Ypres

[Tom Niefer]

It seems every generation has forgotten the lessons learned by the previous generation.

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?

I always thought it was pronouned "Ee-pres" (with a slight acute accent on the e in"pres" )

True, John and they never listen to warnings from anyone else.

Cheers,
Tom

[Prit]

It's pronounced 'Eeprh', with the r rolled.

Lyn McDonald's book 1915 includes a magnificent account of the 2nd battle, particularly the part played by the PPCLI. When the survivors were relieved, they were cheered by the rest of the troops in the salient, who raised shouts of 'Well done, the Pats'.

McDonald also wrote a book about the third battle, entitled 'They called it Paschendaele' - if you haven't read her WW1 books, you really should.

Prit

[alf]

Try and get a copy of the trench newspaper, "The Wipers Times, it was published in and around frontline for 3 years.

http://www.whatalovelywar.co.uk/comparepunch.htm has some samples

It was a soldier's parody of the papers of the day but it has a wealth of detail of the Salient and the way men lived there. I bought my complete copy for $5 in a second hand book store, one of the best buys i made for understanding WW1.

3.2.2 Administrative history: The Wipers Times was first produced in Feb 1916 in Ypres, Belgium. Apart from occasional gaps when some of the larger battles of the Western Front were being fought, it ran until Dec 1918. Except for the final number, the paper was never printed out of the front area and at one time the printing press was within 700 yards of the front line and above ground. The founder and editor of the paper was Capt F J Roberts, 12 Bn Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt), 24 Div, British Armies in France. On 4 Sep 1914 24 Div was concentrated between St Pol and Etaple and for the remainder of the war it served on the Western Front in France and Belgium. Shortly after the Battle of Loos, Sep 1915, 24 Div moved to the Ypres Salient, where the Wipers Times was founded. From 1916 to 1918, the Wipers Times incorporated the New Church Times, the Kemmel Times, the Somme Times, the BEF Times, and the Better Times, each of which consisted of lampoons and reflections, poems and 'advertisements' satirising the military and political situation of World War One.

[zuid22]

In Flemmish Ypres is spelled 'Ieper' and pronounced 'eeper' (with a slight accent on the 'ee').
Although Ypres is very close to the French border, it's in the Dutch speaking part of Belgium. Very important fot the way the town's name is pronounced...

[Landsturm]

Ypres-area saw furious fighting in 1918 too.

I have seen a EXCELLENT Belgian site, with detailed maps of ground gains and battle descriptions, which I`m trying to locate now again, I`ll put up a link if I find it

Here are few links for the battles:

First World War.Com:
http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/ypres1.htm
http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/ypres2.htm
http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/ypres3.htm

The Long, Long Trail:
http://www.1914-1918.net/bat7.htm
http://www.1914-1918.net/bat10.htm
http://www.1914-1918.net/bat20.htm
http://www.1914-1918.net/bat23.htm
http://www.1914-1918.net/bat31.htm

Very good account of the first actions of "Second Ypres" also known as the battle of Gravenstafel:
http://www.greatwar.co.uk/westfront/yps ... /index.htm

[Landsturm]

Aaaa! Found it!
http://www.wo1.be/
just click >english
>Overview all the battles of the Great War in Flanders Fields (on the left, opens up a new window)

[Landsturm]

I heard that Hitler fought at Ypres battles 1 and 3.
Is this correct?

He was a messenger this is true, but not during the first battle. He received his baptism of fire on 29th (I believe?) October 1914 near Gheluvelt. His unit (16th Bavarian Reserve-Regiment) suffered heavy casualties. I found nothing of his actions during the Third battle, but at this time he was Gefreiter and a messenger.

[zuid22]

Hi all.

Finally, how do you pronounce Ypres?

Being Dutch -and therefore speaking the same language the people from Ypres do- I can assure you the correct pronounciation is 'Eeper'.
The 'Eeprh'-suggestion comes pretty close too.
regards
Roel

[Wm. Harris]

It's pronounced 'Eeprh', with the r rolled.

Lyn McDonald's book 1915 includes a magnificent account of the 2nd battle, particularly the part played by the PPCLI. When the survivors were relieved, they were cheered by the rest of the troops in the salient, who raised shouts of 'Well done, the Pats'.

McDonald also wrote a book about the third battle, entitled 'They called it Paschendaele' - if you haven't read her WW1 books, you really should.

Prit

Also, MacDonald's book 1914: The Death of Innocence includes a chapter or two on the first battle of Ypres. I agree, her books are definitely worth reading.

Bill H.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little complement............................

Ypres 1918.

Source: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1918-The-Sphere- ... 2f019b10b8

Cheers. Raúl M .