A Guide to the Battlefields and History of the First World War

This site provides an overview of the First World War battlefields on the Western Front by showing you where they are, what happened there and what can you see today.

There is a growing interest in all things First World War. Though the number of living veterans is now less than a handful there are still many families who had a father or uncle in the Great War and are now interested in finding out more about their life or visiting where they fought.

The Western Front The Ypres Salient The Somme

Features

Sounding Last Post in Ypres

Ieper Buglers sounding last post

Listen to a live recording of the Last Post and Reveille ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ieper (Ypres), Belgium. Go to Armistice Day in Ieper (Ypres) for information about the annual events on 11th November.

Listen to the Last Post

Battle Study — The Second Battle of Ypres

The Second Battle of Ypres

98 pages of an innovative study of the Second Battle of Ypres. Told from the German and Allied sides of the wire with the aid of Map & Timeline windows the story is illustrated with maps, previously untranslated German material and original research.

On a sunny spring afternoon, 22nd April 1915, the battlefields near the Belgian town of Ypres were engulfed by a frightening new development. The use of poisonous gas warfare on the Western Front had begun...

Second Battle of Ypres

Events

Harry Patch - War Veteran

Listing a variety of events related to WW1 including online exhibitions, special museum exhibitions, commemorative events conferences and lectures.

Events related to WW1

The Poppy Umbrella — A Gift to Remember

Order a Poppy Umbrella

In keeping with the spirit of Remembrance The Poppy Umbrella is a practical way to 'Remember' throughout the seasons - in sunshine or in rain.

The idea for this unique umbrella originated in Ieper on Armistice Day 1995, not far from where the famous poem 'In Flanders fields the poppies blow...' is believed to have been written. A vivid reminder of the poppies of Flanders and Picardy, the umbrella features a striking red poppy design on a high quality, lightweight frame.

Over 60,000 Poppy Umbrellas have been sold over 10 years. We are pleased to support Royal British Legion Industries and the Help for Heroes fundraising campaign from our retail sales of The Poppy Umbrella.

Order your umbrella online

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