The Calgary Highlanders at Menin Gate, Yipres during their battlefield tour in 2010.

Following the Menin Gate Memorial opening in 1927, the citizens of Ypres wanted to express their gratitude towards those who had given their lives for Belgium’s freedom. As such, every evening at 20:00, buglers from the local fire brigade close the road which passes under the Memorial and sound the Last Post. Except for the occupation by the Germans in World War II when the daily ceremony was conducted at Brookwood Military Cemetery, in Surrey, England, this ceremony has been carried on uninterrupted since 2 July 1928. On the very evening that Polish forces liberated Ypres in the Second World War, the ceremony was resumed at the Menin Gate despite the fact that heavy fighting was still taking place in other parts of the town.

The Second Battle of Ypres in 1915 was the first major action for the First Canadian Division, with whom the 10th Battalion served.  It was also the first instance on the Western Front of the use of poison gas as a weapon of war.  A wide scale German attack using this gas routed two entire French Divisions, but the First Canadian Division held firm, at a cost of some 6,000 of its 10,000 men.   It was during this battle that the St. Julien battle was fought, and the counter-attack at Kitcheners’ Wood was mounted, for which the Oak Leaf shoulder badge distinction was eventually granted.  St. Julien’s Day is commemorated annually by the Regiment, and one of the Regiment’s official toasts is “To The Glorious 22nd of April.”

The Third Battle of Ypres in 1917 describes very large operations in this area, including the Battle of Passchendaele.

For more information on the Calgary Highlanders at Ypres and other areas, read the description of the Calgary Highlanders Battle Honours.

Here is video of Yipres

Battle of Ypres Tribute

Passchendaele

Filmed near Calgary, actor Paul Gross portraied his own grandfather in the motion picture Passchendaele.  Paul Gross’ father, Michael Dunne, served as a Sergeant in the 10th Battalion, one of the predecessor units of the Calgary Highlanders, and whose Battle Honours the Calgary Highlanders perpetuate.  Details about the film are available at the two links below.  Sgt. (Ret) Russell who has often helped the cadets, was also involved with this movie.

Movie Website  Wikipedia Article