Walking the Battle of Ypres with Mat McLachlan

Historian Mat McLachlan explores the town of Ypres, scene of some of the bloodiest fighting of the First World War.

In this exclusive documentary, Mat explores the rebuilt Cloth Hall, a chapel that was built as a shrine to lost soldiers, the Menin Gate Memorial with its 54,000 names of missing soldiers, secret rooms in the town's ramparts, a beautiful waterside cemetery and a very special commemoration service that has been held every night for nearly a century.

[nautifella]

Mr. McLachlan, Thank you so very much for doing this. I regret it took me so long to find it. My great grandfather died in Ypres in April 1918. His name is on the wall at Tyne Cot. He was a gunner with British Artillery. His battery took a direct hit in their magazine. Nothing remains but the bomb crater.

[RBcymru]

Please remember we are not just England but Welsh, Scottish and Irish. My relations name is on the Menin gate. He died May 1915 the day before the end of the battle. Stood there proudly this summer and was so impressed by how beautiful Ypres is and  the way the Belgium people remember all the soldiers. Thank you Belgium. Awesome video and will watch more of Living History.  I am researching my relations life and its amazing what he did moving from London to Canada then joining up being wounded then returning to fight alongside his friends near Sanctuary Wood where I believe he was killed. God bless them all.

[howardburnette]

I have taken my two son to Ypres. And erected a plaque in St George’s church in memory of NZ William Staub, both my sons said dad we will keep memories alive when you pass. We will bring our sons here, when old enough to understand, that means a lot.

[anthonycosgrave]

My grandfather was wounded at Mons in 1914 and was taken prisoner so thankfully he missed the battles of Ypres. However a great uncle fell near Langemarck in Third Ypres. His name is on panel 144 at Tyne Cot. In 2021 it was my 5th trip to the Ypres salient. I tend to like visiting Tyne Cot in preference to the Menin Gate because I regard the Menin Gate as Triumphalist whereas Tyne Cot cemetery is rembrance. As a child I was taught Sigfried Sassoons poem "On passing The new Menin Gate" and I totally agreed with its sentiment. Ypres is a fine town now again and I hope it never sees such pain again in its existance. People in the Irish Republic are finally coming to terms with the casualties and involvement of Irish men from the "South" in that war. For my own part I had 9 family who served and three never came home and they lie In Passchedaele, Gallipoli and Vendhuile. All Irishmen and all volunteers.

[morriganravenchild]

I went there on a bright warm summer's day but found it one of the most melancholic places I have ever visited. May those who perished there have found peace.

[dididee]

Seabrook brothers were my great great uncles.... such tragedy for everyone

[leod-sigefast]

I am English and I have been to Ieper (Ypres) twice, specifically to pay my respects to the fallen - it was a lifelong ambition since I was a teenager (some 20 years ago). The town has been beautifully restored to it former self and the Flemish people are wonderful and respectful hosts. Even if you are not into history, Ieper is a really nice town to visit with plenty to do and see (and plenty of good Belgian beer!). However, the landscape is something that blows your mind, the sheer scale of the destruction and death are visible through the headstones of the graves - dotted all over the town and surrounding villages and farmland. You see small cemeteries of 'just' 50 or so gravestones nestled away in the middle of a wheatfield and then grand cemeteries of thousands dominating the landscape in the form of beautifully kept parks. Tyne Cot is a place I will never forget. A sombre but moving tribute to the thousands of lost men.

[johnbollen]

Mat, this is a terrific video and it sums up my personal feelings about Ypres perfectly. I came to Ypres for the first time when I was at a very dark point in my life and visiting cemeteries, whilst tremendously moving, was not helping. On the evening of my first night in an Ypres hotel, it just happened to also be the main part of the town's triennial event, the Kattenstoet. Its a carnival that lasts all weekend celebrating cats and witches, but my point is that at the end you can join the carnival and walk the route. The townsfolk were waving and cheering me, a complete stranger as i followed the crowd. My faith in humanity was restored, the optimism and friendliness of the lovely people of Ypres, born from the devastation of WW1 was a joy to behold and remains with me to this day 15 years later.

[bondiib]

I live here. You payed a great honor to this city with this wonderful docu.

[jeanhickey]

My dad was an old contemptible, one of the first to go to fancein 1914, he ad 4 yrs in the front line on light artillery, arriving at ypers. They were confronted by the large square building you show demolished in your film, they were held back by sniper fire from that togwer my dad and hie gun crew were ordered to bring it down, ,they were so mere it was open sites, just looking through the barrel which they did, he won the military medal for bravery in the field, meaning writhin reach and under energy fire, later in the war he won a bar to go with the medal, I am proud of him J h 4:38

[rescuepetsrule]

Thank you so much for letting me VISIT Ypres! I never took time off work to travel, and now I can't do it physically (disabled female Marine), this film is the closest thing to being there. Inside the Chapel, I froze the wall plaques to read them- so MANY men from units I had always heard about, like the Fusiiers. There is a movie about the paper they made in Ypres, The Wipers Times. Amazing men in a war new to them all- aircraft, tanks, etc.. Much RESPECT-SALUTE!

[roblarcher]

my grandfather was in the second battle of Ypres.He was a lt His commanding officer and best friend was John Mcrae.My grandfather is memorialised in the famous painting by Richard Jack.He is the soldier wearing the white shirt.My grandfather was shot 3 times, gassed, captured and tortured by the germans.He managed to escape many times to see one of his friends in another p.o w camp.On his last escape he overpowered a sentry, took his uniform and somehow made his way back through no man's land to safety.He suffered for the rest of his life due to his wounds never healing properly.He never saw any of his best friends again.The cost of war carries through all eternity.The debt that is owed to those before us can never be repaid.I am always in awe of the bravery these people demonstrated in the most hellish circimstances.We enjoy the fruits of thier sacrifices and sometimes forget how we got to this life.I am so proud of my grandfather.His name is lt Darcy Latimer of the 1rst Canadian Expeditionary Force.R.I.P. 😢❤❤

[seahawk]

My wife’s grandfather, Edward Banks, was with the CEF from Canada. He was hit with the gas and sent back to England to be hospitalized. We were fortunate to have him back.

[PaulRudd]

This video is exceptional. I've watched thousands of hours of ww1 and historical documentaries, this one has to be near the top. Subscribed!

[chrisp]

I am British, but I lived in Belgium for 2 1/2 years and it was a privilege. I have been to this place and it always moves me. It possesses a feeling of poignancy like few other locations. The obscene loss of life, the courage of those involved and the tragedy played out here that affected so many families. It is very difficult to visit the City Museum and not feel some kind of emotional contact with the lives of those involved.

I always come back to those words of Bob Dylan in 'Blowin' in the Wind' - "How many times must those cannonballs fly, before they're forever banned?..."

[billylewis]

I went to Ypres last year, the town is so rich with history. You get the sense there that no matter what the first world war and the people that fought in it can never be forgotten.

[JazzMan]

A very moving and poignant story. Today in the U.S., we mourn the loss of two or three of our soldiers who are killed in Afghanistan or Iraq, and correctly so. I can't wrap my head around what it must have been like to try and comprehend the massive losses of life associated with World War 1. Everyone on Earth should watch this video.

[scoobsean]

I was an Army Cadet during the mid 1980s and the Regiment I was in a detachment of (King's Own Royal Border Regiment) had a cadet marching band - one of the few within the Army Cadets at the time. We were invited to attend some parades and march with the band through the Menin Gate one evening. We also attended many of the local cemeteries, memorials and museums. It left a huge impression on me and I visited again many years later as an adult to relive the experiences.

[Gitarzan]

The pipes got me too mate. My grandfather was in the A.E.F. 32nd Inf. Div. 105th Engineers. He was wounded and had to wear metal leg braces for the rest of his life. I can still hear him clanking down the hall. I myself am in a wheelchair and will never be able to travel to places like this. I want you to know how much your videos mean to people like me. You bring these places to us. Thank you for all you do.

[Goffas_and_gumpys]

@ 13:11, "He's not missing, he's here" choked me right up. Damn.
Great presentation.
It is a bucket list item for me to do a Western Front battlefielld tour. One day I'll get there.
RIP, Lest We Forget.