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Messines Ridge Military Cemetery and New Zealand Memorial

Messines Ridge Military Cemetery and New Zealand Memorial

Highlight • Historical Site

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

4.3

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1. Hutte Woods – UEFA Christmas Truce Monument loop from Mesen - Messines

23.9km

06:17

200m

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

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Hard

4.4

(14)

124

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

12.5km

03:18

110m

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

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Moderate

4.4

(14)

116

hikers

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

10.9km

02:51

80m

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

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Moderate

Tips

Dominiek Van Dooren

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)

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🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

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

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🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

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.

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Elevation 130 m

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Saturday 27 December

6°C

-1°C

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See hikes here

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

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Messines Ridge Military Cemetery and New Zealand Memorial

1. Hutte Woods – UEFA Christmas Truce Monument loop from Mesen - Messines

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

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

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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