Veterans Support Group Ballymena leads moving tribute at Menin Gate, Belgium

Independent Ballymena councillor and VSGB chairman Lawrie Philpott with local veterans pictured before the ceremony at the Menin Gate.

This evening, Friday 5 September, veterans from Ballymena have paid a powerful tribute to fallen soldiers at one of the most important First World War memorials in Europe.

The Veterans Support Group Ballymena (VSGB), made up of more than 30 members, led the commemorative service at the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium, during their battlefield tour through France and Belgium.

Independent Ballymena councillor and VSGB chairman Lawrie Philpott led the delegation in the ceremony, which drew hundreds of spectators to the iconic memorial.

Local veteran and VSGB piper Duane Johnston was given the honour of playing the pipes during the event, providing a poignant soundtrack to the solemn occasion.

Cllr Lawrie Philpott at the Menin Gate.

Speaking before the ceremony, Cllr Philpott said:

“This is a very special and deeply moving occasion for all of us. It is important that we continue to remember those who gave their lives, and the Menin Gate stands as a powerful reminder of the scale of loss endured.

“It is a very special honour for us to lead this ceremony, while representing Ballymena, as we remember those who gave their all.”

A memorial of global significance

The Menin Gate, unveiled in 1927, is dedicated to more than 54,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers who died in the Ypres Salient during the First World War and have no known grave.

Crowds gathering on Friday night for the poignant ceremony at the Menin Gate

Its vast walls bear the names of men from across the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Canada, India, and South Africa who fought and died in some of the war’s most brutal battles.

The memorial stands on the route soldiers once marched as they made their way to the front lines. Since 1928, the Last Post ceremony has been held beneath its arches every evening at 8pm — a tradition interrupted only during the Second World War.

The nightly tribute, performed by buglers of the local fire brigade, has become one of the most enduring acts of remembrance in the world.

Ballymena veteran and VSGB piper Duane Johnston

For the Ballymena veterans, taking part in the ceremony was an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices of a generation.

Many soldiers from Northern Ireland fought and died in the Ypres Salient, including men from the 36th (Ulster) Division, which suffered devastating losses at the Somme and across Flanders.

By leading the service, the Veterans Support Group Ballymena ensured that the memory of those who never returned continues to be honoured, linking the past to the present through acts of remembrance.