Ypres 1914 is a sketch that appears in "Spam," the twenty-fifth episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus.
Synopsis[]
A narrator (Michael Palin) reads a monologue on the screen. Another voice (John Cleese) tells him to start again, and the narrator says "in 1915, the balance of power lay in ruins."
It cuts to a set in a 1914 trench where Australian soldier, Jenkins, (Eric Idle) plays the harmonica. The sergeant (Palin) asks him what he'll do when he gets home and Jenkins says he'll probably look after his mum. He starts to tell the story of his wife but the director comes into the set and tells anyone who isn't in the scene to leave. Various people in costume leave.
Jenkins begins to play the harmonica again and a caption 'KNICKERS 1914' appears on screen and the director cuts. He demands to know who changed the caption and it changes back to 'YPRES 1914'. Jenkins starts to play his accordion again and the director ushers out a spaceman who is lurking behind a wall. He tells everyone to take a break and cues camera three. Camera three captures Che Guevara and Marx from the previous sketch making out on the table. The director apologies and cues camera four.