The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial is situated at the eastern end of Ieper on the road to Menin (Menen) and Courtrai (Kortrijk). The memorial was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick. The site of the former east gate was chosen, as the thousands of troops matching towards the Ypres battlefields… Continue reading Ypres (Menin Gate)
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Lody’s Last Letters
Before his execution on 6 November 1914, Carl Lody wrote two letters. They are reproduced below. To: C.O 3rd Battalion Grenadier GuardsLondon, Nov. 5th 1914. Tower of London To the Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion Gren. Guards. Wellington Barracks Sir I feel it my duty as a German officer to express my sincere thanks… Continue reading Lody’s Last Letters
Essex Farm Cemetery
Essex Farm Cemetery was established as a dressing station cemetery from April 1915 to August 1917. The burials were made without definite plan and some of the divisions which occupied this sector may be traced in almost every part of the cemetery, but the 49th (West Riding) Division buried their dead of 1915 in Plot… Continue reading Essex Farm Cemetery
Josef Jakobs’ Petition
This post contains the text of Josef Jakobs’ unsuccessful appeal against his death sentence. THE COURT-MARTIAL OF JOSEF JAKOBS THE PETITION The humble petition by Josef Jakobs, a prisoner under sentence of death. To His Majesty the King. May it please Your Majesty, A most unhappy man makes this appeal for mercy at the bands… Continue reading Josef Jakobs’ Petition
Indian National Army
The Free Indian Legion was established by Subhas Chandra Bose, one of the rivals to Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership of the Indian independence movement. In contrast to Gandhi, Bose advocated a more aggressive confrontation with the British authorities. With the outbreak of war in Europe, Bose saw an opportunity to capitalise on Britain’s weakness. In January… Continue reading Indian National Army
British Free Corps
This article contains MI5’s Report on the British Free Corps (BFC) dated 27 March 1945. The report was produced in Appendix I of Adrian Weale’s book “Renegades: Hitler’s Englishmen” (Published by Weidenfeld & Nicholson 1994 ISBN: 0-297-81488-5). JOHN AMERY THOMAS COOPER WILLIAM PURDY GENERAL HISTORY About May 1943 the Germans announced to Prisoners of War… Continue reading British Free Corps
Wiliam Joyce Extracts
This page contains some extracts from other William Joyce (Lord Haw-Haw) radio speeches. Due to a ruling made at Joyce’s treason trial, only those speeches he made before 3 July 1940, when his UK Passport expired, were considered acts of treason. THE EXTRACTS Breslau, 5 July 1942:“What is the outlook with regard to this second… Continue reading Wiliam Joyce Extracts
Menin Rd South Cem.
The Menin Road ran east and a little south from Ieper to a front line which varied only a few kilometres during the greater part of the war. The position of this cemetery was always within the Allied lines. It was first used in January 1916 by the 8th South Staffords and the 9th East… Continue reading Menin Rd South Cem.
Ypres Town Cemeteries
There are two cemeteries contain war graves, adjacent to each other, 1 Km east of Ieper town centre: Ypres Town Cemetery and Ypres Town Cemetery Extension. YPRES TOWN CEMETERY Ypres Town Cemetery was used from October 1914 to May 1915 and once in 1918. The cemetery contains 145 First World War graves, grouped among the… Continue reading Ypres Town Cemeteries
Birr Cross Roads
Birr Cross Roads Cemetery is located 3 Km east of Ieper town centre. The village and the greater part of the commune of Zillebeke were within the Allied lines until taken by the Germans at the end of April 1918. The village was recovered by the II Corps on 8 September 1918. Birr Cross Roads… Continue reading Birr Cross Roads