves stuck on some. There were better photos possible, but I only managed to take this one. I also couldn't help noticing that the paint or ink obviously was not really water resistent... When I showed it to someone, he said : Bleeding poppies ! (Thanks, Bill)

Well, here it is.

Aurel
(I'll post a pic or two more after this. Id the Menin Gate is already somewhere else on the Forum, please let me know.)

As always, our thanks to the buglers. I shall never forget my one visit.
D

Band Devonshire

Thank you for posting these pictures Aurel: I wish I could have been there today.

Piper

And it was not warm at all. 10°C.
And as often at the Menin Gate : draughty. Blankets were needed. And not only for them but also for ...

But also for these two young people.
I'm not sure I remember the name on their shoulders correctly ... Air Training Group ? They had been standing in the rain and cold for quite a while. they were quite young, some younger than 15 I guess. Shortly before I took this pic of these two young girls who had been given a blanket by a Red Cross man, and were allowed to stand under the vaults, a boy was so shivering with cold that a (British) visitor had handed him his heavy coat. Then the boy was wrapped in such special aluminum foil, and taken to an ambulance, I heard.

Sorry, only the buglers' backs.

I think we members of the Forum are fortunate indeed to
have someone with the photographic talents of Aurel when
these events present themselves.

For someone like me who could not possibly attend today's
ceremony, these wonderful photographs are truly the next best
thing to being there.

Thanks to Aurel for "braving the elements" to bring us such
outstanding "journalistic quality" photographic coverage.

Bill Rogers

Bill,

Thanks. But I admire my daughter-in-law's patience : she was standing there already one and a half hour before the ceremony started !
(And later told me : she had heard everything, but not seen a thing ! :-)

Anyway, one more, just to show that it was raining indeed.

And I hope that someone else can post some pics of the ceremony itself. I don't have any. Maybe if I had arrived at 8 a.m.?

Hello,

Many thanks for the pictures.

Please excuse my ignorance; who are the WFRS - ? Fire and Rescue Service, I suppose.
Would be interested to know their link with Ypres.

Old Tom

I'm sure you remember Tom, the fire brigade have provided the buglers since the inception of the service.

Colin

Aurel

Lovely photos. Thankyou.
If you have time can you take some of the poppy fields.

Garth

Garth,

I'm ashamed to say, but ... I hadn't seen them !
Also because I was standing at the other side of the Gate.
I haven't heard about them until half an hour ago, when I discovered them (some pics) on www.wo1.be
I hope the link works.

http://www.wo1.be/ned/evenementen/erbij/20...es-JC/body1.htm

Aurel

Only one, but I hope you like it.
http://www.mijnalbum.nl/GroteFoto-HRCB8JBH.jpg

Colin,

Yes I do and you are of course correct in general. However the buglers - I was pleased to see Danielle was there, if I have recognosed his rear view - have for some years been part of the Last Post Association. My point was that I was not aware of any link with what I suppose is a UK Fire Service.

Old Tom

Aurel - thanks as always to you Jacky and the people of Ypres for the continuing commitment to Remembrance - perhaps it's easy on special days like yesterday but we know the buglers will also be there on a wet Wednesday in February when we are at home by the fire.

Raising a glass to you guys who we are proud to call friends and looking forward to the next night when we can stand under that hallowed Gate and listen to the sound of those bugles - we never tire of it.


PS - that photo of the poppy field - wow!!

Poor ATC kids! I remember that well! Why did they ever do away with Greatcoats?
They gave us a thin waterproof that rustled so much we called them 'crisp packets'
Good to see them there though, paying their respects! It does the heart good to see young people remebering.
Lovely pics, brings back a lot of happy memories for me.
Kate

Aurel,
There were people already waiting at 8.0am when we went to move our car out of the Markt Place
Amitiés
Gill

Aurel

Thanks for the link-it looks good. I wonder which poppy is mine? I might spend some time looking when I visit in 2 weeks.

Garth

Kate,

Where I was standing (backstage) I did not see much of the ceremony itself. It was not until I was home, and watching the video, that I saw it had been their job to hand the flowers and wreaths to the prominent people who then laid them in front of the steps.
Somehow I found it moving to see these "kids" doing that, and it seemed to me they did it with pride.
But then the cold struck ! And for some their pride was not enough to keep them warm.
Understandably.

Aurel

Garth,

You'll be interested to see these pics.
(Dutch WW1 Forum)

http://www.forumeerstewereldoorlog.nl/view...&highlight=

Aurel

Aurel

Great shots , thanks for passing on your photos and the Dutch link

Peter

I recall the Tyne &Wear Fire and Rescue Service being there...W is it perhaps Worcestershire or Warwickshire?

I ought to know this seeing the number of times I've been to Ypres but I don't......what towns/cities is Ypres 'twinned' with?

Most places in England have a sign on the edge saying twinned with Arnhem/Calais etc but I can't recall seeing such a sign at Ypes......

very poignant pictures.

Sorry, Only just found this thread.

Here's my photos of the poppy fields





Better late than never

Andy

Andy

Nice photos I never seen that kind of poppy before .

Dan

Dan, This was one supplied by the RBL made from cardboard and you wrote the details of the remembered serviceman on the reverse and in my case sent it back with a donation of £19.18. The poppies were only allowed to be on "site" around the Gate for 24 hours and then removed I was told on the 12th November whilst visiting Ypres.(They were being removed whilst I was there.) Ralph.