Summer 2025 17 Canadian Memorial, Vimy Ridge near Arras St Symphorien Cemetery. The first and last British soldiers to die in WW1 lie 5 yards apart here. This is the circle of Middlesex Regiment men who lie at rest here. Delivering a presentation at the battlefield of Waterloo. The Lion Mound in the background is 140ft high and has 246 steps! Last Post Ceremony, Menin Gate, Ypres. Tributes laid by the team on the 33,600th occasion of the ceremony being carried out since 1927. The team at the top of the Lion Mound at Waterloo The crew then spent their last 3 nights in Ypres in Belgium. Taking in Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in the world and Langemark, the German Cemetery in The Salient, to see how they deal with remembrance, by way of balance. Some good museums and sites of interest were included, and everyone found the tour informative and interesting. Wreaths and crosses were placed with dignity at all sites visited, with 5 wreaths being laid at The Menin Gate, Ypres when attending the nightly Last Post Ceremony. Many stories of bravery and of the routines of soldiers, the trials and tribulations, the success and the defeats were covered. Emotional, respectful and at times quite entertaining and funny social aspects made this a tour not to forget. Culminating at Dunkirk we visited the excellent Evacuation Museum before heading back to Dover via ferry. A busy and tiring but worthwhile event enjoyed by all who took part. The closing statement was - “Where are we going next year troops!”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA4ODM=