| The
battles of the Yser river began at the very beginning
of the First World War. In October 1914 the headlong
German invasion was stopped by the small Belgian
army using the river Yser and the railway line between
the towns of Dixmuide and Nieuwpoort on the Channel
coast.
Although
Dixmuide itself fell to the Germans, the Belgians
flooded the land by opening the sluice gates at
Nieupoort and apart from a small incursion at Tervate,
stopped by a gallant bayonet charge, the Germans
never crossed the river.
On
the edge of the town is the International Peace
Centre of the tall Ijzer Tower with its memorials
and now splendid museum which has excellent
dioramas and tells without bias the story of the
difficulties between the French and Flemish elements
of the Belgian forces.
Alongside
the Yser are the preserved Trenches of Death with
a small reception building manned by the Belgian
army.
The
book describes a tour of just over 5 hours with
photographs, timings and detailed information. |
