No . 132 The Trusty Servant he read it , he knew it had to happen and we set to work . This is the same Anthony who has just walked the 1000km in a mind-boggling 35 days , a true pilgrim who carried the letters of Gillespie with him the entire length .
We formalised as a charity in 2018 , right on the eve of the end of the centenary celebrations . The board includes two direct relatives of Gillespie , Tom Heap and Lal Mills , and every member of the board is intrinsic to how far we have reached . I am lucky to have them . So why does it matter ? With a century passed , was the world not done with remembrance ?
The lessons from the Great War and the effects on modern society can still be felt . But in a world with a renewed focus on mental health alongside physical health , a desire to connect with nature , and in which younger generations want to rediscover their ancestry , the Western Front Way is much more than a remembrance walk . We try to make remembrance current ; we hand the torch to the young in a way they can understand , and for them to interpret in their own way . By making remembrance active , a journey , and an experience for all the five senses , everyone that uses the pathway will come away with their own private experiences that will stay with them . We are here for all nations , for all ages , and for all creeds , to safeguard the fragile peace of the future with lessons from the past , just as Gillespie intended .
How can I take part ? We cross two nations , four regions , 11 departments and over 500 communes and villages . Some are still vanguards of remembrance ; others have seen a massive reduction in visitor numbers as veterans have died and the direct links to the past are severed . This has only been exacerbated by COVID-19 , and the Belgian and French tourist
The four flowers of remembrance
boards , the engines behind our success , have recognised the global appeal of the Western Front Way . It is affordable , easy to get to and creates a lasting impression on users , ensuring repeat visits .
Our logo , the four flowers of remembrance ( the poppy of the Commonwealth , the cornflower of France , the daisy of Belgium and the forget-me-not of Germany ), will guide you along the way . The Belgian section is marked and open : if you pack up your old kit bag tomorrow and arrive in the coastal town of Nieuwpoort , over 600 markers will accompany you all the way to the French border at Armentières . In France , we are installing larger , sustainably made marker discs on town halls , tourist offices , museums , and hotels .
The logo is recognised across the 1000km route . We are officially the largest commemorative project in the world . Our symbol stands for unity and for looking forward with a shared collective past . We have over 200 plaques up in France , and marking has begun on sections of walking path while we await permission to mark the entirety . Winchester College made a generous donation of one marker for each of the 517 pupils killed in the
Great War , and these are now being erected around Auchy-les-Mines , near where Gillespie himself was killed in action . Our website has maps that will show you the overall route , and which communes to go through . Whether you walk it for yourself , a relative , a friend , or one that never came home , we leave up to you .
What ’ s next ? In conjunction with AF3V , a French cycling organisation , the cycling route will be finalised and open in September 2022 . Broadcaster and relative of Gillespie , Tom Heap , will ride this as part of its inauguration , a global event with cyclists from every nation of the Commonwealth . The walking path will grow over time , much aided by the support of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and French partners .
This was never designed to be a British imposition or us telling people what to do . Since Brexit our project has become more sensitive , but also more needed . Untold sacrifices were made to reach peace over a century ago , so the very least we can do today is remind people to look back on what was given and then look forward together . We need to build enough support to ensure it happens and we can see it being used by people like you . I believe the greatest ideas are the simplest ones , ones that develop their own traction over time until they are unstoppable , not by force , but because they are the right thing to do .
I am certain Gillespie will be delighted to see it completed , as will the entire global remembrance community . It was a Winchester pupil who gave birth to this , and it is our great privilege to see it to its close .
www . thewesternfrontway . com
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