Zillebeke
Encyclopedia
Zillebeke is a village in the Flemish
province of West-Vlaanderen in Belgium. The former municipality is now part of Ypres
.
, which had in 1740 acquired the Ancien Régime estate of Zillebeke.
In World War I
, like other parts of Ypres, it was the site of Allied
heroism, with Victoria Cross
es being won by two soldiers in the area, John Henry Stephen Dimmer
and John Franks Vallentin
, both in 1914. The village was mentioned in the Wipers Times
, the most well-known of the trench magazines that were published by soldiers fighting on the front lines of the Great War
.
The 1st Battalion of The Irish Guards
suffered huge casualties defending the village and playing a major part in stopping the German breakthrough to the Channel Ports
between 1st and 11th November 1914 as part of the First Battle of Ypres
.
Located in or close to Zillebeke are the Hill 62 Memorial
, the Sanctuary Wood Museum Hill 62
, the Sanctuary Wood Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery and the Zillebeke Churchyard Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery
.
The nearby villages of Hollebeke
and Voormezele were merged into Zillebeke in 1970. In 1976, the enlarged Zillebeke was merged into Ieper city.
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
province of West-Vlaanderen in Belgium. The former municipality is now part of Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
.
History
On March 3, 1914 the then municipality was granted the arms are those of the last Lords of Zillebeke, the Canton family, Viscounts of WinnezeeleWinnezeele
Winnezeele is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*...
, which had in 1740 acquired the Ancien Régime estate of Zillebeke.
In World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, like other parts of Ypres, it was the site of Allied
Allies of World War I
The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...
heroism, with Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
es being won by two soldiers in the area, John Henry Stephen Dimmer
John Henry Stephen Dimmer
Lieutenant Colonel John Henry Stephen Dimmer VC MC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.Born on 9 October 1883, Dimmer was 31 years old, married, and a...
and John Franks Vallentin
John Franks Vallentin
John Franks Vallentin VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, both in 1914. The village was mentioned in the Wipers Times
Wipers Times
The Wipers Times was a trench magazine that was published by soldiers fighting on the front lines of the First World War.It was produced by English soldiers from the 12th Battalion Sherwood Foresters , 24th Division British Armies in France.In early 1916, the 12th Battalion was stationed in the...
, the most well-known of the trench magazines that were published by soldiers fighting on the front lines of the Great War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
The 1st Battalion of The Irish Guards
Irish Guards
The Irish Guards , part of the Guards Division, is a Foot Guards regiment of the British Army.Along with the Royal Irish Regiment, it is one of the two Irish regiments remaining in the British Army. The Irish Guards recruit in Northern Ireland and the Irish neighbourhoods of major British cities...
suffered huge casualties defending the village and playing a major part in stopping the German breakthrough to the Channel Ports
Channel Ports
The Channel Ports are seaports in southern England and the facing continent, which allow for short crossings of the English Channel. There is no formal definition, but there is a general understanding of the term. Some ferry companies divide their routes into "short" and "long" crossings...
between 1st and 11th November 1914 as part of the First Battle of Ypres
First Battle of Ypres
The First Battle of Ypres, also called the First Battle of Flanders , was a First World War battle fought for the strategic town of Ypres in western Belgium...
.
Located in or close to Zillebeke are the Hill 62 Memorial
Hill 62 Memorial
The Canadian Hill 62 Memorial is a war memorial that commemorates the actions of the Canadian Corps in defending the southern stretches of the Ypres Salient between April and August 1916 including actions in battle at the St. Eloi Craters, Hill 62, Mount Sorrel and Sanctuary Wood...
, the Sanctuary Wood Museum Hill 62
Sanctuary Wood Museum Hill 62
The Sanctuary Wood Museum Hill 62, east of Ypres, Belgium is located in the neighborhood of the Canadian Hill 62 Memorial and the Sanctuary Wood Cemetery...
, the Sanctuary Wood Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery and the Zillebeke Churchyard Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery
Zillebeke Churchyard Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery
Zillebeke Churchyard Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial ground for the dead of the First World War located near Ypres in Belgium on the Western Front....
.
The nearby villages of Hollebeke
Hollebeke
Hollebeke is a Flemish village in the Belgian province of West Vlaanderen, now part of Ypres city.-History:In World War I, it was the site of allied heroism that won Khudadad Khan the first Victoria Cross ever awarded to a native Indian.In 1970 it was incorporated in Zillebeke, which in turn...
and Voormezele were merged into Zillebeke in 1970. In 1976, the enlarged Zillebeke was merged into Ieper city.