In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Beautiful picture, thank you. G'son of 2.B.1.

I think this is the same place we saw - it was an emergency dressing station in Ypres and the cemetery was called Essex cemetery?

If so, Dr. John McCrae served at that dressing station and wrote the famous "In Flanders' field" poem there.

This picture is situated in the Astrid Park but is probably located at main Civil Cemetery 1 km s-w along the N8

Thank you Steve for what you've done. My uncle (George R.M. Warren - RCAF) is buried at Gosselies and I'll be visiting him again in a few weeks to say 'Hi'. His sister is still alive, but my Dad, his brother, died a few years ago; may they rest in peace.

My mother's brother sleeps in Normandy, a victim of the debacle of Varrieres Ridge and the Falaise Gap. Haven't visited Bill for a few years; time for a trip to Caen -maybe next spring.

Six of George's crewmates (10 Squadron, RAF) safely parachuted,evaded and returned to England to continue the fight.

I leave in a week for France/Spain/Belgium to replicate parts of the trek of two of them with the daughter of George's navigator; still alive in central England. We will visit safehouses in Paris and Bayonne, follow their route over the Pyrenees into Spain, and I will return to Belgium to visit George, and the family on who's farm JD368 crashed in Aug.'43. They kept his charred parachute for 60+ years before I brought it home in 2007 and gave it to my aunt.

Thank you again, Geoff

My Uncle, Mark (Maxie) Rothberg, was killed by the Germans while defending the British retreat. He was a driver in the Royal Engineers, aged 19. Among the rows of crosses in this picture, there is one Star of David, on Maxie's headstone. His dying words to his sergeant were "I am a Jew, please make sure I am buried as one". His body was never found and he is probably buried in the trench where he bled to death after being hit in the neck by shrapnel. On 31st May 2009, on the 69th anniversary of his death, my family and I visited his grave and held a Jewish memorial service. Later, we were taken by local historian, Rev. Wilfried Pauwels to the trench were he was killed and is probably buried in an unmarked grave.

Ploegsteert est en Hainaut Belgique

No easy hopes or lies Shall bring us to our goal, But iron sacrifice Of body, will, and soul. There is but one task for all - For each one life to give. Who stands if freedom fall? Who dies if England live?

Rudyard Kipling

It seemed that out of battle I escaped Down some profound dull tunnel, long since scooped Through granites which titanic wars had groined.

Yet also there encumbered sleepers groaned, Too fast in thought or death to be bestirred. Then, as I probed them, one sprang up, and stared With piteous recognition in fixed eyes, Lifting distressful hands, as if to bless. And by his smile, I knew that sullen hall, - By his dead smile I knew we stood in Hell.

Wilfred Owen Manchester Regt

Thanks for this photograph. My uncle is one of the 55 buried here from the Second World War. Frederick Gardiner. He died in Dunkirk on 29th May 1940 protecting people against a wall. He was only 27. The grave is F6 but I have never seen it.