The Menin Gate
The ceremonies of remembrance under the Menin Gate have been taking place every evening at 8.00pm since the memorial to the fallen was built in1927. This simple tribute of sounding the Last Post is carried out by the buglers of the Last Post Association, who are all part of the volunteer FireFighters of the town.
On November 11th each year (which is a public holiday in Belgium) there are special ceremonies to commemorate the sacrifices made for freedom by British and Commonwealth Forces during the 1914 –1918 Great War. At 11.00am the Poppy Parade is held which is similar to the Armistice Services held in our towns & cities.
In recent years at 4.30pm and 6.30pm there have been two concerts of commemoration held in St. Martins Cathedral and at 8.00pm the last post is sounded under the Menin Gate. For further details go to: www.lastpost.be
Our Story
In 1984 Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service were invited by the Ypres Fire Service and The Last Post Association to take part in the ceremonies of remembrance at the Menin Gate. We have the privilege to sound Reveille there on the evening of 11th November. In the later years we have also been joined by many other Fire & Rescue Service bands, notably West Midlands Fire and Rescue, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and recently Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue service. We have also been well supported by pipe bands and individual pipers from across the country.
Band of the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service
Band of the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
https://www.thefireband.co.uk/
Band of the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service
