Info: In Flanders Fields Museum

During this early morning walk (10 km) we follow in the footsteps of William Redmond from the mine crater of Wijtschate, via Lindenhoek over the Kemmelberg to Redmond's grave in Loker. We gather at 3:15 am at the Kerkplein in Loker. Departure by bus to Wijtschate at 3.30 am and start of the walk at one of the mine craters at 4.10 am (Zero hour on 7 June 1917, then 3.10 am).  The walk is guided by Piet Chielens, the musical accompaniment is provided by Luc Cuppens and Dries Chaerle.

Major W.H.K. Redmond is buried under a carved cross within a box delineated by ironstone. The cross bears the following inscriptions: "Major W.H.K. Redmond 6th Batt. Royal Irish Rgt Killed in Action" "7-6-1917", "R.I.P.". Major William Redmond, Member of Parliament Ireland 1914.

William Redmond becomes Captain, later Major, of the Sixth Battalion Royal Irish Regiment. He also remains active in the British Parliament. In his last impressive intervention at Westminster, he calls on the Irish to take an example from the frontline cooperation between the mainly Protestant 36th Ulster Division and the mainly Catholic 16th Irish Division.

During the mine battle of 7 June 1917, he was wounded by shrapnel during the liberation of Wijtschate near the Maedelstede Farm. A former political opponent, Private John Meeke, rushes to the rescue. He takes the 56-year-old MP on his shoulders and tries to evacuate him. In this attempt he is hit himself but still succeeds in having the major taken away by colleagues. Meeke will later receive the Military Medal for this action. Shortly afterwards, William Redmond dies in an aid station in Dranouter. He is buried in the cloister garden of Loker. The Irish nationalist, who increasingly advocated reconciliation towards the end of his life, still lies in a lonely grave.