BELGIUM 2014.
In July, 2014 I travelled to Europe with my wife Marija for an 8 week holiday. During that time we stayed in Belgium with our very good friends Marnix (OP7M), his wife Martine, and son Goan. We also spent a lot of time with Eddy (ON6ZV) and his wife Carine, who are friends with Marnix and Martine.
FLANDERS FIELDS.
Marija and I caught the train from Paris to Lille in eastern France near the Belgium border.
After picking us up at the railway station in Lille, Marnix and Eddy took Marija and I to Flanders Fields in Belgium.
We visited Yser Towers which were built in 1928-1930 commemorate the Belgian soldiers killed on the surrounding Yser Front during World War I.
We also visited the Passchendaele trenches and Dodengang Diksmuide (Trench of death).
We also made a veery moving visit to Tyne Cot cemetery.
After picking us up at the railway station in Lille, Marnix and Eddy took Marija and I to Flanders Fields in Belgium.
We visited Yser Towers which were built in 1928-1930 commemorate the Belgian soldiers killed on the surrounding Yser Front during World War I.
We also visited the Passchendaele trenches and Dodengang Diksmuide (Trench of death).
We also made a veery moving visit to Tyne Cot cemetery.
MENIN GATE.
Marnix and Eddy also took us to Menin Gate. The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing s a war memorial in Ypres, Belgium, dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the Ypres Salient of World War I and whose graves are unknown.
Following the Menin Gate Memorial opening in 1927, the citizens of Ypres wanted to express their gratitude towards those who had given their lives for Belgium's freedom. Hence every evening at 20:00, buglers from the Last Post Association close the road which passes under the memorial and sound the "Last Post"
WATERLOO MEMORIAL.
VISIT TO EDDY'S POLICE STATION.
MARNIX AND EDDY'S HOME TOWN OF GHENT.
BRUGES.
MEET AND GREET AT THE LOCAL RADIO CLUB.
One of the events that was organised was a 'Meet and Greet' at the local radio club. This was a fantastic evening. I met a number of hams that I had spoken with over the years. And now I got to share a beer with them in person. Marnix and Eddy did their very best to get me drunk that night on Belgium beer.
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE.
The article below appeared in the local newspaper.
VISIT TO THE HOME OF ALBERT ON2WAC.
OPERATING AS ON4IPA - SOTA AND WWFF.
Thankyou to Eddy ON6ZV and Marnix OP7M I was able to operate from SOTA summits and WWFF parks in Belgium and Germany, using the call sign of ON4IPA.
