In Flanders Fields
: Ypres
Historical Geocache
WP1 Old Tom
N50 51.110 E2 53.256
No need to tell a Tommy that the soldiers of The Great
War had a way with a stiff drop of the hard stuff. Whilst Ypres lay in ruins
and the shrapnel soared around him, an old Tommy demonstrated his business by
improvising a stall on the demolished market square. On the very location
which now holds the terrace, friend and foe were able to tank up on Dutch
courage (not that the Dutch were at all involved in the Great War). After the
war, the unassuming tipple shack got a venerable stonework replacement which
not only lived up to its rust-free reputation but equally paid its respects to
the name of the old warhorse.
A = What is the housenumber ?
WP2 Munster
N50 51.135 E2 53.128
Celtic cross to the casualties of the Munster Regiments
B = how many crowns do you see ?
WP3 Hiroshima
N50 51.116 E2 53.057
This is a peacepole made by artist Mié Tabé from hiroshima
C = How many languages ?
WP4 St. Georges Memorial Church
N50 51.135 E2 52.972
The foundation stone of St. Georges Memorial Church was
laid in 192? and the Church opened in 1929. It was built to the design of Sir
Reginald Blomfield, after Earl Haig suggested that a church be founded to
serve the considerable British colony remaining in Belgium after the war and
for the pilgrims who would return.Today, the church remains as a place of
worship for those pilgrims and the remaining British community, much reduced
as we near the end of the century.It contains many memorials to individual
servicemen and women, battalions, regiments, leaders and companies.
D = Last digit - First stone was
laid on 192?
WP5 Belgian victims
N50 51.047 E2 53.069
Memorial in remembrance of the victims of Ieper (WW I
and WW II)
E= How many Belgian helmets do you see ?
WP6 King Albert
N50 50.937 E2 53.229
Here you see a silver plaque of king Albert 1, Belgian
king during the great war.
F = How stars on his collar ? (not bars or
stripes)
WP7 LittleTalbot house
N50 50.870 E2 53.291
For almost the entire duration of World War I Poperinge
remained one of the few unoccupied towns in Flanders. Directly behind the
turmoil of battle in the Ypres Salient 'Pop', from early spring 1915 on, was
the focal point of the British sector of the allied armies. Very soon the
quiet hop town grew into a bustling and colourful metropolis. Its narrow
streets were crammed with thousands upon thousands of soldiers marching to or
coming back from the front It was called TALBOT HOUSE in honour of Gilbert Talbot,
Neville's promising younger brother, who had been killed some months
previously. Gilbert soon came to be seen as a symbol of the sacrifice of a
"golden generation" of young men whose lives were being sacrificed in the
Ypres Salient. This little talbot house had the same function in Ypres.
G = second last number on the yellow plaque that contains 4 digit.
WP8 Wooden gable
N50 50.691 E2 53.412
This is a reconstruction of a 16th century wooden
house. Before 1914 there were more than 90 such houses in Ieper, this house
was destroyed during the great war and is rebuild later.
H = middle digit of the housenumber
The house left from wooden gable called"Klein
Rijsel" has a small but interesting museum, entry via the bar.
After this historical trip, up for a nature walk, you can
follow Roose Combs walk and go left over the bridge for a nice walk on the
Ramparts to WP9
WP9
Round N50 50.901 E2
53.462
This has nothing to do with WW1 but i need to get you
here.
I = how many white arrows on the round traffic signs do you count ?
WP10
North EH GH.AIA East HHF EB.DCH
If you found the correct WP, it must be pointing through a
hole in the bigggg wall.
After you found it, you can pickup same track back to WP9 and
follow the ramparts to the Menin Gate war memorial.
Very special thanks to
www.greatwar.be and
http://www.inflandersfields.be/
for support and documentations.
