In June 1917, members of the 45th Battalion, AIF fought in the Battle of Messines, south of Ypres in Belgium. Along with many others, these men were killed and were reported to have been buried in a potential mass grave near the road known as ‘Huns’ Walk’. The Burials Officer of the 4th Division, AIF who had been a surveyor prior to the war, recorded the location of these men. Based on reports and these records, the Australian Army’s Unrecovered War Casualties team travelled to Belgium to conduc

Soldiers walk in the crater left by one of the nineteen large mines blown beneath the Messines Ridge during the Battle of Messines, filmed from above the crater on 11 June 1917. Tunneling work beneath the Messines Ridge began in 1916. At zero hour - 3.10am on 7 June - 19 mines were detonated beneath the German positions in an explosion that killed or wounded thousands of German defenders. You can read more about the battle on our website: https://bit.ly/3YK9ZO9 Film: IWM 197 | Imperial War Museu

Messines Ridge: ‘Then and Now’ The Battle of Messines, fought on 7 June 1917 near Ypres, Belgium, was a major Allied offensive planned by General Herbert Plumer. British, Australian, and New Zealand forces aimed to seize the Messines Ridge — a vital German defensive stronghold. At dawn, 19 vast mines detonated beneath the German lines, shattering the ridge and heralding the assault. Supported by intense artillery fire and precise coordination, the New Zealand Division led the attack, capturing t

32K views · 326 reactions | The Battle of Messines saw soldiers from the mainly unionist 36th Ulster division - and mainly nationalist 16th Irish division deployed alongside each other for the first time in World War One. To remember all who died there a unique commemoration was held in Belgium today. Donna Traynor was at the Island of Ireland Peace Park for BBC Newsline. | BBC Newsline | Facebook

106K views · 960 reactions | The Battle of Messines began with 19 mines exploding beneath the German lines blasts so powerful they were heard in London. But the real war was fought in tunnels no wider than a coffin. | The War Room | Facebook