A result of the YPRES SALIENT in WW1. British military Ramparts Cemetery on the Ieper city wall. скачать в хорошем качестве

A result of the YPRES SALIENT in WW1. British military Ramparts Cemetery on the Ieper city wall.

In this video, I take you to the ancient fortifications of Ieper (Ypres) to explore one of the most evocative and uniquely situated Commonwealth War Graves Commission sites in Belgium: Ramparts Cemetery (Lille Gate). While many visitors to Ypres flock to the Menin Gate, I find that this small, secluded cemetery tucked into the 17th-century earthworks offers a far more intimate connection to the soldiers who defended this city. In this detailed account, I explore the strategic history of the Vauban Ramparts, the specific units who used this ground, and the individual stories of the men who never left. 🏛️ The History of the Location: Vauban’s Legacy The ground upon which I am standing has been fortified for centuries. These Ramparts were designed by the legendary French military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban in the late 1600s. By the time the Great War broke out in 1914, these massive brick-faced earthworks and the wide moat (the Kasteelgracht) provided the only real protection for British and Commonwealth troops in a city that was being systematically levelled by German heavy artillery. I want to highlight that this cemetery was not created by a post-war burial commission; it was an "active" frontline cemetery. It was started by French troops in November 1914 and was subsequently used by British and Commonwealth forces right up until April 1918. Because it is built directly into the fortifications, it is one of the few cemeteries that was never "concentrated" or moved after the Armistice. When you visit, you are seeing the original layout exactly as it was during the war. The Ramparts themselves were a beehive of activity. Beneath the grass where these men rest were vast underground dugouts, Brigade Headquarters, and Advanced Dressing Stations. For the men living in the mud of the Salient, the "safety" of the Ramparts was the closest thing to home they knew. 🌹 The Men Buried Here: 198 Stories of Sacrifice There are 198 Commonwealth servicemen buried here, and what I find most striking is the lack of "Unknown Soldier" headstones. Every single man buried at Ramparts Cemetery is identified. The Global Force The diversity of the units represented here is a testament to the scale of the British Empire's contribution. Of the 198 burials, 154 are from the United Kingdom, 11 from Australia, 10 from Canada, and 23 from New Zealand. The New Zealand Connection One of the most moving aspects of this site for me is the presence of the New Zealand Maori (Pioneer) Battalion. You will see the distinctive crests on their headstones, representing men who travelled across the world to fight and die on the edges of this Flemish city. Their graves are grouped together, often surrounded by the roses that the CWGC maintains so beautifully. The Landscape of the Graves Because the cemetery follows the natural curve of the Vauban fortifications, the rows are not perfectly straight. They are staggered, hugging the high ground above the moat. I believe this gives the site an organic, peaceful feel that you don't always find in the larger, more clinical "concentration" cemeteries like Tyne Cot. 📍 How to Find Ramparts Cemetery (Lille Gate) If you are following my journey through Ypres, this site is an essential stop. It is easily accessible on foot from the city centre. The Starting Point: I recommend starting at the Grote Markt (the main square) and walking south down Rijselstraat (Lille Street). The Landmark: Walk all the way to the end of the street until you reach the Rijselpoort (the Lille Gate). This is the massive, fortified gatehouse that survived the shelling better than almost any other structure in Ypres. The Ascent: Instead of walking through the gate towards the road, look for the stairs or the grass path leading up onto the Ramparts walkway on the left-hand side (if you are facing away from the city). The View: As you walk along the top of the wall, you will find the cemetery overlooking the water of the moat. It is one of the most photographed views in Ieper. 🔍 Ramparts Cemetery Ypres, Lille Gate Ypres history, Ieper fortifications, CWGC Ramparts Cemetery, New Zealand Pioneer Battalion Ypres, Vauban Ramparts Belgium, WW1 battlefield tours, British burials in Ypres. Where is the Lille Gate cemetery in Ypres, walking the Ypres Ramparts history tour, who is buried at Ramparts Cemetery Ieper, the best small cemeteries in the Ypres Salient, history of the Vauban walls in World War 1. Ramparts Cemetery, Ypres Salient, Ieper, WW1, Great War, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, CWGC, Battlefield Tour, Lille Gate, Rijselpoort, New Zealand Maoris, Australian Imperial Force, Canadian Expeditionary Force, Military History, Western Front, Belgium History, Vauban Fortifications, Lest We Forget. #WW1 #History #Ypres #LestWeForget #Ieper #BattlefieldTour #MilitaryHistory #GreatWar #CommonwealthWarGraves #RampartsCemetery #LilleGate #BelgiumHistory