RBL One Hundred Days Ceremony at Menin Gate Ypres

Royal British Legion – One Hundred Days Ceremony at the Menin Gate, Ypres

Michael Leeming – Central England Branch

The Royal British Legion (RBL) ‘One Hundred Days’ ceremony took place on Wednesday 8 th

August 2018 and formed part of the RBL Great Pilgrimage 90. Commencing on 8 August 1918 at Amiens, the series of assaults delivered by the British, Commonwealth, French

and American forces, co-ordinated by General Foch, the Supreme Commander on the Western Front, brought the Allies to victory

over Germany. This became known as ‘the 100 days to victory’.

This, together with The British Legion’s 1928 Battlefield Pilgrimage, was commemorated at last year’s August 8 th

muster and Service of

Remembrance at the Menin Gate in Ypres.

Representing the RGJ Association on behalf of the President and Chairman, Simon Booth-Mason and Michael Leeming set out to catch the 0645 Eurostar train from London St. Pancras International to Lille in northern France. Despite the early start, we caught the train which speedily swept through the orchards of Kent and delivered us, via the Channel tunnel, to Flanders in under 3 hours. The RBL provided a coach transfer for the one hour journey north to Ypres, complete with police outriders once we were in Belgium. Following a midmorning reception in the Cloth Hall, the contingent of RBL guests made their way through the famous market square and on up Menenstraat to the Menin Gate for the 13.00 Service. Dignitaries included Ambassadors, Archbishops, Peers, Ministers, Parliamentarians and Generals; as well as the many veterans and ordinary folk who had made their way from the UK, and beyond, to attend. Over 1000 RBL Branch standards marched in a formidable display of both remembrance and comradery through the Menin gate. Speeches and readings aplenty from the ‘great and the good’ - both friends and allies, and together with former foe, stood shoulder to shoulder in reverence and respect, as the 250,000 red petals fell silently upon to the cobble stones of the Menin memorial; where the names of over 54,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers without graves bears witness to the horrors that were the Ypres Salient in WW1.

Over 1000 RBL branch standards on parade Some of the 1150 wreaths laid

After this poignant ceremony, we walked around the Menin gate, pausing to find the panels dedicated to the fallen of the 43rd & 52nd, 60th and the 95th. We then picked our way back through the crowds to catch up with fellow Riflemen who were gathering in the Market Square.

We met up with Steve Knight, Kev Severn and Tobias Ellwood - ex 1RGJ

Simon Booth-Mason, Kev Severn and & Michael Leeming

Market Square in Ypres with The Cloth Hall in the Background

and now MP and Minister at the MoD. There were a few others on parade either as RBL Standard bearers or laying

wreaths on behalf of their RBL Branch. These included Mike Walsh (Warminster Branch) and others whose names, I regret, I was unable to discover.

Overall a very worthwhile effort to remember the fallen, despite the very early start and late return back to London on the same day! Well done, indeed, to all those who made the trip on this 100 th

anniversary year of the Armistice