Ypres
Ypres
Hi all.
3 battles were fought at Ypres I believe.
The first in 1914
The second in 1915
And the third in 1917.
Who won these battles, were they descisive victories, is it correct that the 1915 Ypres battle saw gas used for the first time?
Finally, how do you pronounce Ypres?
Thanks
3 battles were fought at Ypres I believe.
The first in 1914
The second in 1915
And the third in 1917.
Who won these battles, were they descisive victories, is it correct that the 1915 Ypres battle saw gas used for the first time?
Finally, how do you pronounce Ypres?
Thanks
The first two were German assaults (so British defensive battles), they can be considered British defensive victories as the German forces did not break through completely.
1917, there were a series of British assaults in the Ypres salient, Messines Ridge, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, all important tactical British victories (now forgotten) under General Plumer. He was replaced by Haig with General Gough, that assualt became the Battle of Passchendale, a British victory of sorts (at a huge cost to the British Army). The Canadians eventually took the destroyed village of Passchendale, after the British and ANZACS bleed to death in the mud.
In March 1918, just 4 months later, during the German offensive the British abandoned all the gains made at Passchandale and the preceding 3 years. In August they advanced in less than a day again through the entire battlefield.
My grandfather fought there, I have his leters home from the battle.
1917, there were a series of British assaults in the Ypres salient, Messines Ridge, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, all important tactical British victories (now forgotten) under General Plumer. He was replaced by Haig with General Gough, that assualt became the Battle of Passchendale, a British victory of sorts (at a huge cost to the British Army). The Canadians eventually took the destroyed village of Passchendale, after the British and ANZACS bleed to death in the mud.
In March 1918, just 4 months later, during the German offensive the British abandoned all the gains made at Passchandale and the preceding 3 years. In August they advanced in less than a day again through the entire battlefield.
My grandfather fought there, I have his leters home from the battle.
-
- Forum Staff
- Posts: 23722
- Joined: 20 Jul 2002, 20:52
- Location: USA
G-man -- You asked:
Here is a painting by W.B. Wollen, which appeared over the caption "Canadians in the fierce fight at Ypres," at p. 32 of Willis J. Abbot's The Nations at War (The 1918 Edition), Leslie-Judge Co., New York: 1917:[/quote]
The French and Belgians pronounce the name of the town "Ee-pray." I understand that in Great Britain and the Empire the town's name was commonly pronounced "Wipers."Finally, how do you pronounce Ypres?
Here is a painting by W.B. Wollen, which appeared over the caption "Canadians in the fierce fight at Ypres," at p. 32 of Willis J. Abbot's The Nations at War (The 1918 Edition), Leslie-Judge Co., New York: 1917:[/quote]
- Attachments
-
- Canadians at Ypres 2.jpg (130.39 KiB) Viewed 6761 times
- Benoit Douville
- Member
- Posts: 3184
- Joined: 11 Mar 2002, 02:13
- Location: Montréal
- Wm. Harris
- Member
- Posts: 424
- Joined: 04 Mar 2003, 23:10
- Location: Festung Kanada
We have a street named for Ypres in my home town and it is always pronounced just as David Thompson said: "Ee-pray." However, when I took a history of WW1 class in university, the professor pronounced it "Eep," with only a very slight rolling "R" at the end.
Luckily it's a word that doesn't get much use in everyday conversation.
Here's another painting of the 2nd battle. The Canadian Division's stand against German chemical weapons in 1915 -- either out of courage or inexperience in battle -- quickly gained a kind of legendary status in this country. For a long time, the image of "our boys" holding out against the odds was a point of pride for Canadians.
http://www.civilization.ca/cwm/canvas/tre/cwc104e.html
Luckily it's a word that doesn't get much use in everyday conversation.
Here's another painting of the 2nd battle. The Canadian Division's stand against German chemical weapons in 1915 -- either out of courage or inexperience in battle -- quickly gained a kind of legendary status in this country. For a long time, the image of "our boys" holding out against the odds was a point of pride for Canadians.
http://www.civilization.ca/cwm/canvas/tre/cwc104e.html
- Attachments
-
- ypres painting.jpg (69.53 KiB) Viewed 6706 times
- Tom Niefer
- Member
- Posts: 2643
- Joined: 20 Nov 2002, 19:14
- Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada
My ex-wife's Grandfather fought at Ypres. He was gassed and got TB in his spine as a result of a bullet wound and the filth of the trenchs. He did, however, live to be 86 years old. The 1915 battle was definately one of my country's finest hours.
A short article about the Canucks at Ypres.
http://canwar.ca/Canada%20At%20War/WWI/Ypres.htm
Cheers,
Tom
A short article about the Canucks at Ypres.
http://canwar.ca/Canada%20At%20War/WWI/Ypres.htm
Cheers,
Tom
- Dunkirchen1940
- Member
- Posts: 1251
- Joined: 22 Jul 2003, 20:55
- Location: Wisconsin, USA
- Contact:
- Daryl Leeworthy
- Member
- Posts: 352
- Joined: 01 Jan 2004, 23:22
- Location: Oriel College, Oxford
- Tom Niefer
- Member
- Posts: 2643
- Joined: 20 Nov 2002, 19:14
- Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada
Benoit, can you tell us what the correct pronunciation for Ypres is?Daryl Leeworthy wrote:I may be wrong but "ee-pray" may not be the correct pronounciation for Ypres, which I always believed to be ee-prh because there is no accute accent on the 'e'.
I'm not sure about Hitler and he didn't really fight where-ever he was station he was a messenger if I remember.
Cheers,
Tom
- Daryl Leeworthy
- Member
- Posts: 352
- Joined: 01 Jan 2004, 23:22
- Location: Oriel College, Oxford
- R-Bob The Great!
- Member
- Posts: 549
- Joined: 24 Jan 2003, 07:13
- Location: Canada
- Lord Gort
- Member
- Posts: 2014
- Joined: 07 Apr 2002, 15:44
- Location: United Kingdom: The Land of Hope and Glory
I know I have probably said it before but I have had the good luck of visitng the Flanders battle fields and indeed Ypres (eeps according to our guides) and was impresed by the beauty of the city and level of restoration to the town buildings. Especially after being shown a mdel of the ruins as well as photo's. I can recommend a nice little Choclatier in the main square and a very good cafe.
However, despite this delightful experience, I cannot help in thinking that perhaps Churchill was right in recomending the ruins remain as a remidner for all time of the brutality and destruction of the war.
regards,
However, despite this delightful experience, I cannot help in thinking that perhaps Churchill was right in recomending the ruins remain as a remidner for all time of the brutality and destruction of the war.
regards,
- Tom Niefer
- Member
- Posts: 2643
- Joined: 20 Nov 2002, 19:14
- Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada
Lord G., most of the veterans of WWII I've talked to all comment on the level of destruction they witnessed and how they would never forget the impact it had on them. Maybe Churchill had a good idea. It seems every generation has forgotten the lessons learned by the previous generation.Lord Gort wrote:I know I have probably said it before but I have had the good luck of visitng the Flanders battle fields and indeed Ypres (eeps according to our guides) and was impresed by the beauty of the city and level of restoration to the town buildings. Especially after being shown a mdel of the ruins as well as photo's. I can recommend a nice little Choclatier in the main square and a very good cafe.
However, despite this delightful experience, I cannot help in thinking that perhaps Churchill was right in recomending the ruins remain as a remidner for all time of the brutality and destruction of the war.
regards,
Cheers,
Tom
Haven't you noticed, that it is almost ALWAYS a member of the previous generation that leads the present into a new set of blunders and horrors not all to different from what they experienced themselves?Tom Niefer wrote:It seems every generation has forgotten the lessons learned by the previous generation.
Cheers,
Tom
I always thought it was pronouned "Ee-pres" (with a slight acute accent on the e in"pres" )