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Belgium

Flanders

West Flanders

Ieper

Mesen

Messines Ridge Military Cemetery and New Zealand Memorial

Discover
Places to see

Belgium

Flanders

West Flanders

Ieper

Mesen

Messines Ridge Military Cemetery and New Zealand Memorial

Messines Ridge Military Cemetery and New Zealand Memorial

Recommended by 26 hikers out of 27

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    Location: Mesen, Ieper, West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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    Best Hikes to Messines Ridge Military Cemetery and New Zealand Memorial

    4.5

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    1. Irish Peace Park – The Miner - Wijtschate loop from Mesen - Messines

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    Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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    Intermediate

    4.3

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    2. Bois de la Hutte – Mud Corner Cemetery loop from Mesen - Messines

    23.9km

    06:16

    200m

    Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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    Expert

    4.5

    (13)

    107

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    3. Troostplek FERM - Wijtschate – The Miner - Wijtschate loop from Wijtschate

    10.9km

    02:51

    80m

    Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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    Intermediate

    Tips

    February 21, 2024

    The memorial was erected for the missing New Zealanders who died during the fighting around Messines in 1917-1918. There are actually two memorials: the shelter building at the cemetery is designed like the 'New Zealand Memorial' at 'Buttes New British Cemetery' (Zonnebeke), but contains no names or inscriptions. The memorial at the entrance with the 'Cross of Sacrifice' at the center is the actual 'Memorial' with the names of 839 New Zealand missing people. Of these, 537 soldiers are said to have died during the Battle of Messines (between 7 and 14 June 1917). The 'Messines Ridge Memorial' is one of seven memorials to New Zealand's missing, which have been erected in Belgium and France.

    (Immovable Heritage Inventory)

    Translated by Google •

      September 19, 2022

      Messines (Mesen) was considered an important strategic site not only for its high elevation but also for its extensive vaults beneath the monastery known as 'Institution Royale'.

      This cemetery was only established after the Armistice when the many small cemeteries from the surrounding battlefields were brought together here. Most of the graves refer in date to the period of the fighting in June 1917 - the mining battle and preparation for the Third Battle of Passchendaele.



      577 soldiers received their final resting place in this cemetery.

      A stone's throw from this cemetery is the Messines Ridge (New Zealand) Memorial, which commemorates 800 soldiers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The soldiers lost their lives in or near Messines in the period 1917 - 1918 and which have no known final resting place.

      We Will Remember Theme

      Translated by Google •

        September 19, 2022

        Messines Ridge (N.Z.) Memorial

        Cemetery laid out on monastery ruins.

        The cemetery is laid out on the grounds of the former school and monastery buildings of the “Institution Royale - Messines”. The monastery and school buildings had a strategically important position during the war years. This is because of its higher location and its extensive complex of vaults. The monastery was a solid German stronghold. Messines was always a hard-fought location at the front. The height played a very important strategic role. Many sacrifices have been made to preserve or take this location.

        Today more than 570 soldiers rest here and in particular 800 soldiers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force are commemorated on the Messines Ridge Memorial. They sacrificed themselves during the Mine Battle on 07 June 1917 and the period thereafter and have no known resting place.

        Not far from this site there is also a small memorial referring to the Christmas Truce of 1914.

        Translated by Google •

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          Elevation 130 m

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          Monday 22 September

          15°C

          9°C

          0 %

          If you start your activity now...

          Max wind speed: 12.0 km/h

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          Location: Mesen, Ieper, West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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