The day after visiting Vimy, we drove up to Belgium and the famous Flanders region. We visited several cemeteries that day, as well as this one which is the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world. Almost 12,000 soldiers are buried here and the memorial wall lists the names of 35,000 soldiers missing in action. A rather sobering visit...
The commonwealth cemeteries are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Their attention to detail is amazing. The lawn is manicured in each and every cemetery and the flowers are absolutely gorgeous. There are no weeds to be seen amongst the flowers and shrubs that line the headstones. There are 170 cemeteries in Flanders.
If 40 or more soldiers are buried in a cemetery, it is marked by a cross like this with a sword attached to the cross.
Did you know that when you visit a Jewish grave you leave a stone to mark your visit? I think it's a lovely custom. This particular grave has been visited by many.
Lots of Canadian are buried here.
These four soldiers were the first ones to be buried at Tyne Cot.
I don't think the rows could be any straighter.
Three German soldiers are buried at Tyne Cot. This is a grave with two "unknown" soldiers.
The commonwealth cemeteries are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Their attention to detail is amazing. The lawn is manicured in each and every cemetery and the flowers are absolutely gorgeous. There are no weeds to be seen amongst the flowers and shrubs that line the headstones. There are 170 cemeteries in Flanders.
If 40 or more soldiers are buried in a cemetery, it is marked by a cross like this with a sword attached to the cross.
Did you know that when you visit a Jewish grave you leave a stone to mark your visit? I think it's a lovely custom. This particular grave has been visited by many.
Lots of Canadian are buried here.
These four soldiers were the first ones to be buried at Tyne Cot.
I don't think the rows could be any straighter.
Three German soldiers are buried at Tyne Cot. This is a grave with two "unknown" soldiers.
1 comment:
so well tended, even after all these years. Is all this fitting for a life lost in war? How can it be? It is beautiful in its way. The fields need to be there for us. I'm glad that Flanders had the room to make something this nice for the dead. Flanders Fields
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