St. Symphorien Military Cemetery

Today we went on base where we had a look around the SHAPE Headquarters again which I always find interesting because there are so many different nationalities working under the same roof. Here is the carpet in the lobby: SHAPE Carpet

Then we decided to go into Mons for a walk around and a hot chocolate in a cafe (always a necessity) and the hot chocolate was great!

On the way back from Mons, dad suggested we visit the cemetery where SHAPE hold their Remembrance Day services every year so we headed there.

St Symphorien Military Cemetery was made by the Germans in August 1914, after the Battle of Mons. It remained in their hands until November 1918, and has the distinction of containing the graves of some of the first and last casualties of the First World War. There are now 229 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in St. Symphorien Military Cemetery. 65 of the burials are unidentified but special memorials commemorate five casualties believed to be buried among them, and four casualties buried in Obourg Churchyard whose graves could not be found. The cemetery also contains 284 German war graves, marked by headstones in a variety of different styles.

I'd never been to a war cemetery before and I can't really describe the feelings I had when I was there. I was quite shocked to see so many graves (and seriously, there was so many) which had the same date: 23rd August 1914. It was also sad to see so many unnamed soldiers who are 'lost' forever.

Backblipped on 16th February 2012.