10 August 2007



Ypres, Belgium - the MG Z owners club annual outing



At Tyne Cot Cemetery - still remembered...



Ypres 1917 Battle of Messines - the British planted 21 mines
19 exploded to plan one making this, now tranquil, crater:

"The largest of the 21 Messines mines was at Spanbroekmolen, the "Lone Tree Crater" formed by the blast was approximately 250 feet (80 m) in diameter, and 40 feet (12 m) deep. The mine consisted of 41 tons of ammonal explosive, located in a chamber dug 88 feet (27 m) below ground. In 1930 the crater was purchased for preservation by Lord Wakefield, and is now owned by the religious group Toc H. The crater eventually filled with rainwater and was later dedicated as the Spanbroekmolen "Pool of Peace" in 1932."

(from Wikipedia)

Number 20 exploded after a thunderstorm many years later and number 21
is still buried somewhere waiting to 'go off' (or possibly was discovered by the
Germans and put out of action, who knows)

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