We got up on 15th May to sunshine and also to a wonderful coincidence. My riding partner for the whole journey, along with David mason and his son Charlie, was my work colleague, Al Hunter. Al is a Kiwi albeit he has lived and worked in the UK for many years. It turned out that the Peace Village location where we were staying was built on the site of a major battle from 1917 in which the New Zealanders fought and won the battle to take control of the Messines Ridge. The CWGC Cemetery and the Memorial to the action were both with 50 metres of the buildings of the Peace Village. We chose to walk to both ....
The CWGC cemetery was, as they all are, immaculately kept, and very moving. What struck me was just how many of the headstones simply said 'A New Zealand Soldier - known unto God'. Horrifying and humbling. Row upon row of headstones for more than a 1000 men who had travelled all round the world to fight and die.
The Memorial to the action was a short walk further through the village and again wonderfully kept with the same words of rememberance in English, Dutch and French on three sides.
.... and when you turned round and looked out from the memorial it was easy to see why the Messines Ridge was so strategically important - you could see everything for miles through 270 degrees.
We then rode to take in the Tyne Cot CWGC site at Ypres. It is the largest single site that the Commonwealth War Graves Commision is responsible for throughout the world.
Again, beautifully kept by the CWGC - we must never forget the work they do and always ensure that our government keeps them adequately funded so these sites stay as they are today for future generations to visit and remember.
The pictures say it all .... nothing to add ...... no need.
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