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Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Belgium: Saint-Symphorien military cemetery in Mons

Today I got five postcards: two from Belgium, my first card from Colombia, one from Germany and one from Australia.

One of the cards from Belgium shows the Saint-Symphorien military cemetery in Mons. Mons is the capital of the Belgian province Hainaut. Since 1967 houses Mons NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. Mons is the European Capital of Culture in 2015.
The Battle of Mons took place from 23rd to 24th August 1914 near Mons and was fought between British and German forces. The battle was the first major activity of the British army. The battle ended with a retreat of the British forces.
The Saint-Symphorien military cemetery was laid out by the German troops after the Battle of Mons. Today it is the last resting place of 284 German and 229 Commonwealth soldiers, including the first and the last Commonwealth soldier killed in World War I. 

Update: As one of the Funerary and memory sites of the First World War (Western Front) in Belgium and France this site is since 2023 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.


The card was sent from the Postcrossing Meet-up in Mons.
With a great related stamp:
Centenary of World War I (from set of five) (issued 19-03-2015)
German forces invaded Belgium at the beginning of World War I and occupied it until the end. The German troops committed various war crimes in Belgium. The Western Front was located in Belgium.


Thank You very much Hanko!

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