Tyne Cot Cemetery, near Passendaele

July 31 marked the 100th Anniversary of the start of the Battle of Passchendaele. Officially known as the Third Battle of Ypres, it was one of the bloodiest battles of World War One. In less than three months of fighting, more than 500,000 Allied and German soldiers were killed or wounded.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (aka William and Kate) joined Prime Minister Theresa May, and Belgian King Philippe in commemorating those who lost their lives in the battle. Their itinerary included a visit to Tyne Cot Cemetery, where almost 12,000 British soldiers are buried, and laying a wreath at the Menin Gate in Ypres, inscribed with the names of more than 50,000 soldiers whose remains were never found.

Every evening at the Menin Gate local buglers play Last Post to honor the dead, a tradition they have kept faithfully since the end of the war.

Tags: Passchendaele, World War I, Ypres