Today was a semi rest day. We started with a visit to Cloth Hall which used to be where the cloth was made and traded centuries ago. It now houses the Flanders Field Museum. From there we visited local churches which are dedicated to the soldiers from the first world war. In St Georges church each chair has a plaque dedicated to a soldier and a cushion depicting the different divisions that fought here. There are also memorial plaques all around the walls.
From there we went to the Menin Gate and heard stories of the men who are listed there. We then climbed up to the ramparts which is like a medieval wall built to protect the town complete with moats. Except for a few chuncks out it withstood the barrages of the war while the rest of the town was flattened.
From there we went to the Ramparts Lille Cemetery. It is a beautiful little cemetery which we walked around and we were very moved by the inscriptions from the family of the soldiers. But if you had to be laid to rest somewhere this is a beautiful, restfull area with weeping willows and a creek to look over.
Tonight back to the Menin Gate for the ceremony. You can’t help but be in awe of the fact that these Belgium people take part in this ceremony to honor foreign soldiers every night without fail. (Something they do not do for their own soldiers) There is a timetable on the wall listing the different groups who take part. This week alone St Monica’s Cairns, Sydney Boys High School Marching Band, Australian Federation Guards, and Mat McLachlan tour have taken part. Mat is an historian and author of Walking with the Anzacs as well as doing some documentaries for the History Channel. We feel we are very lucky to have him as our guide. Tonight Ian represented our group to place the wreath.
Tomorrow we are off in the bus again to explore this area. We are here for 4 days.
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