Last Post Association www.lastpost.be info@lastpost.be
content A Origin of the Last Post Association B LPA history C the organisation D the daily ceremony E Last Post Association now F Conclusion G Q&A
Origin - Result of 4 years of warfare Number of casualties: Commonwealth : 250000 Of which 100000 have no known grave :» 40000 graves with soldiers no known name» Others still remain missed» 55000 on Menin Gate (until 15 aug 1917)» 30000 on Tyne Cot» 12000 on Ploegsteert Memorial Germans : 240000 French : 80000
Ypres in 1918
A. Origin of the LPA 1923 1927 : building of the Menin Gate Architect Reginal Blomfield Assigned by the CWGC Monument to celebrate the victory (lion) Shrine for those who have no known grave (sarcofagus)
Origin - Building of the Menin Gate
The Menin gate
Origin - Unveiling of the Menin Gate 24th July 1927 : official unveiling Menin Gate Memorial by Field Marshall Lord Plumer : they are not missing, they are here Last Post is sounded by 6 buglers of the 2nd Battalion Somerset Light Infantry
B. LPA history : chronology 1927-1928 : Many local people were deeply moved and impressed by the steady stream of pilgrims during the twenties Ypres citizens looking for a way to express their gratitude to all commonwealth soldiers Head of local police Pierre Vandenbraambussche, who was impressed by the LP during the unveilling, brought up the idea of a daily Last Post Ceremony
Origin - Symbolism Last Post is a bugle call played in British Army to mark the end of the day In the Last Post Ceremony it is the traditional final farewell to the fallen : end of earthly live and the onset of their eternal rest Menin Gate: ideally situated, on the road to the front Each evening the traffic is stopped:» daily life stops for a brief moment to remember
LPA history : chronology 1July 1928 : First Last Post Ceremony 12th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme Approximately 70 spectators Stopped on 30 september 1928 1 May 1929 Resumed with the intension to end at the closing of the summer season. Public outcry against the winter cessation
LPA history : 15 May 1930: official foundation of Last Post Committee First chairman : Mr Vandenbraambussche Mission : Keeping alive the memory of the soldiers of the Commonwealth, who fought and died in the immortal Ypres salient during the Great war Simple act of remembrance Daily To do so in perpetuity
LP 1930
LPA history : chronology 1930 s: Period of consolidation LP cemented its position in public life in the city Because of economic recession funding was the major problem
LPA history : 1940 1945 : WW2 German Occupation (& visit Hitler to Ieper and Menin gate) Suspention of the daily Ceremony from 2 Mai 1940 Monthly Ceremony in Brookwood Parcel of the Belgian Military near Guilford 6 September 44: liberation Ieper Bugler Jozef Arfeuille resumes Last Post
LPA history : 1950 1960 : End of the 50 s : economic revival More people find their way back to Ypres May 1966 : attendance of Queen Elisabeth, duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by King Boudewijn and Queen Fabiola 1970-1980 : Revival of interest : Travelling is getting easier : battefield tourism Schools rediscover WW1 Children and grandchildren rediscover family history Numbers of pilgrims grow New factor : the media (live broadcast BBC Remembrance day ceremony 1973)
LPA history 1985 2000 Numerous VIP visitors His Holiness the Pope John Paul 2 (1985) Mother Theresa Sir Bob Geldof of Band aid British Royal Family Belgian Royal Family George Bush Sr Frank Williams Countless dignitaries of all Commonwealth countries Special groups Different army organisations Choirs, bands All Blacks NZ Aboriginal Canadian Journey Today Estimated figure : 250000 yearly visitors Still climbing
C. The Organisation The Last Post Association is an independent, voluntary, non-profit-making organisation. It also administers the Last Post Fund, which provides the financial resources necessary to support the ceremony. The associaton consists of 27 persons : board of administration of 13 people, 8 buglers 2 pipers 3 ceremonial assistants 1 secretary
C. The organisation The buglers : Members of the firebrigade Already 18 buglers in the 81 years Actual composition: Antoine Verschoot BEM MBE Rik Vandekerckhove Dirk Vandekerckhove Tonny Desodt Raf Decombel Philippe Top Jan Callemeyn Christophe Wils Ceremonial assistants : To create the right atmosphere under the gate To keep order Actual composition : Emmanuel Waelkens Michel Ghesquire Brian Claeys The board : Benoit Mottrie : chairman Guy Gruwez : Honorary chairman Philippe De Bruyn : Vice Chairman Finance Mathieu Mottrie : Vice Chairman Operations Philippe Dochy Carl Denys Patrick Donck Jacky Platteeuw Eric Huyghe Charles Vermeulen René Delobel Jan Matsaert Olivier Rys Pipers : Eric Remy Pierre Derveaux
C. The organisation Yearly budget : Euro 100.000 Yearly income : Memberships : membership 40 euro a year Donations : As an independent and voluntary organisation, the Last Post Association survives thanks to generous donations Concert The Great War Remembered Ypres Memorial Tattoo merchandising Grants from governmental organisations Help and cooperation with city of Ypres
D. The ceremony Ceremony : Simple buglecall to the fallen 5 to max 20 minutes Order of Ceremony : Call to attention Last Post Exhortation (the ode) 1 silence Lament Wreath laying Reveille National Anthems Participation in the ceremony : People or groups can ask to participate in a ceremony
C. Ceremony abroad Remembrance Festival in Albert Hall London 9 lectures in South Africa Economic mission wit Prince Philip to Australia and NewZealand Royal Chelsea Hospital London Edinburgh Scotland Cwmbran Wales Hamilton New Zealand 2007 Arc de Triomphe Paris 2008 Winterfestival Toronto Canada 2008
Website LPA www.lastpost.be Calendar Membership page Aims and objectives Request form for participation in ceremony Picture gallery
www.lastpost.be
Last Post Ceremony
Remembrance day ceremonies
E. Last Post ceremony Chelsea Pensioners Canadian Aboriginal journey
Important Visits Pope John Paul 2 Mother Theresa of Calcuta
Visit of HM Queen Elisabeth 1966 1998 2007
Last Post in France Arc De Triomphe 16 11 2008 Vimy Ridge france 2009
Hamilton New zealand 2007 Anzac day
Ypres Memorial Tattoo
E. Concert LPA The Great War Remembered Concert LPA Ngati Ranana Maori NZ
Veterans Afhanistan War Trooper Donaldson VC Australia ceremony 18 11 2009 Rifleman Woods UK Ceremony 11 11 2009
Conclusion 28477 th ceremony 1. The LPA will continue to be a simple act of remembrance whose aim is to pay tribute to those who fell to restore the gift of freedom to the world at cost of their own lives. 2. We will continue to honour and remember all these soldiers for ever more. 3. We also hope the memory of the past will be a lesson to future generations