Interesting facts about the Menin Gate & Last Post Ceremony
The Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium, is one of the world’s most significant First World War memorials. Dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldiers who lost their lives with no known grave, the Menin Gate Memorial is visited by thousands of people every year. For many school groups touring the battlefields of Belgium, the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate is the most memorable part of their visit.
If you’re wondering what happens every evening at the Menin Gate, who is remembered on the Menin Gate, or whether the Menin Gate is worth visiting, these fascinating facts explain why this iconic memorial remains such an important place of remembrance.
We’ve collated some interesting facts about one of the most significant historical sites in Belgium.
1. The Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate has taken place almost every evening since 1928
The first Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate was held on 2nd July 1928. Today, the Last Post at the Menin Gate is performed every evening at 8pm beneath the memorial arch in Ypres and usually lasts around 30 minutes, although special commemorations may be longer.
The ceremony has taken place every night except during the German occupation of Belgium between May 1940 and September 1944. During this period, The Last Post was instead held at Brookwood Cemetery in England. Following the liberation of Ypres, the Menin Gate Last Post resumed on the very evening the town was freed, despite the memorial itself still bearing damage from the Second World War.
2. The Last Post is played by Ypres Fire Brigade volunteers
Many visitors assume the buglers performing The Last Post are military musicians. In fact, the honour belongs to members of the local volunteer Fire Brigade, who have proudly maintained this tradition for generations.
Visitors to the Last Post Ceremony in Ypres can also arrange to lay a wreath during the service by booking in advance through the organisers, making it an especially meaningful experience for school groups, veterans’ organisations and families.
3. The Menin Gate wasn’t universally admired when it was built
Although the Menin Gate Memorial is now regarded as one of Belgium’s most important war memorials, not everyone supported its design when it was unveiled.
First World War poet Siegfried Sassoon famously criticised the monument in his poem On Passing the New Menin Gate, questioning whether such a grand memorial could truly represent the horrors and sacrifices of war.
4. Sir Reginald Blomfield designed the Menin Gate
If you’ve ever wondered who built the Menin Gate, the memorial was designed by renowned British architect Sir Reginald Blomfield. His design was inspired by the 17th-century Porte de la Citadelle in Nancy, France, creating the impressive triumphal arch visitors see today in Ypres, Belgium.
5. The Menin Gate remembers soldiers with no known grave
One of the reasons for the significance of the Menin Gate is that it commemorates more than 54,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers who died in the Ypres Salient before 15th August 1917 and whose bodies were never identified or recovered.
During construction it became clear there was not enough space to include every missing soldier’s name. As a result, those who died after the cut-off date are commemorated instead at the memorial in Tyne Cot Cemetery, where a further 35,000 names are recorded.
Why is the Menin Gate worth visiting?
Whether you’re interested in First World War history or visiting the battlefields of Belgium, the Menin Gate in Ypres is an essential stop. Attending The Last Post at the Menin Gate offers a powerful opportunity to reflect on the sacrifice of those who never returned home, making it one of the most moving remembrance ceremonies in Europe.
“Our favourite moment was seeing our students lay a wreath at the Menin Gate (Last Post Ceremony) and then to hear about how much it meant to them.”
Mr Sheforgen
International School of Lausanne
