Visit to Ypres
 

I'm unexpectedly going on a trip to Ypres tomorrow. My school is taking 180 year 9's to visit the WW1 Cemeteries, a museum and some renovated trenches.
I must admit it wouldn't be a place I'd put on the top of my list of things to see but I am respectful of all that lost their lives there and a bit in awe of the magnitude of what happened.

Thing is, I have no family stories about old relatives who served in WW1. I guess there must have been some just because of the sheer numbers involved. I seem to remember there being a site you could search to see if any of your relative have a war record or a grave in any of the cemeteries.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Re: Visit to Ypres
 

Contact the MOD under freedom of information act. i am sure they will tell you if any member of your family served. this is assuming you know their names.

Re: Visit to Ypres
 

Only know some surnames.

I'd heard there was a searchable website but I can't seem to find it.

Re: Visit to Ypres
 

Commonwealth War Graves Commission http://www.cwgc.org look after all the cemeteries all over the world and have a searchable database of names of the fallen.

Ypres is a special place, very moving, very sad but very uplifting as well I went there a long time ago now when I lived in northern France. The Menin Gate is the saddest thing with the names of all the ones who fell but have no known grave. One of my great uncles is on there somewhere - he fell at Paeschendale

Re: Visit to Ypres
 

Good grief that is an amazing site.

Stupid question for those of you who know these things - did people sign up to any old regiment or their own local one? If so, how do I find out what was the local one?

Re: Visit to Ypres
 

My Grandad and his mates signed up to a local regiment as I believe was common at the time.He got moved to the Artiliery as he had some relevant skills,and that kept him alive for the entire war.His mates in the infantry all died.

Re: Visit to Ypres
 

This place is amazing...you can get lost for weeks reading some of this stuff...good search facility too...


http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/fo...ex.php?act=idx

Re: Visit to Ypres
 

Ditto its a truly amazing place..... you just stand there in awe looking at the rows upon rows upon rows of names of those that died. I`d love to return there and spend more time. Have a great trip

Re: Visit to Ypres
 

It sort of depended - a lot did join the local regiments in the early days of WWI - the Pals regiments were made up of men who joined together in a local regiment - and sadly most of them died together. Some would join another regiment depending on associations. When my father joined in WWII he joined the East Lancashire Regiment but was born in West Yorkshire - he then transferred to the RASC - it is never really certain.

I am just reading a good book called "Forgotten Voices of the First World War" - memoirs of men who were really just ordinary men but caught up in a piece of history - very interesting, moving and sad all at the same time

Re: Visit to Ypres
 

it is a beautiful place.. like a chocolate box picture postcard in the square...so so moving.. theres a sort of reverence, a respectful hush there....
lovely church there- and opposite it just on the corner a fabulous chocolate shop.. just to lighten the mood.. -

but you cant help thinking ,thank you and there but for the grace.. and the biggest thing of all.. would I have done that at 17.... would the kids of today at 17 do it?? what has become of the country that they fought and died for...what would they all make of it now..? their tommorrows

i would suggest the numbers involved ... everyone must have some relation that was there.. the recent programmes with Dan Snow, Rolf Harris etc goin there to trace their relatives highlights how many peple had relatives there----.. BBCi player it Messie if you not had time to see them ..
"my family at war" they are called.. have some tissues ready..


thing is too.. I guess a certain percentage of your students will see it and hear it and write about it but it wont really really go in.. not until they are older and have family etc then realsie what it was all about.. I certainly didnt when I went with school... but when I returned some years back it was so moving.. the graves are soo sooo wel kept too and all so aligned just like they are back on the parade ground.


have a safe journey



oops just realised you went today...

MOTHER FATHER , KINDLY DISREGARD THIS LETTER....