Remembrance Day Wreaths at Ypres

Allen Motor Group Lay Remembrance Day Wreath in Ypres

For Remembrance Day 2023, one of our skilled technicians, Kai Brown, mentioned an opportunity to lay a wreath on behalf of Allen Motor Group at the parade in Ypres, Belgium, on 11th November. Naturally, the company wanted to pay their respects in tribute to those who should never be forgotten.

The annual Remembrance ceremony in Ypres this year commemorated the 105th anniversary of the Armistice of 11 November 1918 that ended fighting on land, sea, and air in World War I.
Kai Brown Laid a Wreath in Ypres on Remembrance Day
Allen Motor Group's wreath to be laid in Ypres on Remembrance Day

The parade passed through the centre of Ypres leading to the Menin Gate (a war memorial in dedicated to British & Commonwealth soldiers killed in the Ypres Salient of World War I and whose graves are unknown) where every person who was laying a wreath carried a handful of poppy petals.

In this parade there is usually a member of the Belgian royal family (sometimes a British royal will attend) alongside other diplomats.

Menin Gate at Ypres on Remembrance Day
Buglers in Ypres on Remembrance Day

They then commenced the ceremony of Remembrance, which included the Last Post being played by buglers and many customary quotes, such as ‘at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them’. Other music was also played – there is always a Scotsman playing his bagpipes and Sikhs playing their drums, plus usually the police and fire service bands will play.

Then at 11am on the dot the Last Post was played again and from the top of the Menin Gate poppy petals fell through holes at the top. Each petal represented someone who died in the war. Following this and the two minutes of silence, the wreath laying began. The ceremony then drew to a close and all the bands filed out playing their music.


Allen Motor Group would like to thank all those involved, including Kai, for this opportunity to pay our respects.