Can anyone who knows the Messines area tell me whether the view back towards Kemmel which one gets from the New Zealand Memorial Park (which I have not previously visited) is compatible with the view which one gets from the Messines Cemetery containing the New Zealand Memorial to the Missing?

I am planning a tour of the area and have a limited time available for stops in the area, and I am considering whether it would be better to visit the Cemetery or the Memorial Part. I have in mind wanting to achieve an impression of why the ridge at Messines was so important in terms of the view which it afforded for artillery spotters.

If you could get to the top of the memorial near Messines - sometimes irreverently called Paddy's Rocket you could really see a long way on a clear day but I could not.

I agree Paul, but I presume one would need scaffolding or a ladder to get up there!

Simon, I don't know what the view from the cemetery is like. Here is a picture of the memorial and the view towards the west from the base of the memorial.

Robert

Robert is that Messines Ridge? It looks too high.

Simon, the NZ Memorial is part-way down the slope of the ridge. You don't really get the best views and you can't see out across the plain in the opposite direction.

Robert

Hi Simon,

The NZ Memorial Park is a great spot to view the ground crossed by the Allies during the attack on Messines. The view to the west across the Douve Valley is impressive.

The first shot below was taken while standing on one of the German pillboxes at the rear of the park. The second shot was taken from the bottom of the valley, looking back towards the memorial (circled).

In my opinion the park is the best spot on the ridge to view the battle area, particularly the initial NZ and Australian advance.

Cheers,

Mat

Apologies, Paul. I did not pick up your question straight away. The view is taken from Messines Ridge, towards Mont Kemmel. Sorry this was not clear.

Robert

Thanks Robert, I had a feeling it was one of the Flemish Alps but was not sure.

Thanks Pals, this is exactly what I wanted to know.