Crimson Coast Day 3
Apr. 29th, 2019 06:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitOur first stop of the day was Poperinge and Talbot House. Talbot House (or Toc H) was the idea of two army chaplains as being somewhere behind the front lines where troops could go to relax, have a cup of tea and a peace of cake, enjoy some entertainment, and, if they wished, benefit from the peace of the chapel at the top of the building.
We moved onto Diksmuide for lunch:
and TD and I went to look at Sint Nilaaskerk. The church was virtually destroyed in WWI, rebuilt and then lost its roof again in WWII. The stained glass was stunning:
After which we visited the Yser Tower. There are 22 storeys and above that the viewing platform:
From there you work your way down with displays on each of the floors. There wasn't time to appreciate every single item. One particularly vivid area was a simulated trench system where it was totally dark, the alarm for a gas attack was sounding, and there was the sound of men coughing; very eerie.
One level was devoted to nursing:
We visited the nearby trench system, known as the Trench of Death, which was manned by Belgian soldiers.
From there we went onto Ypres for the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate:
There are no photos of the ceremony, because I cannot watch and take pictures. It was ANZAC Day, which is the day Australians and New Zealanders remember the landing at Gallipoli. There were therefore highranking servicemen from both countries laying wreaths, as well as officials from the countries. As the wreaths were laid a group of Maoris sang traditional songs, including 'Pokarekare Ana', which was incredibly moving. And then after the final part of the ceremony and the standard bearers had marched off, the Maoris performed the haka.
An incredible way to finish our trip - I'm choking up even as I'm writing this.
We moved onto Diksmuide for lunch:
and TD and I went to look at Sint Nilaaskerk. The church was virtually destroyed in WWI, rebuilt and then lost its roof again in WWII. The stained glass was stunning:
After which we visited the Yser Tower. There are 22 storeys and above that the viewing platform:
From there you work your way down with displays on each of the floors. There wasn't time to appreciate every single item. One particularly vivid area was a simulated trench system where it was totally dark, the alarm for a gas attack was sounding, and there was the sound of men coughing; very eerie.
One level was devoted to nursing:
We visited the nearby trench system, known as the Trench of Death, which was manned by Belgian soldiers.
From there we went onto Ypres for the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate:
There are no photos of the ceremony, because I cannot watch and take pictures. It was ANZAC Day, which is the day Australians and New Zealanders remember the landing at Gallipoli. There were therefore highranking servicemen from both countries laying wreaths, as well as officials from the countries. As the wreaths were laid a group of Maoris sang traditional songs, including 'Pokarekare Ana', which was incredibly moving. And then after the final part of the ceremony and the standard bearers had marched off, the Maoris performed the haka.
An incredible way to finish our trip - I'm choking up even as I'm writing this.
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Date: 2019-04-29 06:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-04-29 06:12 pm (UTC)They hold the last post ceremony every evening at the Menin Gate, but it was particularly special because it was ANZAC Day.
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Date: 2019-04-30 07:27 am (UTC)The Maori songs and hakas are really wonderful and moving aren't they!
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Date: 2019-04-30 07:41 am (UTC)I've heard Maori songs and seen them on the television, but it's so much more moving watching them in person.
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Date: 2019-04-30 06:47 pm (UTC)And I am with you on the not taking of photos at such a time
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Date: 2019-04-30 07:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-05-01 02:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-05-01 06:23 am (UTC)