Doughboy Eqt Display at the In Flanders' Fields Museum

[Johan Willaert]

Part of my 'Veterans' Day weekend activities was a visit to the 'In Flanders' Fields' museum in Ypres, Belgium.

 

The IFF museum tells the story about the different battles of Ypres of the Great War and approaches the war from the human point of view. The museum was recently completely refurbished in view of the 2014-2018 commemorations which are just around the corner.

Although the museum's main focus is on the British and Commonwealth part of the war (the British and ANZAC Forces lost about 250.000 men in the Battle of Passchendaele alone) there are also displays about the other parties amongst which the AEF. Most American units saw action in Northern France but notably the 27th and 30th Divisions were deployed around Ypres in Flanders....

 

The IFF Museum is a MUST!!!!! see on a Flanders trip with dozens of cemeteries and other WW1 related sites nearby!

 

IFF Museum Website: http://www.inflandersfields.be/en

 

The ABMC Monument at Kemmel near Ypres: http://www.abmc.gov/...emorials/ke.php

 

ABMC Flanders' Fields at Waregem: http://www.abmc.gov/...meteries/ff.php

 

And lastly this Doughboy uniform and equipment display at the Ypres museum...

 

 

There are no fully clad mannequins in the museum as it focuses on human experiences and stories about the war, brought in a very moving way.... You don't get a warm feeling while strolling thru the museum and rightly so...

That being said the objects (uniforms and other) on display all tell a very particular story...

 

Johan

[LtRGFRANK]

I like that display. Sadly I don't have the room to make one. Robert

[LtRGFRANK]

And I'm happy to say I have everything except the shoes. Robert

[Johan Willaert]

And I'm happy to say I have everything except the shoes. Robert

 

Sadly I can only say the exact same thing...

[Johan Willaert]

You get a clear view at the above display after approx 03'05" in this short movie about the museum and its new display technologies... Also shows some of the other displays...

 

 

[RustyCanteen]

Very interesting Johan, thanks for the video.

 

RC

[trenchbuff]

Wonderful display Johan and thank you for sharing the video. I visited the museum in the early 90s, but it looks like it's time for a return visit.

[Shenkursk]

The Cloth Hall itself is well-worth the visit. Absolutely amazing that it was rebuilt to it's former grandeur after being reduced to rubble with the rest of Ieper during the war. History every place you turn, especially in that area of West Flanders.

 

Johan - were you able to attend the 11/11 last post ceremony at the gate?

[Johan Willaert]

Johan - were you able to attend the 11/11 last post ceremony at the gate?

 

No, I wasn't...I attend several of the ceremonies throughout the year and try to avoid the Nov 11th one as it is too crowded anyway...

 

It is always a moving experience no matter when you attend. I got to read the exhortation once while accompanying Dutch Military...

 

For those that want to learn more about the daily Last Post Ceremony

 

http://www.lastpost.be