Above left:

The TMYS Garden of Remembrance, floral tributes placed at the TMYS.

 

Above right:

The official aknowledgement communication received from Buckingham Palace on conclusion of the TMYS inauguration ceremony.

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The 2012 ceremony will take place on Saturday 18th August 2012.

A dedicated tank action tour will be offered on the Saturday afternoon.

The TMYS will be represented by the FotTMYS during the evening Last Post Ceremony under the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing. *Please see the LPA website here:

 

Please also note your agendas with the following dates:

 

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information if required.

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Above left;

1. The FotTMYS members badge (left) is as copper metal with pin & cap fitting .

2. The TMYS Supporters badge (right) is as brass metal with pin and cap fitting.

*Both badges are 15mm in diameter.

**Membership badges are issued free with membership;

***Supporters badges cost (5.00 UK Pounds) or (6.00 Euros) each plus pp if required.

 

Above right;

The FotTMYS Members badge mounted.

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After a hugely enjoyable but sometimes difficult labour of love and always with great assistance offered from Milena, I have now completed the above legacy project.

Copies have since been placed into the care of our Honorary President,

RTR RHQ, Regimental Historian, Bovington Tank Museum and with Phippe Gorczynski.

The Legacy is a complete CD package and contains the burial/memorial information applicable to every single tank soldier from the HBMGC and Tank Corps who was

KIA within the Ypres Salient or DOW's elsewhere in Belgium during the Great War.

A photograph of each soldiers grave or memorial, TMYS poppy tribute and the soldiers personal burial/memorial details are all included.

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Above left and right;

Ceremony invited guests included amongst others;

Her Majesty's Britannic Ambassador to Belgium Mr Jonathan Brenton and family,

the Burgemeester Mr Alain Wyfells and Aldermen, RTR Representative

Lt Col (Ret) Geoffrey Vesey-Holt MBE, the President of the Koninglijk Entente

Mr Daniel Vandenbroucke, the President of the RAF/SAAF Mr Andre Santy, the personal representative of the Marie of Esquelbecq Mr Jack Squire, the President of the British Torch of Remembrance Belgian Branch Mr Noel Carlisle, the representative of the Riders Branch Royal British Legion Mr Max Byegrave, representatives of the local P1917A organisation and others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above left;

The two TMYS Memorial Pipers; Mr Eric Remy and Pierre Dervaux offer the lament and likewise offer pipe salutes during the wreath placement ceremony.

Mr Eric Bentein offered the Last Post tribute.

The TMYS Committee always remember that the Pipers, Buglers and Standard Bearers are all volunteers and we are most grateful for their respectful attendance and services offered.

 

Above right;

The standards of the Belgian Entente Organisation and Mouscron, along with the British Torch of Remembrance Belgian Branch 'Flame of Remembrance' as seen below left.

 

 

Our special guest of honour; Her Majesty's Britannic Ambassador to Belgium

Mr Jonathan Brenton delivers his wreath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above left and right;

RTR RHQ Representative; Lt Col (Ret) Geoffrey Vesey-Holt MBE offers his speech and presents the RTR wreath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above left;

The Burgemeester of Langemark-Poelkapelle Mr Alain Wyfells.

 

Above right;

Personal representative of the Mayor of Esquelbecq, Mr Jack Squire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above left;

The TMYS Committee place their wreath.

 

Above right;

The P1917A delagation and floral tribute.

 

 

 

 

 

Captain Ian Thompson and the contingent of NCO's, piper and soldiers of

the 1st Royal Tank Regiment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above right:

The Royal Tank Regiment piper plays the lament.

 

Above left:The standard bearers of the Royal Tank Regiment Association,

the Royal British Legion Ypres branch, the British Torch of Remembrance Belgium branch and the Entente, dip their standards in front of the many wreaths and the 243 personalised poppy tributes placed on behalf of the men listed on this Memorial.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The attending Royal Tank Regiment Officer deligation.

Major General C M Deverell MBE, Deputy Colonel Commandant Royal Tank Regiment. 

Brigadier D Eccles CBE, British Army representative to SHAPE &

Lt Col (Retd) Stephen May, Regimental Colonel RHQ RTR.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her Britannic Majestys Ambassador to Belgium's personal representative,

The British Consul for West Flanders presents the wreath on behalf of the British Embassy to Belgium.

Mr Paul Breyne, Governor of West Flanders delivers his speech surrounded by the standards of the Entente.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Alain Wyffels Burgermeester of Langemark-Poelkapelle &

the Czechoslovac Veterans Association Representative to Belgium & France,

Milena Kolarikova.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Chris Lock offers the opening speech on behalf of all present.

Amongst others, the following Standard bearers and Standards were in attendance and we thank them most warmly for their committment and respect offered to the Tank Memorial. Please see below list:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above left:

Simon Robertson. Great Nephew of Capt Clement Robertson VC at the 2009 Inauguration Ceremony.

 

Obituary:

Simon was born 14th June 1955 and passed away on 14th September 2011.

He served in the Irish Guards 1975 to 1979 on a short service commission.

He fought his illness valiantly for over two years and died peacefully at home with his family. It would be nice to think that both Simon and Clement are deep in conversation today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Poelkapelle school choir, "Litteliedoe" and the Poelkapelle choir "Alakapelle" under the directions of Director Griet Borremans, sing the Ypres League marching song,

"Tramping along to a little tin whistle and an old toy drum"

Many tears were shed during this wonderful tribute to the soldiers now long gone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above left:

The Assistant Chaplain General Revd Francis P A Barber CF (RC) 1st (UK) Armoured Division conducts the Service assisted by the Revd Patrick Irwin CF (COE) Senior Chaplian SHAPE and father Bart Demuynck the Village Priest.

 

Above right:The dignatories stand for the Service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Edward Hefferman MBE, Trustee to the Royal British Legion places his wreath after the buglers from the Last Post Association have played the last post and reveille.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above left: The Belgium military representative

Kolonel Vlieger R Theys, Militair Commandant

Provincie West Vlaanderen pays his respects.

 

Above right: Mr Jeremy Banning, on behalf of former Pte and Lewis Gunner, Harry Patch of the 7th Battalion Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry, reads Harry's very last drafted letter, written and dedicated to the men served by this Tank Memorial. Harry was to be our guest of honour but sadly recently passed away aged 111. He was the last fighting Tommy. His biographer Richard Van Emden watched on from the crowd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above left: The Tank Memorial Ypres Salient wreath is placed.

 

Above right: The massed pipes and drums of the Ypres Surrey, Passchendaele 1917 and the Flanders Memorial bands play " Highland Cathedral "

 

                                                                                 

 

Above left:

Mr Johan Vandewalle presents the tank plate relic into the care of the Tank Memorial.

 

Above right: The 243 personalised poppy tributes stand row upon row at the base of the Memorial. Each tribute stands proud in flanders fields soil.

The Garden of Remembrance was constructed by Frans Hoijtink and Mel Searston with assistance from John Reed, after Milena Kolarikova had spent 2 days personalising each cross. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commemoration and Remembrance sit side by side.

The Regimental Standard & motto FEAR NAUGHT.

 

Above left and right: A Belgian WW2 veteran attends the Tank Memorial to pay his deep respects to an allied nations fallen tank crewmen,

whilst a young lad peeps around the Memorial to see what all the fuss is about.

No doubt the veteran in this picture was that boy at his Village War Memorial many years ago soon after WW1.

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