We left Bruges and made our way to Ypres. The journey was uneventful and took a little under an hour. We arrived at the campsite at about 12.05 pm. First check in was 12.00. We timed it perfectly and within 15 minutes we were set up for the night.
Within the hour we walked into the town of Ypres. On the way in you have to pass through the Menin Gate. This is a memorial dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldier who were killed in the Ypres Salient of World War 1 who’s graves are unknown.
Lynne and I wandered around looking at all the names inscribed on the many walls. It certainly is a sobering and thought-provoking experience to see so many names all killed on the western front. We, perhaps morbidly I’m not sure, both found ourselves looking for men of the same name as ourselves. I think Lynne found 1 Goulden but I couldn’t see Wildman anywhere.
Later we found the memorial register nicely preserved in a small space behind what looked like a brass door. It’s there for anyone to see and seems to have been well respected as you’d hope. Having looked through the register I found there were indeed 4 men (people) by the name of Wildman which left me wondering might they have been distantly related? Maybe something to look into in the future. Lynne found 5 Gouldens in the book. 
This image was taken later that night after we had attended the Last Post ceremony which has taken place every evening at 20.00 since 1927. Except during WW11. Even then when Polish forces liberated the town the last post was sounded that evening in spite of the fact there was still heavy fighting going on in other parts of the town!
We walked around the town which again is beautiful. The architecture is stunning and incredible if you remember the whole place was bombed to bits by the Germans during World War I.
As we walked back to the campsite we passed a pub which looked like it was showing football on TV. We were only booked in for 1 night here but I thought maybe if we were still here for a second night we could watch the Villa game against Hull City. Cutting a long story short we did stay a second night and after attending the last post ceremony for a second time we walked up to the pub which was called The Old Bill. Unfortunately they were showing Belgian football so we didn’t bother stopping for a drink. All’s well that ends well though because the Villa won the game 3-1. Great start to the new season.
So our stay in Ypres was thoroughly enjoyable which is why we stayed an extra night. A large portion of the second day though was spent sitting around drinking and reading. It’s still unbelievably hot. As I write we are in Holland and it’s 34 degrees.
To sum up, I think everyone should pay a visit to Ypres. It’s a truly sobering experience. Judging by the English registrations we saw everywhere we went it seems like half the population was there anyway. The camp site might as well have been in England as they were almost all British!
Finally one more image to add. Ypres by night. Like I said, beautiful!
Wandering Wildman 