Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) takes part in Heritage Day (Belgium) for the first time
04/09/2017
- Boezinge
- Source: CWGC
On 10 September 2017, Flanders (Belgium) will again host Heritage Day, its biggest one-day cultural event. The event is organized by Herita and supported by CO7. Both organisations engage in and support activating heritage for all ages. For 29 years, this event has created the opportunity to open heritage treasures to the public all over Flanders, all free of charge. Each year considerable numbers of local and international visitors visit well and lesser-known monuments, historic landscapes, archaeological sites and other immovable heritage.
This year the CWGC will be participating for the first time – using Colne Valley Cemetery, located north of the town of Ieper, to show the vital work that goes on behind the scenes to care for the graves of those who died in two world wars. This cemetery directly faced the German front line during the First World War and holds the graves of 47 fallen soldiers.
On Heritage Day the CWGC are encouraging families to visit the cemetery and use a specially prepared interactive booklet for children. The booklet is aimed at children aged 6 to 8, and helps them and their families discover the story of the First World War, Colne Valley Cemetery, and the work of the CWGC in caring for the memory of those who died. One family will win an exclusive visit to the CWGC workshops.
On the day, CWGC craftsmen will demonstrate the many aspects of maintaining the CWGC cemeteries, including engraving specialists and gardeners. We will also explain the large-scale restoration project that was carried out in 2015 to protect the cemetery from flooding.
Visitors are very welcome to participate in the activities, free of charge and without registration, between 10h and 18h at Colne Valley Cemetery, Kleine Poezelstraat, located East of the village of Boezinge, Belgium.
Parking will be possible further down the road at the Klein Zwaanhof.
For more information: