Walking the Ypres Salient with Mat McLachlan: Part 1

[@robynsjp]

Born in West Flanders, we walked for them each November with school. Our most important memorial place is Menin Gate, more sacred than memorials for our own forces. When you go to Menin Gate, place your hand on the wall with the names, you will feel the emotion, even when born after the wars.

[@garylancaster8612]

I've been to the Menin Gate many times. The Last Post ceremony is very moving. It's much appreciated by the British and Commonwealth people how well Belgium remembers and honours the memory of the hundreds of thousands of men who died in the defence of Ypres.

[@jimmyhillschin9987]

Love to you, the Belgian people. Your ancestors suffered terribly from war and you show yourselves very well in respecting others who fought.

[@Dadsterful]

We were there again last weekend. The gate is currently covered for renovations but the service was as powerful and poignant as ever. We will remember them

[@Migitn]

​@@jimmyhillschin9987hard not to show respect even to this day we find relics from the ww1 when we just work in our gardens.

[@davidc3850]

I've long had an interest in both World Wars but have never visited any of the sites or locations. I've only just discovered Mat's videos and find them absolutely fascinating. They're very informative and interesting, but extremely watchable although clearly depicting the horrors and sacrifice of war. I am working my way through all of the videos and am planning (finally) to visit the sites in the near future. Thanks for making these videos Mat !

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thank you! That might be the best comment I’ve ever received!

[@northernlight696]

My grandfather Harry E. Ludford, fought there with the New Brunswick 26 regiment. Another relative of mine, Beverly Powys, was killed from an underground explosion in 1916. His name is on the Menin Gate memorial.

[@tarakai2]

Thank you Matt. My Great grandmothers cousin was Oliver Woodward, the Australian mining Engineer who triggered the Hill 60 and Caterpillar mine. The bravery shown by the miners, both German and allied was astounding. The front lines on Hill 60 did shift somewhat, back and forth by a few times meaning that even after the main blasts the Germans counter attacked and held the Hill. Most of the tunnels were only 4 1/2ft high and 2 1/2 ft wide. So many men are still buried under the hill. I don't know where the courage came from to do the job they had to do.

[@kidmohair8151]

for anyone with a smidgen of imagination, and a passing familiarity with even just the pictures of WW1, these walking talks are deeply evocative... thank you for doing, what I am guessing is, a labour of love.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thank you! It certainly is.

[@djjayem100]

Best bite sized WW1 walks on the internet by far! Love these. Great stuff.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks!

[@darrenwalsh6965]

Fantastic history remembered and well told by Mat in these video clips. Well done, great work Mat. Thank you. Lest we forget.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Many thanks!

[@panzer-head]

Wow. Very well done! Many of us cannot make it there, but these battlefield walks take us there and tell so many stories of what it must have been like. I love this series, thanks for doing this.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thank you very much!

[@Dadsterful]

Went there last week on the strength of your film. A truly humbling experience, just strolling around in the tranquillity, pondering the awful events that occurred here. Thanks again guys.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Brilliant, thanks mate. 👍🏼

[@davewilson9738]

This format is perfect Mat, this chat and the walk was incredible to join you both on. And also realising that Belgium has been fought over so many times is sad to comprehend.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks Dave!

[@davewilson9738]

@@MatMcLachlanHistory thank you for reminding us how useless war is when solving problems.

[@roywatkins4654]

I sat there just over forty years ago, don't recall duck boards and walkways except for well-trodden paths. but it was a beautiful summers morning, just after dawn and leaning against a tree. To have read up and learnt about Hill 60 and just that atmosphere of quietness, just as the birds were getting started it was magical yet mystical. Thank you, Mat, Simon for kicking the old grey cells back in time.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

The duckboards are a new addition to preserve the landscape. Thanks for the comments.

[@aimdrummer]

Really enjoyed that. It is one of the few Great War sites I have been to more than once. The scale of the crater is hard to comprehend.

[@burb122]

Your making really good content Matt. Keep it up. These long WW1 walk throughs and highlights are amazing!

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thank you!

[@midlandgeordie]

Went there as a child with my parents. Impressive and poignant place. Great historical film👍👍

[@generalbanastretarleton6578]

I’ve been watching your Channel for 3yrs now. Your videos get better and better. Thank you for posting your videos. Absolutely fantastic work as always.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thank you!

[@ryanharris4964]

Wow I am actually blown away both both team members and this whole video Speachless keep up the good work. I would really like to head to flanders Thank you UK love

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Cheers Ryan. 👍🏼

[@stevi-h7c]

“They called it Passchendaele” by Lyn McDonald is a must book to read covering the true life accounts of over 600 soldiers who took part in the battle.

[@celestinclauw]

Thank you for another amazing video. I used to work in the restaurant as a waiter across Hill 60. The restaurant is called Hill 60 as well. Also, I am very happy to see Simon in your video.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thank you!

[@dangercloseusmc6902]

Mat, your videos are incredibly fascinating, and I sincerely appreciate your hard work when you're at these hallowed places. I love tangible history, like the bunker used in both world wars you talked about in this video, and I think it's vital to preserve and respect these places where brave men struggled and died. Thank you for doing what you do. I look forward to the next one.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thank you!

[@Wolfsschanze99]

Thanks Mat, amazing report & hats off to Simon.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks!

[@margjeweijdt1510]

Thank you for sharing these, and the respect shown to the poor dead of both sides. Such a waste of life.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks for watching!

[@BISAC]

Another Great story and made even better by Simon. Keep it up.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

He’s pretty great, isn’t he.

[@Dadsterful]

Thanks Mat & Simon for a very powerful and informative film. Another one to visit when I come over again soon

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@thenoworriesnomad]

As always Mat and some great information & knowledge from Simon too..👍

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Cheers mate.

[@GosWardHen98]

2 distant relatives died here on of sriubd Hill 60. 24th April 1915 during 1st gas attack by Germany FR Clarkson 1st Suffolk Regt, then his brother WJ Clarkson Messines July 1917 of 106 Feild Coy 'RE. You can't imagine the damage but I now know why Fred never got recovered as it was total manic with the gas & Walter was not in reserve 1917, he went with the NZ, Aussies & Brits at same time after the 19 mines exploded. RIP - great info on this as I should visit it myself at some stage.

[@moobaz8675]

Excellent video. It really shows the power of the explosions and the bravery of the tunnellers.

[@dreamfpv7865]

Really enjoyed this , just found your channel today very interesting. What those young chaps went through must never be forgotten.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Cheers.

[@dougm5341]

Truly an amazing video Mat. Well done. I hope to someday make my way back to Flanders and France to do it justice and see these once horrible places.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Cheers Doug.

[@BilltheDoughboy1996]

Brilliant as always chap!

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Cheers mate. 👍🏼

[@MrButtonpresser]

For anyone thinking about visiting the area, do. If you ever get the chance, you will remember it forever.

[@smethdog]

My Great-Grandpa of the RFA won his MM there. Major R W Corbett. I visited it and also Sanctuary Wood back in 2016. I’m hugely fortunate to have all of his military papers, passed down from my mum. The most significant thing I have is a passage in his bible, written in October ‘14 in the opening leaf, as he’s about to be sent to Europe, from India, is his will. He survived this atrocity and died In 1952.

[@ronti2492]

Great video Matt. And the movie 'Beneath Hill 60" did a lot to bring that story to Australians today. The only problem with the film ( and it really isn't a 'problem') is if you are Army or ex-Army, some of the scenes in the 'mud of Flanders' have Mt Stuart in Townsville sitting in the background, just like you are seeing it from Lavarack Barracks! But a small point.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Cheers mate.

[@Super_tramp142]

My great grandfather was at hill 60 in 1915 before getting hit

[@simonrichardson5077]

Great work,thanks

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Cheers!

[@DanvonVolksburg]

Great Video,always some new things to learn. The sound could be louder. Cheers Dan

[@jadymulqueeney]

Thanks, a great doco on a poignant place

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@_jackcarmichael]

Me and my school traveled to the locations your focusing on about 8 years ago and I’m rewatching this not only to learn again but to remember the good times I had , me and my school mates actually have a group photo ontop of the pillbox … don’t think that’s allowed now

[@Bruce-1956]

Facsinating story about the anti-tank gun. I've alwys wondered about the damage done to CWGC sites during WW2. I've tried to imagine how terrible it must have been during my visits, but you just can't.

[@TheA1carpetman]

We have a hill 60 in Port Kembla NSW Australia. It has two Tunnels that had Guns set up in the Coast keeping out ships in the ww2

[@Captivity91]

Keep these videos coming!

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks!

[@tannerrule244]

Love to study The Great War and have been in college studying history for the past 5 years, I hope to god one day I can Make it to Europe to see some of these battlefields in person before I get old. I honestly feel as though anyone who can should go see as much stuff as they can in person, its such an important sacrifice of humanity people can learn from they need to see it to get a better application of why you don’t want to repeat history but learn from it to take action when needed to prevent havoc.

[@barrythatcher9349]

The memorial that Simon Louagie referred to was an Australian bronze statue that cast and set up. It depicted an Aussie digger with his rifle bayoneting a German trooper on the ground.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

I think your wires are slightly crossed here. It seems the memorial you are referring to is the 2nd Division Memorial at Mont St Quentin in France, which depicted an Australian soldier bayoneting a German eagle. The memorial destroyed at Hill 60 was to the Queen Victoria Rifles.

[@barrythatcher9349]

Living history you are quite correct.

[@gefi9701]

Very good production. You really make the horror a reality 100+ years later.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks for watching!

[@keithlawrence5605]

I toured western front 2015 saw hill 60 amazing tour

[@npcoo337ooo7]

Just discovered this channel. Amazing 🤩

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks Greg. 👍🏼

[@elkanovitch]

Great video.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks!

[@henningnielsen9907]

Went there recently. It's somehow a bit disappointing to visit Hill 60 due to the lack of explanation boards. Imagination does need a bit of help since it is difficult to imagine a smashed brown landscape in all that green. The shown combined bunker can't be found without leaving the duck boards. One very interesting thing is the marking of the front in the duck boards - it's only some 10 - 15 meters from one line to the next!

[@TheFunkhouser]

We should understand WW1 and WW2 were basically linked, related. The 'Great' war 1914 to 1945 with a 20 year breather in between 😢😢😢 I just pray humans don't ever do that again 🙏 Mate, your videos are epic, we should never forget the sacrifices these people went through.. many thanks ❤

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Cheers mate. 👍🏼

[@joezephyr]

Excellent thank you!

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks!

[@wocookie2277]

Why do people travel so far too remember, sacrifice! The sacrifice these men gave, that came from so far away for Belgium’s freedom is still felt today, a hundred years later. It’s a deep scar, I hope you appreciate it.

[@MarlinWilliams-ts5ul]

And to think, we watched the spectacle of hordes of aliens in London vandalizing British Great War monuments the past 9 months. Metro police are present but do nothing to stop it. (They arrest English people trying to protect the sacred memorials.

[@tomryan3527]

What time of the year was this video. It’s fairly sunny.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

It was the last days of September. Nice weather. 👍🏼

[@Pyjamarama11]

It's important to keep these places untouched to remind us, what leaders are willing to put their people through, to reach their own objectives

[@donkeylong7707]

My third British cousin was in D Sqn 6th Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry Battalion. During the Third battle of Ypres he was killed in a massive German artillery barrage on and around hill 60 and was never recovered and still remains buried on the battlefield. Rip my dear cousin.. this hits hard for my family because my other distant several times removed cousin Kaiser Willhelm II is the one who started it.. it was basically a family quarrel. My cousins name is Pvt. Edward Frederick Cocker his name resides on panel 120 at Tyne Cot cemetery in Belgium.

[@markfoskett3448]

Thankyou xxx

[@bulldog1066jpd]

@10:40 When the visitor knows more than the local historian 😊

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

😂

[@algray1195]

It’s mind numbing, the great lengths to which free men endured for freedom. The horror.

[@adriang6259]

I worry about accidently kicking a live shell missed for a hundred years. I'll stick to the duckboard. There's not going to be enough time. Matt, your knowledge is impressive.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks!

[@ingemetdiedikkedingen]

respect ,can i visit here by wheelchair? one day when visit menin-port

[@henrywhittaker2519]

Two of the mines failed to explode on the day. One mine exploded decades later during an electric storm. The location of the last mine is unknown & remains potentially live.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks for the comment Henry. Worse than that, the location of the last mine is well known - it’s under Le Petit Douve farm, right next to the main road from Ploegsteert to Messines. Hold your breath if you ever drive past it!

[@sander6438]

​@@MatMcLachlanHistoryI drive past that couple of times when I went to yper on vacation

[@Eric-the-Bold]

2118, Shot against the OZ, memorial on 2nd September 1944 by the Germans ,were two members of the French resistance who were caught trying to sabotage the railway cutting next to Hill 60.. Pierre Marchant and Lucien Olivier

[@abbykeyzer]

They are gonna be send to a concentrationcamp . Back in the days the trains had difficulties to cross Hill 60 and would stop and they taken the chance trying to escape but sadly enough they where shot .

[@DavidSmith-bd8dd]

I have read much about the1st war but hill 60 makes me shiver the best thing 2happen 2 hill 60 is its end in 1917

[@Migitn]

If you want i can go there and send u some footage ...

[@dentoncrimescene]

Simon from the Inbetweeners is knowledgeable.

[@lucabalducci4256]

I have been this summer

[@kurtgrossoehme2691]

Werent these same grounds devastated and fought over during WW2? The Battle of the Bulge ripped through here didnt it?

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Not the Battle of the Bulge, but the retreat to Dunkirk in 1940. We discuss it in detail in the video.

[@louistracy6964]

Far far from Wipers, I long to be, Where German snipers can't get at me, Damp is my dugout, cold are my feet, Waiting for whizzbangs to put me to sleep. -Anonymous

[@TheSeanBampton]

17:12 "Until we saw atomic bombs in the 2nd world war, and this type of thing, this was the largest man-made explosion anywhere in the world." Sorry, but this is 100% factually not true. The Halifax explosion in 1917 was the largest man-made explosion anywhere in the world, until they dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. For reference, the Hill 60 explosion was a combined 123,300 lbs of explosives, while the Halifax explosion was 5,800,000 lbs (2.9 Kilotons). The Hill 60 explosion was tiny in comparison.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

I think we are splitting hairs here. Regarding Messines: ‘. Determining the power of explosions is difficult, but this was probably the largest planned explosion in history until the 1945 Trinity atomic weapon test, and the largest non-nuclear planned explosion until the 1947 British Heligoland detonation (below). The Messines mines detonation killed more people than any other non-nuclear man-made explosion in history.’ Regardless, I think bickering over blast sizes kind of misses the point of the documentary.

[@bjw4859]

Lest we forget.

[@LetsStepOut]

Big fan of you from india and want to meet you one day in reality

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Cheers! And hello to my fans in India!

[@leshart5804]

His comment regarding refugees and his fathers words about it only being 3 generations without being refugees.

[@robertrusnak620]

It’s amazing to see how Mother Nature turns a muddy , blown to bits landscape of hell into the beautiful landscape we see here.

[@1chumley1]

Noice!

[@lst141]

These terrains maybe should not have trees. For people to see the horror of war. Today you can see trenches in Ukraine, and old allies now are enemies. Now after 100 years Belgium arms Ukraine so to repeat again the same butchering of people. What a waste.

[@ernestpaniagua1210]

War is such a stupid, wasteful and ugly business.

[@donkeylong7707]

I’m an American witch I’m embarrassed to say these days but my third British cousin was killed near hill 60. He was never recovered and still in the ground in pieces

[@garylancaster8612]

I presume if his body was never recovered his name is recorded on the Menin Gate in Ypres. Have you ever been there? The whole area around Ypres is really worth a battlefield tour, especially if you have a family connection as do you.

[@donkeylong7707]

@@garylancaster8612 no ive never been but i do know he is on panel 119 in tyne cot. Pte. Fredrick Cocker 6th Wiltshire Yomanry. Rest his soul.. He was just 19. He was my British grandmothers cousin

[@garylancaster8612]

@@donkeylong7707 It's great that you have those details. I know Tyne Cot Cemetery, it's the largest on the Western Front, 11,000 graves and panels with the names of those who weren't recovered, like your relative. Almost all the dead there died in 1917 during the battle of Passchaendale. I live one mile from the Wiltshire border. God rest his soul.

[@stevenhearnden6103]

As Pershing said, carry on to Berlin or we will be doing this again. Germany should have been crushed in 1918.

[@chrisstuart6651]

The war could've been avoided if the allied countries had not been terrified of Germany's growth.

[@brentnakonechny3401]

The Halifax harbour explosion was bigger at that time period. I do believe

[@kidpagronprimsank05]

Actually it's slightly bigger than nuclear bomb at Hiroshima