Zillebeke near Ypres in West-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium — Northwestern Europe
Hill 60
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, November 14, 2024
1. Hill 60 Marker
Hill 60
Hill 60 was a low ridgeline artificially turned into a hill' with the digging of a railway cutting alongside it. The position was significant to the forces in this area, as it offered a vantage point overlooking the surrounding countryside and trench lines.
This area was held variously by French, British and German forces.
The Germans captured Hill 60 on 5 May 1915, after a poison gas attack, and held it for more than two years. While British troops held the trench lines, British, Canadian and finally Australian tunnelling companies dug underneath Hill 60. Finally, before dawn on 7 June 1917, 19 mines were detonated along several kilometres of the German trench lines on Messines Ridge. It signalled the start of the Battle of Messines.
Hill 60 was on the left (northern) flank of the British Second Army's attack. The 1st Australian Tunnelling Company exploded two mines here. An officer described one of the explosions:
…suddenly the earth seemed to swell like a huge mound rising from the ground, and when it had reached breaking point cracks appeared from out of which rushed hissing gas and flame. Thesetongues of flame shot upwards and then seemed as if they would roll towards our lines and consume their creators. Pillars of cloud succeeded the pillars of fire and before these died away the most tremendous and probably the most perfect barrage of the war was laid down by the artillery. As the barrage opened the grey lines of men sprang into action and the attacking infantry marched along as if on parade.
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More than 650 Germans were killed by the mines at Hill 60. The British 23rd Division swept forward and captured the position. This success was repeated to the south where, in the aftermath of equally devastating mine detonations, British, Australian and New Zealand divisions stormed the rest of Messines Ridge. The battle continued for eight days, as German forces recovered from their initial shock and counter-attacked. However, in the fighting that followed, the Germans failed to retake the ridge. About 17,000 British Empire and 25,000 German troops were killed or wounded in this battle.
Despite this victory the British had to abandon Hill 60 in April the following year due to successful German attacks elsewhere along the front.
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, November 14, 2024
2. Hill 60 Marker
Hill 60 était une position précieuse qui offrait une vue surplombant la zone environnante. Elle fut tour a tour sous le contrôle des forces françaises, britanniques et allemandes. Elle fut entre les mains des Allemands pendant deux ans.
Pendant que les forces britanniques contrôlaient les lignes de tranchées, les troupes britanniques, canadiennes et australiennes creusaient des tunnels en dessous de Hill 60. Le 7 juin 1917, 19 mines explosèrent le long des lignes de tranchées allemandes à Messines Ridge, annonçant le début de la bataille de Messines.
Plus de 650 Allemands furent tués par les mines avant que la 23ème division britannique prit les forces allemandes d'assaut et s'empara de la position. Environ 17 000 troupes britanniques et 25 000 troupes allemandes furent tuées ou blessées au cours de la bataille qui s’ensuivit.
Les Britanniques abandonnèrent Hill 60 en avril 1918, suite à des attaques allemandes le long du front. La position fut reprise pour la dernière fois par les troupes britanniques le 28 septembre 1918
Hügel 60 war eine Strategisch wichtige Stellung, die einen günstigen Aussichtspunkt mit einem Überblick auf die umliegende Gegend bot. Zu verschiedenen Zeiten war er in den Händen der französischen, britischen und deutschen Streitkräfte, Seit über zwei Jahren befand ,er sich in deutschen Händen.
Während britische Truppen die Schützengräben hielten, gruben britische, kanadische - und dann auch australische Tunnelbau-Kompanien einen Tunnel unter Hügel 60. In der Morgendämmerung des 7. Juni 1917 wurden schließlich entlang der deutschen Schützengrabenstellungen auf dem Hügelzug von Messines 19 Minen detoniert, was den Anfang der Schlacht von Messines ankündigte.
Über 650 deutsche Soldaten wurden von den Minen getötet ehe die 23. britische Division vordrang und die Stellung einnahm. In der darauf folgenden Schlacht wurden etwa 17.000 Soldaten des Britischen Weltreichs und 25.000 deutsche Soldaten getötet oder verwundet.
Als Folge eines erfolgreichen deutschen Angriffs an einer anderen Stelle der Front gaben die Briten Hügel 60 im April 1918 auf. Am 28. September 1918 wurde er endgültig vor britischen Truppen zurückerobert.
Hill 60 was een waardevolle stelling, die een uitkijk bood over de omliggende streek. Ze werd op verschillende tijdstippen ingenomen door Franse, Britse en Duitse tropen. Ze was gedurende meer dan twee jaar in Duitse handen.
Terwijl Britse tropen de loopgraven bezetten, groeven Britse, Canadese en uiteindelijk Australische compagnieën tunnels onder Hill 60. Uiteindelijk werden, voor dageraad op 7 juni 1917, 19 mijnen tot ontploffing gebracht langsheen de Duitse loopgraven aan de Mesenboog. Dit betekende het startsein voor de Slag om Mesen.
Meer dan 650 Duitsers werden gedood door de mijnen vooraleer de Britse 23e Divisie doorstootte en de stelling innam. Ongeveer 17000 tropen van het Britse Rijk en 25000 Duitse manschappen verloren het leven of werden gewond in de daaropvolgende strijd.
De Britten verlieten Hill 60 in april 1918, te wijten aan succesvolle Duitse aanvallen elders langs het front. Hill 60 werd uiteindelijk door Britse tropen heroverd op 28 september 1918.
[Photo Captions:]
Top Left: A soldier (left) stands beside one of the craters blown on Hill 60 during British, Canadian and Australian mining operations in 1915-17.
Top Centre: Men of the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company excavating dug-outs 25 feet (4 metres) below the surface at another location on the Ypres Front , September 1917.
Top Right: Men of the 3rd Tunnelling Company excavating a chamber in tunnels close to Loos, France, January 1918.
Erected by Australian Goverment Department of Veterans Affairs.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World I. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1918.
Location. 50° 49.454′ N, 2° 55.689′ E. Marker is near Ypres, Vlaanderen (Flanders), in West-Vlaanderen. It is in Zillebeke. It is on Zwarteleenstraat west of Wervikstraat, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Zwarteleenstraat 50, Ypres, Vlaanderen 8902, Belgium. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Benelux Low Countries, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 1st Australian Tunneling Company (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named 1st Australian Tunneling Company (a few steps from this marker); In Memory of the 14th Light Division (a few steps from this marker); Pierre Marchand Lucien Olivier (within shouting distance of this marker); 15th Battalion Canadian Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); Mijnkrater Hill 60 (within shouting distance of this marker); Queen Victoria’s Rifles (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Hill 60 (about 150 meters away).
Credits. This page was last revised on February 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 13, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 128 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 13, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.
