It was on 12 February 1916 that The Wipers Times was first borne out of a novel idea by two officers from the 12th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment); Editor, Captain Fred Roberts and sub-editor Lieutenant Jack Pearson. Using a discarded printing press that their platoon found among the rubble in Ypres, and with their Sergeant (Harris), a printer before the war, the officers decided to create and produce the unique trench newspaper. They did this amidst war, hostility and devastating combat, naming it “Wipers”, which was frequently substituted by British soldiers to refer to the city of Ypres in Flanders, Belgium during World War One. It quickly established a cult following and reputation for opinion, news and humour via inspirational poetry, witty prose and often sarcastic stories, mocking the military and its superiors. Now, 100 years later, VISITFLANDERS has produced a series of special film stories to commemorate this celebrated publication.

The series of short films introduced by Ian Hislop, Editor of Private Eye include Capt. Roberts' grandson, Nick, telling the story of The Wipers Times and in each film, an extract from one of the editions of the newspaper is read; by Nick, by veterans of the Sherwood Foresters Regiment, by serving soldiers from the Mercian Regiment - the successor to the Sherwood Foresters, by schoolboy Sam Whiting of Carshalton Boys Sports College and by military historian Peter Doyle.

Commenting on The Wipers Times, Ian Hislop, says 'The thing that is brilliant about The Wipers Times is that they are laughing in the face of death... you read The Wipers Times and they are refusing, literally refusing to lose their sense of humour. ( Part 3 Wipers Times commemorative film series).

Between 1916 and 1918, a total of 23 editions of the newspaper were published. Despite other publications existing at the time, it was The Wipers Times that stood out as the only newspaper continually produced on the Front Line, by officers and men who were also fighting side by side in some of the fiercest battles in Flanders Fields and the Western Front. The paper was produced under different names dependent on where the Sherwood Foresters were stationed. All the editions of the newspaper have been produced as part of compilations, since the end of the war. It was also recently celebrated in the 2013 BBC drama, “The Wipers Times”, produced by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, starring Michael Palin.

In its first edition, The Wipers Times was produced in the relative safety of Ypres' casemates, created by the Frenchman, Vauban. It provided a protected haven away from its heavily bombarded outside environment. At the time, the casemates were used to house accommodation, dressing stations and military headquarters. Such were the strength of their fortifications that the casemates still exist today, now housing the Kazematten brewery.It's location is just a stone's throw from the Menin Gate, where the Last Post is performed every night at 8 p.m. and frequented by thousands of tourists, who continue to pay homage to the fallen.

11 February 2016

-Ends-

Notes to Editors:

• • Release date for Part 1 of this 10 part series is Friday 12th February 2016. The films can watched on You Tube, Facebook and Twitter :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvTekhvdCbQ

https://en-gb.facebook.com/FlandersFields1418/

https://twitter.com/flandersww1

• • The 12th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment):  Capt. Fred Roberts and Lieutenant Jack Pearson were part of the 12th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), and arrived in Ypres in early 1916.  They were a Pioneer battalion, whose main work in Ypres was to keep the trenches maintained. Pioneers were often experienced as miners, road men or skilled trades such as carpenters, bricklayers and masons.

• • Brewery: In 2013, the casemate became a Brewery, Kazematten, (www.kazematten.be) producing a beer commemorating The Wipers Times. The brewery is open every Saturday afternoon to the public from 3-5pm or private tours in English can be booked for 15+ during the week. The casemates stands adjacent to the Menin Gate, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's memorial to the missing, where the Last Post has been played daily, at 8pm, every day since 1928 (apart from WW2).

• • Walk in the Footsteps of Captain Roberts :  A new tour developed by local guide Simon Louagie, will follow the footsteps of Captain Roberts and Lieutenant Pearson, exploring the sites frequented by the Sherwood Foresters. The tour (www.simonlouagie.wordpress.com/wiperstimes ) includes a walk through Ypres centre, visits to the ramparts, the battlefield sector of Hooge and Hooge Crater Museum and the final resting places of Sherwood Foresters in local cemeteries.

• • The readers from the Sherwood Foresters and Mercian Regiments include soldiers who have seen significant tours of duty including Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, and Bosnia.

VISITFLANDERS - Situated in the Flemish speaking North of Belgium, Flanders Fields played an important role in the Great War. There are many intriguing and thought provoking sites in the areas around Ypres and West Flanders to visit. As well as refurbishments to museums, improvements and new visitor centres, the area of Flanders Fields will be in the spotlight with a number of newly created events and exhibitions taking place until 2018.

For more information see  www.flandersfields1418.com/wiperstimes

'Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlandersFields1418 

'Follow' on Twitter: @flandersww1, Hashtag #FF1418

More information and images are available from VISITFLANDERS, Press Manager Anita Rampall, anita.rampall@visitflanders.com