A Tour of the Messines Ridge Part Fourteen – Somer Farm Cemetery

As evening begins to fall and our tour nears its end, we find ourselves at the little cemetery of Somer Farm, on the north eastern outskirts of Wytschaete. Continue reading

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A Tour of the Messines Ridge Part Thirteen – Wytschaete (Wijtschate) War Memorial

A winter’s day in Wytschaete.  In June 1917 this scene would have been one of utter devastation. Continue reading

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A Tour of the Messines Ridge Part Twelve – Torreken Farm Cemetery No.1

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Torreken Farm Cemetery No.1 lies in the fields half a mile north west of Derry House, to the south east of the village of Wytschaete (Wijtschate). Continue reading

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A Tour of the Messines Ridge Part Eleven – Derry House Cemetery No. 2

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Five hundred yards across the fields, due north from Cabin Hill, Derry House Cemetery No.2 is another battlefield cemetery begun in June 1917 during the Battle of Messines. Continue reading

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A Tour of the Messines Ridge Part Ten – The London Scottish Memorial & Cabin Hill Cemetery

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Lengthening shadows at Cabin Hill Cemetery.  But we’re getting ahead of ourselves… Continue reading

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A Tour of the Messines Ridge Part Nine – Messines Ridge British Cemetery & New Zealand Memorial

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A wet and windy day finds us back on the western outskirts of Messines at Messines Ridge British Cemetery, less than a quarter of a mile across the fields to the north of the Island of Ireland Peace Park. Continue reading

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A Tour of the Messines Ridge Part Eight – The Island of Ireland Peace Park & New Zealand Memorial

The Island of Ireland Peace Park is situated just to the south of Messines on the road to Ploegsteert.  The site was chosen as the Irish Divisions played a significant part in the Messines battle (although as we saw in the early posts of this tour, they actually fought some way north of here), and because Irishmen of all religions fought side-by-side in the actions to capture the ridge. Continue reading

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