Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

History Information (Source: CWGC)

From October 1914 to October 1918, five major offensives occurred at Ypres (now Ieper) in Belgium. By the time the last shells fell in Ypres in October 1918, nearly 200,000 Commonwealth servicemen had been killed.

 

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 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 casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). 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. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.  Building of the memorial began in 1923 and on 24 July 1927, it was unveiled by Field Marshal Lord Plumer. Veterans, relatives of those commemorated and local people attended. Dignitaries included King Albert I of Belgium and Marshal Ferdinand Foch, Commander of French forces during the war.

 

The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, often referred to simply as the Menin Gate, bears the names of more than 54,000 soldiers who died before 16 August 1917 and have no known grave.

 

Served with

·         United Kingdom (40536)

·         Canadian (6928)

·         Australian (6179)

·         South African (560)

·         Indian (412)

Served in

·         Army (54613)

·         Miscellaneous (1)

·         Navy (1)

Menin Gate Memorial
PDF – 72,0 KB

VICTORIA CROSS

Lance Corporal Fred FISHER - 24066 - 13th Bn. Canadian Infantry

Died 24 April 1915 Age 22

Country of Service: Canadian

Awards: Victoria Cross

Fisher London Gazette
PDF – 128,8 KB

Born in St. Catharines, Ontario, on 3 August 1894, Fredrick Fisher was one of four children of a bank manager and his wife. He attended schools in Niagara, Dunneville and Montreal, as his father moved for work. In 1912, he enrolled at McGill University in Montreal to study engineering. While at McGill he joined Zeta Psi Fraternity. He did well academically but was also a keen athlete; he was a member of the university's track team.

Citation

An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29202, dated 22nd June, 1915, records the following:-"On 23rd April, 1915, in the neighbourhood of St. Julien, he went forward with the machine gun, of which he was in charge, under heavy fire, and most gallantly assisted in covering the retreat of a battery, losing four men of his gun team. Later, after obtaining four more men, he went forward again to the firing line and was himself killed while bringing his machine gun into action under very heavy fire, in order to cover the advance of supports."

Grave Reference: Panel 24.

(Source: Wikipedia)


Brigadier General Charles FITZCLARENCE - Cdg. 1st Guards Brigade General Staff and Irish Guards

Died 12 November 1914 Age 49

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Awards: Victoria Cross, Mentioned in Despatches

Fitzclarence London Gazette
PDF – 94,9 KB

Charles FitzClarence was born in County Kildare, the son of Captain George FitzClarence (15 April 1836 – 24 March 1894) and Maria Henrietta Scott (1841 – 27 July 1912). He had a twin brother named Edward. His paternal grandfather was The 1st Earl of Munster, an illegitimate son of William, Duke of Clarence (later King William IV of the United Kingdom). He joined the Royal Fusiliers in 1886 but his early career was blighted by several bouts of illness and he spent much of his time in administrative and staff roles.[1] In 1899 he volunteered to serve as a Special Service Officer at Mafeking, South Africa and was given the duty of training a squadron of the Protectorate Regiment.

Citation

An extract taken from "The London Gazette," dated 6th July, 1900, records the following:-  "On the 14th October 1899, Captain Fitzclarence went with his squadron of the Protectorate Regiment, consisting of only partially trained men, who had never been in action, to the assistance of an armoured train which had gone out from Mafeking.  The enemy were in greatly superior numbers, and the squadron was for a time surrounded, and it looked as if nothing could save them from being shot down.  Captain Fitzclarence, however, by his personal coolness and courage inspired the greatest confidence in his men, and, by his bold and efficient handling of them, not only succeeded in relieving the armoured train, but inflicted a heavy defeat on the Boers, who lost 50 killed and a large number wounded.  The moral effect of this blow had a very important bearing on subsequent encounters with the Boers."  "On the 27th October 1899, Captain Fitzclarence led his squadron  from Mafeking across the open, and made a night attack with the bayonet on one of the enemy's trenches. A hand-to-hand fight took place in the trench, while heavy fire was concentrated on it from the rear.  The enemy was driven out with heavy loss.  Captain Fitzclarence was the first man into the position and accounted for four of the enemy with his sword.  The British lost 6 killed and 9 wounded.  Captain Fitzclarence was himself slightly wounded. With reference to these two actions, Major-General Baden-Powell states that had his Officer not shown an extraordinary spirit and fearlessness the attacks would have been failures, and we should have suffered heavy loss both in men and prestige.  On the 26th December 1899, during the action at Game Tree, near Mafeking, Captain Fitzclarence again distinguished himself by his coolness and courage, and was again wounded (severely through both legs)." 

Grave Reference: Panel 3.

(Source: Wikipedia)


Company Sergeant Major Frederick William HALL - 1539 - 8th Bn. Canadian Infantry

Died 25 April 1915 Age 28

Country of Service: Canadian

Awards: Victoria Cross

Hall London Gazette
PDF – 128,8 KB

Citation

An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29202, dated 23rd June, 1915, records the following:- "On 24th April, 1915, in the neighbourhood of Ypres, when a wounded man who was lying some 15 yards from the trench called for help, Company Serjeant-Major Hall endeavoured to reach him in the face of a very heavy enfilade fire which was being poured in by the enemy. The first attempt failed, and a non-commissioned officer and private soldier who were attempting to give assistance were both wounded. Company Serjeant-Major Hall then made a second most gallant attempt, and was in the act of lifting up the wounded man to bring him in when he fell mortally wounded in the head."

Grave Reference: Panel 24.

(Source: Wikipedia)


Second Lieutenant Denis George Wyldbore HEWITT - 2nd Bn. attd. 14th Bn. Hampshire Regiment

Died 31 July 1917 Age 19

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Awards: Victoria Cross

Hewitt London Gazette
PDF – 137,2 KB

Citation

An extract from The London Gazette, No. 30284, dated 14th Sept., 1917, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when in command of a company in attack. When his first objective had been captured he reorganized the company and moved forward towards his objective. While waiting for the barrage to lift, he was hit by a piece of shell, which exploded the signal lights in his haversack and set fire to his equipment and clothes. Having extinguished the flames, in spite of his wound and the severe pain he was suffering, he led forward the remains of the company under very heavy machine gun fire, and captured and consolidated his objective. He was subsequently killed by a sniper while inspecting the consolidation and encouraging his men. This gallant officer set a magnificent example of coolness and contempt of danger to the whole battalion, and it was due to his splendid leading that the final objective of his battalion was gained."

Grave Reference: Panel 35.

(Source: Wikipedia)


Lieutenant Hugh Mc Donald McKENZIE - Canadian Machine Gun Corps

Died 30 October 1917 Age 30

Country of Service: Canadian

Awards: Victoria Cross, Distinguished Conduct Medal

Mc Kenzie London Gazette
PDF – 98,0 KB

Citation

An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 30523, dated 12th Feb., 1918, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery and leading when in charge of a section of four machine guns accompanying the infantry in an attack. Seeing that all the officers and most of the non-commissioned officers of an infantry company had become casualties, and that the men were hesitating before a nest of enemy machine guns, which were on commanding ground and causing them severe casualties, he handed over command of his guns to an N.C.O., rallied the infantry, organised an attack, and captured the strong point. Finding that the position was swept by machine-gun fire from a ' pill-box ' which dominated all the ground over which the troops were advancing, Lt. McKenzie made a reconnaissance and detailed flanking and frontal attacking parties which captured the 'pill-box', he himself being killed while leading the frontal attack. By his valour and leadership this gallant officer ensured the capture of these strong points and so saved the lives of many men and enabled the objectives to be attained."

Grave Reference: Panel 32.

(Source: Wikipedia)


Captain John Franks VALLENTIN - 1st Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment

Died 07 November 1914 Age 32

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Awards: Victoria Cross, Mentioned in Despatches

Vallentin London Gazette
PDF – 128,6 KB

Citation

An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29073, dated 16th Feb., 1915, records the following:- "For conspicuous bravery on 7th Nov., at Zillebeke. When leading the attack against the Germans under a very heavy fire he was struck down, and on rising to continue the attack was immediately killed. The capture of the enemy's trenches which followed was in a great measure due to the confidence which the men had in their Captain, arising from his many previous acts of great bravery and ability."

Grave Reference: Panel 35.

(Source: Wikipedia)


Private Edward WARNER - 7602 - 1st Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment

Died 02 May 1915 Age 32

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Awards: Victoria Cross

Warner London Gazette
PDF – 130,8 KB

Born and raised in St Albans, Ted had started his working life as a straw hat finisher, enlisting into the ranks of the Bedfordshire Regiment late in 1903 as Private 7602. Service in India until 1908 followed, at which time Ted returned to England when the battalion finished its tour of foreign service that year. His term in the regulars complete, Ted became a Reservist and spent time employed by the Deep Well Boring Works, for the St. Albans council and the Post Office Telephones Dept.

Citation

An extract from the London Gazette, No. 29210, dated 29th June, 1915, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery near ' Hill 60 ' on 1st May, 1915. After Trench 46 had been vacated by our troops, consequent on a gas attack, Private Warner entered it single-handed in order to prevent the enemy taking possession. Reinforcements were sent to Private Warner, but could not reach him owing to the gas. He then came back and brought up more men, by which time he was completely exhausted, but the trench was held until the enemy's attack ceased. This very gallant soldier died shortly afterwards from the effects of gas poisoning."

Grave Reference: Panel 33.

(Source: Wikipedia)


Second Lieutenant Sidney Clayton WOODROFFE - 8th Bn. Rifle Brigade

Died 30 July 1915 Age 19

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Awards: Victoria Cross

Woodroffe London Gazette
PDF – 96,8 KB

Citation

An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29286, dated 3rd Sept., 1915, records the following :- "For most conspicuous bravery on 30th July, 1915, at Hooge. The enemy having broken through the centre of our front trenches, consequent on the use of burning liquids, this Officer''s position was heavily attacked with bombs from the flank and subsequently from the rear, but he managed to defend his post until all his bombs were exhausted, and then skilfully withdrew his remaining men. This very gallant Officer immediately led his party forward in a counter-attack under an intense rifle and machine gun fire, and was killed whilst in the act of cutting the wire obstacles in the open."

Grave Reference: Panel 46.

(Source: Wikipedia)



Mini Menin Gate


Menin Gate By Night