The Ypres Salient: Hell on Earth - Episode 1 (The Town) 

Wow, the quality of this video blew me away. As a Belgian and a history nerd, I really appreciate this video! Thank you so much for highlighting this important piece of history!! Well done Chris!

My Grandfather fought in the Battle of Passchendaele (The Third Battle of Ypres) as an 18 year old. He suffered some shrapnel/bullet wounds and was sent home to Edinburgh. I never had the chance to meet him (him being born in 1898 and me 80 years afterwards) due to him and my father being mid-forties when they had children. I remember being fascinated as a child by his bayonet that he gave to my father (not realising that he might of had to use to for his survival and my existence).

Inside the church and seeing all the memorials. Really hits the emotions and brings the reminder of the terrible cost of war.

As a Belgian and someone who also lives in Ypres i couldn't thank VTH enough for this vid. Not only does his vid feel genuine, it kinda shows how this city suffered in the past, and yet managed to rebuild and move on while not forgetting its history. I really enjoyed it and i'm looking to the upcoming parts. :)

Beautifully respectful and highly educational. I visited Ypres in 2008 whilst in basic training. The battlefield tour is something I’ll never forget. 🇬🇧 ‘Lest we forget.’

As much as I enjoy the reaction videos, your videos on location for me are your best work. Thank you for making these.

Great video Chris, for the past 10 years I’ve been on/off researching my great grandfather who was in the 4th Australian Division and I’m lead to believe that he was at the 3rd Battle of Ypres which could’ve potentially been where he lost his eye

Thank you for bringing all these stories in to the light, ww1 is such an overlooked war.

Born 25 miles from Ypres. The most sacred place in my country and in my heart. Go there and touch the names on the wall of Menin Gate with your hand ...

It’s crazy to think I’ll be 23 this year. And I’m safe and sound because of the bravery of these soldiers. Well safe for now. I’m in the Air Force ROTC and want to be a pilot when I graduate.

I first learned of Ypres was in High School. As a Canadian kid in the 70's and early 80's, we didn't get exposed to learning about WW1 until history in HS. And the first battle I learned about was the 1915 gas attacks at Ypres on the Canadian Corps, who held the line through the Chlorine attacks. I have gone down the rabbit hole and done much reading of WW1 and my country's coming of age in fighting in the Great War

My grandfather fought there and was wounded at Passchendaele. He told me about the 1914 Christmas truce but never spoke of the colleagues whom he lost in battle. However, in the late 1960's he returned to Ypres with grandma to say a final farewell to his "old friends" not long before he passed and joined them.

I was there about three years ago, and was incredibly moved by the whole experience at Menin Gate and the rest of the sites in and around the city and the Flanders region as a whole. I was fortunate enough to have witnessed the famous Last Call ceremony at Menin Gate and was very nearly driven to tears...something I have no shame in admitting.

I was lucky enough to visit Ypres on a high school history trip. I will never forget standing at the Menin gate and listening to the Last Post. So happy to see you doing a series on this subject.

John Hewitt Sutton Moxly, born 27th December, 1891, was the elder son of the Reverend JHS Moxly, of 8, Stopford Road, St Helier, Jersey. Entering in 1906, he gained the King’s Gold Medal for Classics in 1909, the King’s History Prize in 1910, and in the latter year went up to Oxford with a Channel Islands Scholarship at Pembroke College. He graduated in 1914 with a Second in Classical Moderations and Litterae Humaniores. On the outbreak of war, he offered his services and was given a commission in the 4th Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment. For a time, he was training at Dovercourt, but he was impatient to get to the front and his desire was realised on New Year’s Day, 1915. He saw fighting immediately and was in many tight corners. Early in March, 1915 he was shot through the heart while lifting a wire entanglement over the parapet thirty yards from the German lines. His Commanding Officer wrote: “It was the death of a brave and devoted gentleman. I have only known him for a little over a month, but a month under these conditions is equal to a lifetime. He has always been the same, resourceful, alert, loved by officers and men. As good an officer as one could ever wish to meet. I was sitting with him in a shelter when news came of the next company losing their captain and having their parapet blown to pieces. I went up myself, and had to send for your son to superintend the work when I left. We buried him to-day on the ramparts of Ypres.”

So beautiful yet so humble a place. The church really does encompass the emotion of the loss. Wonderful video, looking forward to the rest.

Just found your Blackadder reaction video and this is a fantastic video. Visited Ypres amongst other places on a battlefield tour while in school and it remains one of the most sombering experiences. Tyne Cott, the Menin Gate with the last post. Incredible place commemorating a terrible history. Looking at the Menin gate with my schoolfriends, and without exception being able to find someone (most often many) with the same surname really brought it home. Mostly not grandparents, just sharing a name, but sometimes so.

Seeing the historic pictures in between your vlog gives such a huge contrast. Really illustrates how gruesome warfare can be.

The Menin gate is very much an awe inspiring monument. As a Belgian, thanks for all amazing content you're making!

Wonderful, well presented video…👏😊 Visiting Ypres in April so nice to have a preview of what to look out for. Educational & moving - particularly in St.Georges church. Really well done! Thanks for the tour 🙂👍

This is much better than a TV documentary because it's so much more personal and detailed and gives a real sense of visiting these places. I visited Ypres on a school trip years ago, exactly how I remember it. Great work!

as a belgian visiting the menin gate many times in my life it still always makes me feel so small surounded by those seemingly endless names carved on the walls and even when driving to yper you see dozens up on dozens of war cemeteries be they american, canadian, german or british, they really give you a scale as to how many people died in that small part of the world, in that corner of belgium that was never taken by the germans in ww1 there is so much preserved history and monuments from that time. for example the dodengang in diksmuide where they preserved the trenches running along side the yser river. just to think that countless people died and had to basically live in those threnches really gives me chills.

I've been to Ypres twice. It is such a interesting yet poignant place. Langemark cemetary in Poekapelle just north of Ypres was quite the experience.. hard to describe the feeling. Might go for a third time there soon.

I had a family member that served and died during the 2nd battle of ypres specifically on the 25th april 1915 fighting with the 1st battalion the welch regiment and buried at the new irish farm cemetery

Past few months I have been on a WW1 research binge. I just want to know everything about it. This series could not have came at a better time. Thank you Chris!

The original videos are getting better and better. The professional look and feel has come a long way and I do hope more VTH viewers give them a chance! Good luck and KEEP GOING!!

It's amazing that you launch a video when I was there not long ago on the 11/11. The day remembers the final day of the great war with a last post on the 11th hour. It was the end of the great war where so many lives where lost and the perfect day to visit Ieper. As a Belgian and history man I love the fact that you are visiting these sites and creating this series about it. It's truly remarkable what those men did and had to go through and the town of Ieper and the fields around it will keep reminding us about the hell that war is. BTW go visit West-Vleteren for some of the most exclusive beer in Belgium (if you like to drink good beer ofcourse.) Enjoy your time here and keep up these amazing videos !

Cant wait for the rest of this series. Already breathtaking on just the first episode.

I'm so glad you are doing this series, my great great grandfather fell at the second battle of Ypres, this will be very interesting

Had a great grandfather who fought in passchendale. To his dying day he only spoke about it once to any family

Another point about the mud was that it was so bacteria laden due to farming. When it got into an open wound it would cause infection.

Was looking forward to this series. Thanks Chris.

These videos are beautiful as always. I'm hoping to do some traveling in 2023. But as always very well made 👌 keep up the great work Chris 👍

i'm loving your travel series. such powerful sites to witness. the background music is perfect for the scenery

Thank-you for the one of the best historical programs on RU-vid. I'm going to Flanders in May in order to make my own videos about WWI and you have been the best tutor and guide possible.

This is one of the most moving poinent introductions to some of the terrible experiences of war and what man can do to man in the name of Nationalism.

Please keep doing these!!! This is amazing work! You’re the best history channel on RU-vid

Fantastic first video in the series. Looking forward to the rest!

i'll definitely be joining you on this journey to learn more about ypres. this episode alone has painted a *far* better picture of the life of a soldier in combat on the western front for me.

As usual, top notch stuff Chris. Looking forward to this series!

Thanks so much for the effort & travelling for us. This is my first original content video, and I am here to explore more.

Excellent video with its storytelling, cinematography and editing. This is professional quality.

These videos you do on WWI battlefields and cemeteries always make me tear up.

Fantastic content about an absolutely tragic period of time. Thank you

Long time fan here . Love your channel . Thank you brining history to life .

Wow! This looks good! I'm a Brit, walked the battlefields quite a few times. Looking forward to this whole series. Thanks!

Thank you. I’ve seen hundreds of videos about Ieper during both World Wars, but you are the first to get the cities name right

That last tombstone quote really got me. Can’t imagine living in a time with so many casualties because of war. Great video!

Not going to lie, I watch your reactions and typically don’t watch original content pieces, no particular reason, just never had. I also don’t comment on things usually, but it has to be said - This was AMAZING in quality and content. Now I need to go back and watch everything I’ve missed out on.

My GF fought there with the US 30th Infantry Division. Cannot imagine what he went through and so much less than what the earlier battles were. On his discharge papers it names the battles and calls out Ypres Salient among others .

Well done Chris, you defintely deserve every view and subscribe you get and more. I Hope the best for you and your loved ones in the new year, and I look forward to enjoying your great work in the future. Greetings from Denmark

Excellent video, looking forward to the rest of the series

What a fascinating video! Look forward to the series!

My great granduncle fought at Ypres, the Somme and was killed in the assault on Vimy Ridge.

Nice vid Chris! Excited to watch the rest of this series

Great video. I’ve been researching my Grandfather who was an Old Contemptible with the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles as part of the BEF from the outset of WW1. Trying to understand all the Battles of Ypres is difficult because there are so many different strands to pull together so thank you for explaining it so clearly here and in your other videos. He was wounded at the Aisne but recovered, rejoined his Btn & made it through to the end of the war. Sadly so many others didn’t.

What a superb tribute. Thank you.

Hi, Chris thanks for that, so sad, you convey the mood brilliantly, looking forward to the rest.

Your series is absolutely awesome. It's very descriptive and educational yet emotional and respectful. Class.

Was just sitting here thinking as I was watching your video if it wasn't for you talking about this town I'd never probably ever know about these battles. For a guy that likes history and WW1 you and all those like you are awesome! Thanks for what you do

I was there this year. Thank you for letting me see it again :-)

Thank you for this tremendous educational video.. vloging through history.. I was looking for video exactly like yours it will help me a lot for my upcoming film

The quality of these videos are amazing!

Great job Chris. I struggle to watch these and this is probably the first one I've watched of yours because ww1 more than any other war brings me to tears.

Amazing work!

Fantastic video mate, we shall remember them

Excellent video- I was able to visit Ypres spring 2019. Looking forward to the series.

Amazing video! Brings a sense of ‘spirit’ to a place…not just a battle(s) or names of Generals or troop unit movements….but a consciousness for a place if such a thing can be. Thank you and look forward to more.

Thank you for making these. Amazing quality. I hope I can make it there one day.

I love this stuff man learned a ton! Hope others will watch this

Been anticipating this video for a while and was not let down by the quality. CAN NOT WAIT for the rest of the series. These on-site videos are your best work!!

Such a nice video and way to honor their memory by sharing their stories. Can’t wait for the rest of the series

I'm so excited for the rest of this series. I can't wait for the chance to visit this city as well as many other hollowed grounds from the First and Second World Wars.

I've been watching some of your recent videos, and have been mocking your pronunciation of Ypres. But now that I have actually seen this, I had to eat my words and take it back. I didn't realize that was the local pronunciation.

Great grandfather fought in the first battle of Ypres.. he was a South Wales Borderer held up in the chalet.

Loved the vid, thanks for going into this, look forward to future vids.

Loving this WWI series!

Great job, your original content is just getting better and better, really upping your game. Looking forward to the rest of this series

"in grateful south irish memory horse who of the gave the officers eir lives N.C.Os 1914-18 and other erected by ranks of the their comrades" such poetry, so beautiful. seriously though, an excellent piece about one of the more overlooked locations of WWI, well done!

This is an amazing video Chris. I can't wait to see the rest of the series

Wow Chris, beautiful video. I loved the pictures you included and all the footage of St. George’s chapel. Your original videos have always been great but you really stepped it up for this one. I’m really enjoying learning more about the Great War. Interesting story in my family, my great great grandfather fought in the war in France and he joined because his brother lied about his age to enlist (he was 16) and didn’t tell his parents before he left. Their father told my great great grandfather that he needed to “go take care of his brother” and so he enlisted to do that. They were from Somerset Texas.

Been a huge fan of this channel for a long time, and your original content only gets better and better! Love it!

I visited Ypres in September 2009 with my Dad, James Price, and his regiment, The Royal Engineers. It was a deeply moving trip.

Great video, Paschendale by Iron Maiden is one of my favorites.

Just recently found your channel. Have to say I'm very impressed. Id like to recommend watching 20th century battlefields I love that show. I think you'd like it if you have not seen it.

Look forward to the series. It's so sad, the utter destruction and loss of sons, fathers, friends, a generation of youth. Sadly, I fear we took too few lessons from this war, as informed by later wars and current events. Maybe Churchill was right and Ypres should have remained as it was, a reminder of the terrible waste and cost of all out war.

Excellent video as always! Thank you for the work you put into these videos.

This might be some of my favorite content I've seen on YT. Very awesome. Can't wait for the rest of the series! I've also gotta go back and check out the other videos like this that you've done!

Tremendous work, Chris

Great job Chris. Can't wait for more.

I'm loving this new original content, great work as always. If you're back in the Belgium, Netherlands, Northern Germany area again it would be cool to have a meetup.

Great starting video to this video series Chris.

Excellent Video! Thank you!!!

Fascinating! Thanks from the USA.

Excellent video. Thank you.

I really enjoyed and appreciated this start off of the new series.

The post war rebuild of Ypres is a credit to the municipal leaders who are responsible. To see it now, it is staggering to know that it was flattened not so long ago.

This was so well done! Really beautiful and I'm learning so much at the same time. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

Outstanding, simply outstanding! Well edited which makes it entertaining, and because of how well you explain and tell the stories which happend it's also very informative! Can't wait for the next episodes!

Just found you here and appreciate all your efforts. The Kings Own Scottish Borderers 2nd Battalion, would like to see anything about those lads on the western front. My grandfather enlisted to them in January 1915 and he shared his ww1 experiences with me when I was 5/6 years old, too young to remember it all, but very fortunate to hear these stories and accounting by my much loved and respected grandfather still with his thick Scottish accent.I remember most all the names and battles he was in and stories of his bullet and shrapnel scars he had. Would love to find some war photos of him, anyone know about the the best way to go about doing that?