After the extreme heat of the last few days we woke to an overcast, oppressive morning. It was clear that the weather was going to break at some point during the day - my headache told me there was thunder in the air.
In the morning we visited the largest British War Graves Cemetery in the world at Tyne Cot. There are 11,871 graves and a memorial to nearly 35,000 men who have no known grave.

During the afternoon the weather did break and we were confined to the MH. We amused ourselves watching a poor man trying to put up a trailer tent in the wind and rain on his own.We couldn't offer to help as it was of a type we had never seen before and looked as though it was made of thick plastic.  
Luckily the rain eased off later and a nice evening developed. After an early dinner we left before seven to walk into Ypres for the Last Post Ceremony, which begins at 8pm.  We arrived at around 7.15pm and were lucky to get a space right at the front on the side where Rob's Gt Uncle's name is.
The ceremony was very moving. During this 100th anniversary year, they pick out a soldier who died on that day, and give a resume of his life, and death.   The Last Post was played by the 3 buglers from the Ypres Fire Brigade, and then a lament was played by a lone piper.  The exhaltation was read by a visiting Australian dignitary.   While the wreaths were laid a Canadian choir sang 'The Maple Leaf Forever' and Abide with me'   This was beautiful, and brought a lump to the throat.
 
 


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