The Liberation of Ypres in WWII

by Chris Lock BEM, Milena Kolaríková BEM

Overview

The 1st Polish Armoured Division liberated Ypres in 1944, aided by Resistance efforts, civilian sacrifices, and Czechoslovak officers' contributions.

Walk in the tank tracks and footsteps of Major General Stanisław Maczek and his 1st Polish Armoured Division (1PAD) soldiers who fought, fell or were wounded liberating the town of Ypres on 6th September 1944. Also revealed is the great support offered by local Resistance groups who supplied topographical assistance, information concerning enemy strong points and troop numbers, offered limited engagements, and finally assisted with the temporary gaoling of the many German prisoners of war. The book also commemorates those townsfolk including children who lost their lives over this period of short but intense fighting. Such was the cost of freedom for the beleaguered citizens of Ypres during WW2. Also remembered are those Czechoslovak officers attached to 1PAD from the Independent Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade Group commanded by Brigadier General Alois Liška, whose HQ was located at nearby Wormhout, France, in preparation for his own Battlegroup’s ‘Siege of Dunkirk’ deployment.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781036124960
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	07/10/2025
Series:	Then and Now
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.75(w) x 9.75(h) x (d)

About the Author

Chris Lock served in the Junior Leaders Regiment Royal Armoured Corps and 3rd Royal Tank Regiment. On conclusion of his military contract, Chris served with Avon Fire and Rescue Service for 27 years, mostly in the role of Crew Commander.

In 2006, Chris moved with his Czechoslovakia-born wife Milena Kolaříková to Ypres in Belgium, where they lived till 2018. Together they created a successful battlefield touring company Lest We Forget Battlefield Tours – Flanders. Chris founded the Tank Memorial Ypres Salient and initiated 'To Their Memory' commemorative plaque to the local WWII Resistance members, located on the wall of the Hotel Regina in Ypres. Together with Milena, they also organised annual remembrance ceremonies at the graves of the RAF airmen killed in action during the REF Operation Circus 157 on 5 May 1942.

Chris was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in 2023 as founder of the Tank Memorial Ypres Salient, the Tank Corps Garden of Remembrance, Belgium and his extensive remembrance work.

Milena, after meeting Chris in 2002, has taken keen interest in remembrance of the Allied fallen in both World Wars. Together with Chris, she is author of the book The House of the Broken Wings – Ypres, about the Resistance movement and evacuation of shot-down Allied airmen during WWII from Belgium across France and Spain back to the UK. In 2017, she founded the RAF F/Sgt Stacey Jones´ memorial located at Proven near Poperinge as well as the memorial plaque on behalf of Major General Alois Liška and his men of the Independent Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade Group liberating Dunkerque in May 1945, at the former CIABG HQ in Wormhout, France.

Milena is currently employed as adviser to the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic in Prague in matters concerning the Czechoslovak fallen.

In 2018, she was awarded the honorary British Empire Medal (BEM) – ´for services on behalf of soldiers of the (then) British Empire who fought or who were killed during World War One and are buried or commemorated in Belgium.’

Milena and Chris today live in semi-retirement in Cornwall. They share their lives with rescue greyhound L/Cpl Tilly, the official Mascot of the Tank Memorial Ypres Salient.

Milena, after meeting Chris in 2002, has taken keen interest in remembrance of the Allied fallen in both World Wars. Together with Chris, she is author of the book The House of the Broken Wings – Ypres, about the Resistance movement and evacuation of shot-down Allied airmen during WWII from Belgium across France and Spain back to the UK. In 2017, she founded the RAF F/Sgt Stacey Jones´ memorial located at Proven near Poperinge as well as the memorial plaque on behalf of Major General Alois Liška and his men of the Independent Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade Group liberating Dunkerque in May 1945, at the former CIABG HQ in Wormhout, France.

Milena is currently employed as adviser to the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic in Prague in matters concerning the Czechoslovak fallen.

In 2018, she was awarded the honorary British Empire Medal (BEM) – ´for services on behalf of soldiers of the (then) British Empire who fought or who were killed during World War One and are buried or commemorated in Belgium.’

Milena and Chris today live in semi-retirement in Cornwall. They share their lives with rescue greyhound L/Cpl Tilly, the official Mascot of the Tank Memorial Ypres Salient.

Chris Lock served in the Junior Leaders Regiment Royal Armoured Corps and 3rd Royal Tank Regiment. On conclusion of his military contract, Chris served with Avon Fire and Rescue Service for 27 years, mostly in the role of Crew Commander.

In 2006, Chris moved with his Czechoslovakia-born wife Milena Kolaříková to Ypres in Belgium, where they lived till 2018. Together they created a successful battlefield touring company Lest We Forget Battlefield Tours – Flanders. Chris founded the Tank Memorial Ypres Salient and initiated 'To Their Memory' commemorative plaque to the local WWII Resistance members, located on the wall of the Hotel Regina in Ypres. Together with Milena, they also organised annual remembrance ceremonies at the graves of the RAF airmen killed in action during the REF Operation Circus 157 on 5 May 1942.

Chris was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in 2023 as founder of the Tank Memorial Ypres Salient, the Tank Corps Garden of Remembrance, Belgium and his extensive remembrance work.