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Passchendaele: Ceremony honours 'bravery' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The "courage and bravery" of those who fought in one of the bloodiest battles of World War One has been remembered, 100 years after it began. | |
Prince Charles, Prince William and Prime Minister Theresa May were among those to pay tribute to those who died in the Battle of Passchendaele. | |
Some 4,000 relatives attended the ceremony at Tyne Cot cemetery, Ypres. | |
In the three months of fighting, half a million Allied and German soldiers were killed, wounded or went missing. | In the three months of fighting, half a million Allied and German soldiers were killed, wounded or went missing. |
Prince Charles addressed the service, saying: "We remember it not only for the rain that fell, the mud that weighed down the living and swallowed the dead, but also for the courage and bravery of the men who fought here." | |
The conflict - officially known as the Third Battle of Ypres - was fought from 31 July 1917 until November that year. | The conflict - officially known as the Third Battle of Ypres - was fought from 31 July 1917 until November that year. |
'Hugely moving' | |
It was not only infamous for the number of casualties but the mud. Many drowned in the thick quagmire, caused by weeks of relentless rain. | It was not only infamous for the number of casualties but the mud. Many drowned in the thick quagmire, caused by weeks of relentless rain. |
Descendants secured tickets to the event at the cemetery in a ballot run by the government. | Descendants secured tickets to the event at the cemetery in a ballot run by the government. |
Former England rugby captain Lewis Moody visited Tyne Cot to pay tribute to his mother's great uncle, who is commemorated there. | Former England rugby captain Lewis Moody visited Tyne Cot to pay tribute to his mother's great uncle, who is commemorated there. |
He told the BBC News Channel it was so "hugely moving" that he broke down in tears when he found his relative Ernest's spot. | He told the BBC News Channel it was so "hugely moving" that he broke down in tears when he found his relative Ernest's spot. |
"The brutality and the blood and the sacrifice that happened here is replaced with beauty, serenity, peace and calm." | "The brutality and the blood and the sacrifice that happened here is replaced with beauty, serenity, peace and calm." |
Asked about the desire of young men wanting to sign up, Mr Moody said you just "could not comprehend it now". | Asked about the desire of young men wanting to sign up, Mr Moody said you just "could not comprehend it now". |
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon was among those to pay tribute, saying: "Although the sacrifice was enormous, the cause was right in the end. It was right to resist aggression, it was right to defend freedom." | Defence Secretary Michael Fallon was among those to pay tribute, saying: "Although the sacrifice was enormous, the cause was right in the end. It was right to resist aggression, it was right to defend freedom." |
During the service, military personnel and descendants read out letters and diaries from soldiers who fought at Passchendaele. | |
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, laid flowers at the grave of the Unknown Soldier. | |
It will end with a fly past by the Belgian air force in a formation that pays tribute to "the missing man". | It will end with a fly past by the Belgian air force in a formation that pays tribute to "the missing man". |
At the scene: Thousands missing - but not forgotten | At the scene: Thousands missing - but not forgotten |
By Kate Palmer, BBC News, at Tyne Cot cemetery | By Kate Palmer, BBC News, at Tyne Cot cemetery |
Once a battlefield of liquid mud, Tyne Cot is now an immaculately maintained cemetery. | Once a battlefield of liquid mud, Tyne Cot is now an immaculately maintained cemetery. |
Thousands of people have gathered for Monday's service to mark the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele, but their numbers are dwarfed by rows of pristine graves and an imposing stone Memorial to the Missing. | Thousands of people have gathered for Monday's service to mark the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele, but their numbers are dwarfed by rows of pristine graves and an imposing stone Memorial to the Missing. |
"It has hit home, quite how disastrous the death toll was," says Ann Philips, whose uncle Edward Woolley was killed weeks into the battle, age 22, on 22 August 1917. | "It has hit home, quite how disastrous the death toll was," says Ann Philips, whose uncle Edward Woolley was killed weeks into the battle, age 22, on 22 August 1917. |
She is wearing a white dress with poppies, as she finds her Uncle Ted's name on the cemetery's memorial, alongside 35,000 other missing soldiers. | She is wearing a white dress with poppies, as she finds her Uncle Ted's name on the cemetery's memorial, alongside 35,000 other missing soldiers. |
Many were a similar age to student Daniel Fay, 20, whose great-great-uncle James McBarrons was a labourer in Paisley before the war. He died aged 28. | Many were a similar age to student Daniel Fay, 20, whose great-great-uncle James McBarrons was a labourer in Paisley before the war. He died aged 28. |
"It makes me think of my group of friends who would have been the same age," he says. | "It makes me think of my group of friends who would have been the same age," he says. |
A few miles away in Ypres, the city has hosted a weekend of culture, telling stories of heroism and sacrifice in song and plays. But today strikes a solemn, more contemplative tone. | A few miles away in Ypres, the city has hosted a weekend of culture, telling stories of heroism and sacrifice in song and plays. But today strikes a solemn, more contemplative tone. |
Other events were held on Sunday in Ypres to mark the centenary, including a reading by War Horse author Michael Morpurgo. | Other events were held on Sunday in Ypres to mark the centenary, including a reading by War Horse author Michael Morpurgo. |
The duke and duchess began commemorations by joining the Belgian king in paying tribute to the fallen at the Menin Gate in Ypres. | The duke and duchess began commemorations by joining the Belgian king in paying tribute to the fallen at the Menin Gate in Ypres. |
The Last Post was played at the end of the service at the memorial, where the names of 54,000 missing soldiers are inscribed. A bugler has played the tune at the gate almost every evening since 1928. | The Last Post was played at the end of the service at the memorial, where the names of 54,000 missing soldiers are inscribed. A bugler has played the tune at the gate almost every evening since 1928. |
Images from the war and recordings of interviews with World War One veterans were projected on to the town's Cloth Hall. | Images from the war and recordings of interviews with World War One veterans were projected on to the town's Cloth Hall. |
Mrs May said she was "honoured" to attend the event, where she will lay a wreath alongside representatives of the combatant nations. | Mrs May said she was "honoured" to attend the event, where she will lay a wreath alongside representatives of the combatant nations. |
She said: "The name Passchendaele resonates with anyone with even a passing knowledge of the First World War. | She said: "The name Passchendaele resonates with anyone with even a passing knowledge of the First World War. |
"It is on those fields where hundreds of thousands of men of all nations fought and died in appalling conditions," she added. | "It is on those fields where hundreds of thousands of men of all nations fought and died in appalling conditions," she added. |