Paphos Life

My wife and I would like to visit her grandfathers grave in Belgium
next year. We have certain details as to where he is buried, but would like
help in the best way in which to do this.
He was killed only 4 weeks before end of war.
Would the RBL be of any help?

We have plenty time to get this organised, so any help or
advice would be welcome.

TIA

Perhaps the best way is. State what unit/regt he served with and then contact the Veterans association.

MM
If you go on the War Graves Commission Web Site you can do a search for your wife's grandfather's place of rest.
I did this for my uncle who was killed at Monte Casino. It provides name of cemetery and plot number.

Jim

Thanks Jim,

I've got all those details already.
We know the cemetery, and the plot no.

Just really wanted any advice on how to go about
booking something as a trip.

Why not book a direct trip with several companies that advertise here in the UK They do 2 or 3 or 4 day trips.
If you find yourself in Ypres where the Menon gate is there lots of local trips which cover most of the Commonwealth sites from the various battles but in particular Paschendaele and in Ypres there is the St. George Chapel dedicated to every regiment and there you will find the Cloth building which has large exhibition "In Flanders fields". All viewable on the web.

Hi MM,

I have visited Ypres and the Somme 13 times with organised military tours.

I would thoroughly recommend staying at the Arianne hotel as I have stayed there many times, most recently in February this year. My wife and I used a local guide who you can contact direct - he was an exceptionally good and experienced guide. You can contact Jacques via this link https://www.ypres-fbt.com. He also officiates at the Last Post ceremony under the Menin Gate.

Personally, I would avoid certain times of the year that are anniversaries of major battles as Ypres gets very busy for these.

Jacques uses a minibus so this is not a coach tour with lots of people and would certainly entertain your specific requirements if possible. Given the time of year we were there, we were his only customers and he deviated from his usual routes to show us places that are not on the normal routes for first time visitors.

The Arianne is located in a quiet area but within a short walk of the Cloth Hall (in Flanders Fields Museum), St George’s Chapel the Ramparts Cemetry and the Menin Gate. The hotel also has it’s own collection of memorabilia and I would also recommend a visit to Sanctuary Wood Cafe complete with it’s preserved trench system and museum. This is a short drive from Ypres via Hell Fire Corner.

My wife is not a WW1 buff at all but she absolutely loved it and I am sure with your personal connection, you both will too.

Andy

My grandfather fought at Ypres,he was lucky as he got taken prisoner by the Germans ( and treated well he told me ) I,ve visted the battle fields with tour guide,s and believe me this was not war, just pure slaughter.

I do make a point of visiting any commonwealth War grave sites I pass and must say it is humbling to see the work in keeping these places immaculate. Fitting resting places for those who gave their all for our today.

It seems like some posts are missing from this subject..

Has anyone visited the war graves in Damascus ? My great uncle is buried there, I always meant to visit when I lived in Cyprus, but never did sadly.

I often wonder what state it's in now.

Jackie

Firefly wrote: ↑Sat Aug 31, 2019 12:51 pm Has anyone visited the war graves in Damascus ? My great uncle is buried there, I always meant to visit when I lived in Cyprus, but never did sadly.

I often wonder what state it's in now.

Jackie

I did a Google map search and its still looking green, ( although I dont know when this was photographed) its located next to many embassy's, so I would imagine it, hasnt been near fighting.
https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/ce ... -cemetery/

I am not sure if the change in server has altered what people can see.. Brian was asking about War graves in Belgium and how to get there.
I believe his missing posts say he has organised getting to Brussels, airport I assume..
But he was then asking for the best way to get to Ypres. ???

Surely War graves in another country entirely, would be better on their own thread..

WHL

Thank you for your post, it makes sense, as my great uncle was in the RAMC.

Trevor

Threads deviate, they always do.

We travelled from Brussels by train to Ghent and then changed trains to Ypres.
Total journey time from Brussels was about 1 hour 20 so a taxi would be expensive.

Trains:- Very cheap for over 65's. For 2 of us it cost €12 ?? in total.

Had to change at Kortrijk, but overhead electric was kaput, so we
got taxi at cost of €88 to get to Leper.

That was Friday evening.

On Saturday we went on a Battlefield tour for 4 hours €40 each ( very well
worth it ).The guide was excellent, and only 4 of us in bus, so he could give more.
The other 2 were Canadian parameds.

The stories that the guide told were fascinating ( all true ).

We visited several cemetaries on the tour and saw many monuments.

On Saturday evening, we went (early) to the Menin Gate in Ypres for the
daily ceremony. A scottish pipe band, the buglers and their band and many
people of all ages laying wreaths.
The Last Post is very emotional.
All of this brought a tear to my eyes, and I would highly recommend this trip to
anyone.

They should send any politician with a view to starting military action to visit these places as a matter of course.

It sounds like overall your trip was OK.. Well done A in doing the trip, and B in organising it..

Hi MM,

Sounds like you had a good trip (apart from the issue with the trains).

Out of curiosity, did you use Jacques as your tour guide and stay at the Arianne?

Personally, I would have no hesitation in using both again and would recommend them to anyone planning a similar trip.

Hi Coles,

Jacques & Generva were both off on the day we went on trip,
but the guide we had ( Andre ) was excellent and as there were only
4 of us on the bus ( 2 Canadian Parameds + us 2 ) we saw a lot more
than we expected to see.

We actually stayed at the Albion Hotel, which was first class and only
about 400 mtrs from Menin Gate.

We were picked up by a friend @ 3.am on Monday morning and it rained
heavy all the way to the airport.

Would we do it again........................... definitely.

Very emotional at the Menin Gate when the pipers played the Flowers of the Forest.

Hi Memoryman, you use the spelling Leper for Ypyre are you aware that it should Ieper with an "I" as it both flemish and French it is pronounced the same
in both languages. Just a small point......