THE HISTORIC LAST POST CEREMONY
CLICK HERE FOR THE LAST POST WEBSITE
Who can attend? Anyone can attend the 'Last Post Ceremony' 8pm every night at the Menin Gate, anyone may also lay a wreath, just make yourself known to one of the Last Post Association representatives who are clearly visible wearing their LPA badges.
Where may I find a wreath for the ceremony?
There are several options, the CWGC Office ( a ten minute walk away ) or the two shops ( try to book in advance ) along the street which are:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission ( Northern Europe Area )
Elverdingsestraat 82
B-8900 Ieper
Belgium
Tel: + 32 (0) 57 22 36 36
Fax: +32 (0) 57 21 80 14 Web CWGC Office Ieper
What time should I get there? During the summer months there could be 400 / 500 visitors attending the ceremony, generally people start lining up from 19.15 hours
The Ceremony:
8pm The Police stop the traffic, the buglers sound the 'Last Post'
The exhortation is read:
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them."
The crowd then repeats "We will remember them."
May I say the Exhortation? You may also have the opportunity of saying the ' Exhortation' just ask one of the LPA representatives, it is good to get in early if this is your wish as obviously this is very popular.
It is obviously only said once each evening, from what I understand the 'Exhortation' is not something that can be booked it is very much first come first served.
Photo: There is an opportunity to have your photo taken with the buglers and shake their hands, they stand after the ceremony by the left hand end arch.
The LPA representatives and buglers are all unpaid volunteers.
Make a donation to the Last Post Association / Membership
To Applaud or not? Please remember that this is an act of remembrance and not a 'performance' there is a tendency to applaud at the end of the ceremony despite the request from the organisers to refrain from doing so.
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU?
You can purchase a print direct from the Artist when you attend the 'Last Post' ceremony, we have a stand just down from the Menin Gate, we are located in the sheltered alcove of 'De Mode Coupon'.
We are there from 7pm ~ 9pm every evening, studio visits can be arranged, we are always happy to meet battlefield pilgrims!
Fancy walking the Battlefields?
Why not walk the Salient with me, battlefield tours on foot from the Menin Gate,
Tour 1
Areas visited include:
'The Menin Gate'
'Hooge Crater'
'RE Grave'
'Gas Victims'
Tour 2
Meets at the train station for the 9 minute ride down to Poperinge to visit Talbot House and the 'Shot at Dawns'
Many subjects covered on both tours including the layout and design of the war graves that surround us here in the salient.
Cost: 25 euro per head, lasts 3/4 hours