Hell Fire Corner

This crossroads was regarded as the most dangerous place on earth between 1914 and 1918. It was a crucial point in the Allied line of communications to the front. Almost every combat unit and supply team had to pass this spot, under the watchful eyes of the Germans on the high ground at Hill 60 and Hill 62. As a result, the German guns had Hellfire Corner ranged to the inch, and it was constantly under heavy and accurate shellfire.

Anything that passed this crossroads was a potential target for the German artillery. To hinder their observation, large canvas screens were erected to conceal the corner from prying enemy eyes. Sometimes with success, sometimes not...

It is not known who gave Hellfire Corner its all too appropriate name, but by 1915 there was a much photographed name board to warn people of the danger they were approaching. It was long thought that this board was lost, but it reappeared in 1996. The sign was 'liberated ' from Ieper at the end of the war by Lieutenant William Storie, who took it home to his native Scotland, where he displayed it for a time in the window of a Edinburgh shop. Followng its rediscovery in a warehouse several decades later, it was donated to the National Army Museum in London.

At the present day crossroads - now a large roundabout - there is a demarcation stone, indicated the furthest point of German advance in Belgium, which they achieved during their spring offensive of 1918.

Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden