Published: 4 September 2026

Intro

The easiest way to learn about the little‑known American contribution to the Ypres Salient from Bruges is with Visit Flanders Fields, a private WWI battlefield tour that takes you to Kemmel Hill, Vierstraat and Waregem. While the Meuse‑Argonne was the main American sector, four U.S. divisions fought under British and French command in Flanders during the final months of 1918. Their late arrival, unfamiliar customs and heavy losses mean their story remains largely overlooked. This article traces their footsteps and honours the men who fought and fell on Belgian soil.

American divisions under British command

When the 27th and 30th U.S. National Guard divisions landed in Europe in June–July 1918 they were attached to the British Army. The 27th Division, composed mainly of New Yorkers, and the 30th Division, made up of Carolinians and Tennesseans, received their baptism of fire south of Ypres between the Comines railway and Kemmel during July 1918. For two months they held the front line, learning trenchcraft from veteran British units and enduring German artillery and gas. Their greatest test came in the Ypres‑Lys Offensive when they attacked towards the villages of Vierstraat and Wulverghem; casualties were high but their advance helped to pressure the German withdrawal. A memorial to the 27th and 30th divisions now stands near Vierstraat.

Late in October the 37th and 91st U.S. divisions were rushed to Flanders to reinforce a French corps between the Lys and Scheldt rivers. On 30 October they joined a final offensive toward Waregem. Fighting through hedged farmland in the Spitaalsbossen, the “Wild West” 91st Division captured Oudenaarde but suffered heavy losses. The Ohio‑based 37th Division crossed the Scheldt on 10 November and was preparing to attack again when news of the Armistice arrived. Their sacrifice is commemorated at monuments on Kemmel Hill and Oudenaarde.

Cemeteries and memorials

The American soldiers who died in Belgium were buried initially in battlefield cemeteries. After the war their remains were concentrated at the Flanders Field American Cemetery in Waregem. This 6.2‑acre site is framed by trees and contains 368 graves arranged around a central chapel. Marble inscriptions list the names of forty‑three missing servicemen. The cemetery sits just 44 miles from Bruges, making it an essential stop on any private tour. In Kemmel and Oudenaarde small monuments honour the divisions that fought there. The Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate remains a fitting place to remember the Americans alongside their British and Commonwealth comrades.

Following in their footsteps today

A private tour from Bruges can retrace this overlooked chapter. Visit Flanders Fields offers a day trip of around nine hours, starting at your hotel. You’ll travel to Kemmel Hill to see the 27th and 30th Division memorial, then head to Vierstraat where these divisions first faced fire. Continuing to Waregem, your guide will lead you through the peaceful rows of the Flanders Field American Cemetery and tell stories of individuals like Sergeant Joyce Kilmer, the poet killed near the Ourcq, and Private Jimmie Gresham from South Carolina, who died attacking Spitaalsbossen. There’s time for lunch in a local estaminet and flexibility to visit Poperinge’s Talbot House or the In Flanders Fields Museum for broader context.

Practical information

• Duration: About nine hours door to door.
• Pickup: Your private guide collects you from your accommodation in Bruges.
• Accessibility: The tour involves gentle walking over grass and paved paths.
• Season: Runs year‑round; summer and early autumn offer pleasant weather.
• Group size: Private tours ensure individual attention and flexibility.

Remembering America’s Flanders soldiers

Although fewer Americans fought in Belgium than in France, the sacrifices of those four divisions deserve to be known. Their brief but intense service helped tip the balance during the final offensives of 1918. By walking the Kemmel sector, visiting Waregem and hearing the stories of these young men, visitors gain a deeper appreciation of the global nature of the conflict and the enduring friendship between Belgium and the United States.

Ready to explore this hidden chapter of the Great War? Let our experts guide you from Bruges to the American battlefields of Flanders and bring their stories back to life.