Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing
Ypres (Ieper) West-Vlaanderen

 

 

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Ypres (now Ieper) is a town in the Province of West Flanders. The Memorial is situated at the eastern side of the town on the road to Menin (Menen) and Courtrai (Kortrijk). Each night at 8 pm the traffic is stopped at the Menin Gate while members of the local Fire Brigade sound the Last Post in the roadway under the Memorial's arches.

The Menin Gate is one of four memorials to the missing in Belgian Flanders which cover the area known as the Ypres Salient. Broadly speaking, the Salient stretched from Langemarck in the north to the northern edge in Ploegsteert Wood in the south, but it varied in area and shape throughout the war. The Salient was formed during the First Battle of Ypres in October and November 1914, when a small British Expeditionary Force succeeded in securing the town before the onset of winter, pushing the German forces back to the Passchendaele Ridge. The Second Battle of Ypres began in April 1915 when the Germans released poison gas into the Allied lines north of Ypres. This was the first time gas had been used by either side and the violence of the attack forced an Allied withdrawal and a shortening of the line of defence. There was little more significant activity on this front until 1917, when in the Third Battle of Ypres an offensive was mounted by Commonwealth forces to divert German attention from a weakened French front further south. The initial attempt in June to dislodge the Germans from the Messines Ridge was a complete success, but the main assault north-eastward, which began at the end of July, quickly became a dogged struggle against determined opposition and the rapidly deteriorating weather. The campaign finally came to a close in November with the capture of Passchendaele.

The German offensive of March 1918 met with some initial success, but was eventually checked and repulsed in a combined effort by the Allies in September. The battles of the Ypres Salient claimed many lives on both sides and it quickly became clear that the commemoration of members of the Commonwealth forces with no known grave would have to be divided between several different sites. The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates those of all Commonwealth nations (except New Zealand) who died in the Salient, in the case of United Kingdom casualties before 16 August 1917. Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. Other New Zealand casualties are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery. The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer in July 1927.

Number of Identified Casualties: 54338

 

 

Picture Courtesy of Ralph Davidson of Milnrow, Rochdale

S/2605 Rifleman

John Marriott

12th Bn. Rifle Brigade

06/06/1916, aged 23.

Son of J. W. and Naomi Marriott, of 13, Belfield Lane, Firgrove, Rochdale.

Panels 46 - 48 and 50.

 

 

First son of John William and Naomi Marriott, 13 Belfield Lane Firgrove, Milnrow, Rochdale killed in action 6th June 1916, he was buried by a German mine his pals dug for two days but were unable to find him.

He worked as a weft carrier at Lowfield Spinning Co. John enlisted in Rochdale on 18th November 1914 aged 23. He is commemorated at St. Ann's Church Belfield, Milnrow and on the Menin Gate. Two of his brothers were also killed during the war.

Harry Marriott

William Barnes Marriott

Private 8098

Samuel Henderson Stallard

2nd Bn. Cameron Highlanders

Died of exposure 11/01/1915

Panel 38 and 40

 

 

Picture Courtesy of Joe O'Raw and William Kilgour

Private 2962

Daniel Hunter

1st Bn. Royal Scots

Died of wounds 17/04/1915

Panel 11

 

 

 

 

Picture Courtesy of Joe O'Raw and William Kilgour

305704 Serjeant

Charles Naylor

1st/8th Bn. The King's (Liverpool) Regiment.

Killed in action 31/07/1917.

Aged 24.

Son of James Louis and Sarah Agnes Naylor, of 221, Station Rd., Bamber Bridge, Preston.

Panels 4 and 6

 

Picture courtesy of John Garlington

L/10105 Private

Basil Thomas Treffry

1st Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).

31/10/1914, aged 21.

Son of Thomas Alfred and Helen Treffry, of 16, Bensham Manor Rd., Thornton Heath, Surrey.

Panel 11-13 and 14

Brother of Richard H. Treffry (next picture)

553186 Rifleman

Richard H. Treffry

1st/16th Bn. London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles)

killed in action at Langemarck, 16/08/1917,

aged 19.

Son of Thomas Alfred and Helen Treffry, of 16, Bensham Manor Rd., Thornton Heath, Surrey.

Panel 11-13 and 14

Brother of Basil Thomas Treffry, (previous picture)

 

323297 Rifleman

William T. Doddrell

1st/6th Bn. London Regiment (City of London Rifles).

23/07/1917, aged 20.

Son of William Charles and Alice Maud Doddrell, of 6, Mead Place, West Croydon.

Panel 54

 

5775 Lance Corporal

Frank Arthur Wortley

15th Bn. Australian Infantry, AIF.

Killed in action on the Menin Road, 27/09/1917, aged 36.

Son of George and Amelia Wortley; husband of May Gertrude Wortley (nee Norris), of Bourbomgo St., Bundaberg, Queensland. Native of Norbury, London, England.

Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31.

G/40078 Trooper

Albert Joseph Wheatland

11th Bn. Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment and Surrey Yeomanry. 07/06/1917.

Aged 24

Son of the late Mary Ann Wheatland, of 11, Rolleston Rd., South Croydon.

Panel 11 - 13 and 14.

 

13239 Private

Hamilton Shirley Vincent

2nd Regt. (Inf.) South African Infantry.

14/10/1917, aged 18.

Only son of Capt. J. H. Vincent (R.E.) and A. Beatrice Vincent, of 13, Leigham Terrace, The Hoe, Plymouth, England.

Panel 15, 16 and 16A

 

Picture courtesy of David Paton, nephew of this soldier

 

253239 Private

Ernest Achille Boudrie

1st/3rd Bn. London Regiment

(Royal Fusiliers)

16/08/1917, aged 19.

He was born 6 Oct 1897 in
Dartford, Kent, England and died 16 August 1917 at Ypres. He enlisted at Dartford and was a Private in the 3rd Bn. London Regiment

(Royal Fusiliers)

Panel 52

 

Picture courtesy of Wendy Marshall of Queensland, Australia, great-niece of this soldier.

20824 Private

John Taylor

10th Bn. Canadian Infantry

(Alberta Regiment)

03/05/1915, aged 30.

Son of Charles and Elizabeth Taylor, of Woodbine Cottage, Finstown, Orkney, Scotland.

Panel 24 - 26 - 28 - 30.

Article on the this soldier and the action in which he was killed

Picture courtesy of Brian Budge

6759 Private

James Bertram Jones

29th Bn. Australian Infantry,

A. I. F.

Between 26/09/1917 and 27/09/1917

Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31.

Killed in action at Polygon Wood, his brother Walter Sydney Jones named his only child, a son, after James.

 

Picture courtesy of Peter Jones

8673 Private

Lewis Pelgrena Mazzei

1st Bn. South Wales Borderers

21/10/1914, aged 30.

Born Cardiff, Wales.

His brother, Alfred Michael Mazzei was also killed in the 1914-18 war.

Panel 22.

 

Image courtesy of Darin Mazzei, great, great nephew.

 

7346 Private

William Perkins

2nd Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers

31/10/1914, aged 29.

Panel 19 and 33

 

Image courtesy of Patricia Bell, great niece of this soldier.

11886 Private

Walter Sutcliffe

7th Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment

16/02/1916, aged 21.

Son of Annie Sutcliffe, of 4 Earles Row, Wilmington, Hull.

Panel 21 and 31.

 

Picture courtesy of great niece, Marion Griffin Bulmer

1908 Private

George Milne Greig

60th Bn. Australian Infantry,

A. I. F.

26/09/1917, aged 23.

Son of Robert and Catherine Anne Milne Greig, of Little Bogburn, Drumlithie, Scotland.

Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31.

 

Picture courtesy of  Heather Ashford and submitted by Harry Willey

2076 Private

Donald Desmond Geary

36th Bn. Australian Infantry,

A. I. F.

10/06/1917

Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31.

 

Photo courtesy of Robyn Geary and submitted by Harry Willey

 

4759 Private

Ernest Victor Collison

21st Coy. Australian Machine Gun Corps.

28/10/1917

Panel 31.

 

Photo courtesy of his family and submitted by Harry Willey

 

2640 Private

Clive William Quinn

34th Bn. Australian Infantry,

A. I. F.

09/06/1917, aged 21.

Son of William and Amy Asenath Quinn, of "Springfield," Parkville, New South Wales. Native of Seaham, New South Wales.

Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31.

 

Photo courtesy of Louis Dodd and submitted by Harry Willey

 

 

30847 Private

Joseph  Edward Toms

12th Bn. East Surrey Regiment

03/05/1917, aged 20.

Son of John and Harriett Toms, of 110, East St., Epsom, Surrey.

Panel 34.

 

Picture courtesy of Del Doune

 

7469 Private

John Harty

2nd Bn. Irish Guards

30/07/1917

Panel 11

Left a widow and six children, resided at 9 Carfin Road, Craigneuk, Wishaw. previously worked in the Etna Steelworks, Craigneuk

 

Picture courtesy of Joe O'Raw

 

3/5804 Private

John McMahon

2nd Bn. Cameron Highlanders

11/05/1915

Panels 38-40

One of five brothers who served in the war and was the son of James and Mary McMahon nee O'Raw, of No. 2 Thankerton, Mossend, Lanarkshire. John  and had been a regular soldier recalled to the colours at the outbreak of the war, and had previously been a miner.

Picture courtesy of Joe O'Raw
 

3624 Corporal

Reginald Rowland

31st Bn . Australian Infantry,

A. I. F.

26/09/1917, aged 25.

Son of Harold and Sarah Ann Rowland; husband of Eileen G. Rowland. Native of Bundaberg, Queensland.

Panel  7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31.

Picture courtesy of Jim Donald

3542 Private

Neil McMaster Crawford

31st Bn, Australian Infantry,

A. I. F.

26/09/1917, aged 19.

Son of James and Annie M. Crawford, of Roma, Queensland.

Panel  7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31.

 

Originally buried near Black Watch Corner

Picture courtesy of Jim Donald

13287 Private

Charles McKenna

1st Bn. Scots Guards

30/03/1916, aged 26.

He was unmarried and resided at 18 Meadowhead Road, Craigneuk, Wishaw. before enlisting He was a crane man in Lanarkshire Steelworks, Motherwell.

Panel 11.

 

Picture courtesy of Joe O'Raw

 

9918 Private

William Monaghan

1st Bn. Royal Scots

09/05/1915

Panel 11.

Killed at Sanctuary Wood. Zillebeke (Hill 62) Commemorated on Menin Gate Ypres. Panel 11. William was a regular soldier and had enlisted in Haddington, Edinburgh about 1912. A Geordie Lad (second generation Irish) in a Scottish Regiment. William was born 29th June 1887 at 10 Dunn Street Jarrow on Tyne. He was the only remaining son of William Monaghan and the late Catherine (Casey) William's younger brother Frank Monaghan Private 3428. 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers died on Monday 22nd February 1915 at La Chapelle Farm at Ypres (Hill 60) They died within a mile of each other.

Picture courtesy of Vin Mullen

 

 

38739 Private

Robert Edward Snider

13th Bn. Royal Scots

31/07/1917, aged 31.

Son of the late George Henry and Agnes Archibald Snider.

Panel 11.

Picture courtesy of Margaret Meredith, great niece.

742978 Private

Harry William Darkes

26th Bn. Canadian Infantry

(New Brunswick Regiment)

06/11/1917, agd 20.

Son of the late Henry-and Laurine Hansena Darkes.

Panel 26-28

 

Picture courtesy of Jim Walker

 

2201 Private

Herbert Leslie Jones

56th Bn. Australian Infantry,

A. I. F

29/09/1917.

Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31.

Pictures courtesy of Patrick Lernout

16945 Private

Charles Landamore

7th Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment

16/02/1916, aged 25.

Son of John Thomas and Nancy Landamore, of Lockington, Yorks.

Panel 21 and 31.

Picture courtesy of Sue and Wyn Bell

   

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