Somme 1916

[swindonseagull]

Presumably that is Vimy Ridge, Thiepval, very moving, some perspective to numbers that died in truly awful conditions.

Have also visited graves at Casino from WW2, very moving

Yes its part of the Battle of Arras, Vimy Ridge was part of that battle.
The Newfoundland Memorial at Beaumont Hamel is one of the last surviving memorial grounds with original trenches.
I have been a couple of times a year to the Somme for the last 6-7 years...I class the First world war as one of my specialist subjects after tracing mt Grandfather in the Royal Naval Division.

At Thiepval at the moment they are having a small remembrance service every day at 12 noon it is going on for 170 days which was the length of the battle of the Somme.

Arras is well worth a visit fantasic old ( rebuilt city) cheap good hotels and food and a great square to enjoy a continental culture in the evening. ( Grand Place)
It also has a good Christmas market starting on Nov 30th.

Ypres an hour away in Belguim is also worth a visit for the Menin Gate which has a Last Post ceremony every night at 8 PM

We just returned from Arras last Friday....if any one wants any info on the War Graves dont be shy to ask.

The Commonwealth War Graves site is a great place to start, and dont forget there were 1.6 Million casualties during the Battle of the Somme.

 

[daveinprague]

Presumably that is Vimy Ridge, Thiepval, very moving, some perspective to numbers that died in truly awful conditions.

Have also visited graves at Casino from WW2, very moving

From the Newfoundland ref, I think its Beaumont Hamel.
Hawthorn mine crater is also nearby.
First wave was virtually slaughtered, second wave followed suit, due to the communication trenches being clogged with wounded and dying, and them having to move over open ground instead of the communication trenches. Most didnt make their own barbed wire. Tragic.
Newfoundland was a separate colony to Canada.

 

[swindonseagull]

I'll be visiting Belgium in 9 days time for Bank Holiday weekend and will be visiting Ypres, Menin Gate and Sanctuary Wood. I've never been to the WW1 battlefields, it's been long overdue.

8pm has the Last post ceremony, get there for 730

 

[atfc village]

8pm has the Last post ceremony, get there for 730

Small fact , They continued with the last post every night at 8pm during WW2 at Brookwood Cemetery near Woking.

 

[portslade seagull]

Yes its part of the Battle of Arras, Vimy Ridge was part of that battle.
The Newfoundland Memorial at Beaumont Hamel is one of the last surviving memorial grounds with original trenches.
I have been a couple of times a year to the Somme for the last 6-7 years...I class the First world war as one of my specialist subjects after tracing mt Grandfather in the Royal Naval Division.

At Thiepval at the moment they are having a small remembrance service every day at 12 noon it is going on for 170 days which was the length of the battle of the Somme.

Arras is well worth a visit fantasic old ( rebuilt city) cheap good hotels and food and a great square to enjoy a continental culture in the evening. ( Grand Place)
It also has a good Christmas market starting on Nov 30th.

Ypres an hour away in Belguim is also worth a visit for the Menin Gate which has a Last Post ceremony every night at 8 PM

We just returned from Arras last Friday....if any one wants any info on the War Graves dont be shy to ask.

The Commonwealth War Graves site is a great place to start, and dont forget there were 1.6 Million casualties during the Battle of the Somme.

Did you visit the tunnels in Arras. Done that when playing golf, very interesting and such a waste of life

 

[swindonseagull]

Did you visit the tunnels in Arras. Done that when playing golf, very interesting and such a waste of life

Yes been to Arras many times the tunnels under the Town Hall/ Grand Place are well worth a few Euros

Lots of Sussex Troops ( including My Grandfathers RND ) were in a battle at Wellington Quarry where they dug miles and Miles of tunnels to come out behind the Germans....Many of those tunnels are still there at La Carriere Wellington which is another museum in Arras

 

[portslade seagull]

Yes been to Arras many times the tunnels under the Town Hall/ Grand Place are well worth a few Euros

Lots of Sussex Troops ( including My Grandfathers RND ) were in a battle at Wellington Quarry where they dug miles and Miles of tunnels to come out behind the Germans....Many of those tunnels are still there at La Carriere Wellington which is another museum in Arras

Yeah have stayed there around 6 times whilst on golfing weekends and taken in many war cemeteries. Very sobering when looking at some of the ages. We visited one of the museum's and they where still excavating tunnels. The tour guide advised that they entered the tunnel system through a door in Arras town square next to a bakery if memory serves me right. This was to ensure that the germans were unaware of the build up of troops. Some of the poor buggers were down there for months and literally lasted seconds when exiting via the chalk steps which were still visible into the open air

 

[patcham seagulls]

Previous posts have correctly identified the Canadian memorial we visited, and also added more detail of events there. Thanks guys, Mrs Seagulls has Canadian ancestors so visiting seemed appropriate.

A horrific, but fascinating subject

 

[atfc village]

Leger Tours run good trips over to Belgium and France. Both times i went the guides Vic Piuk and Ian McHenry were really helpful in providing all the facts .

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

We had a couple of nights in Arras 3 or 4 years ago on the way back from further south. In the cemetery in Arras itself there is a huge memorial with the names of more than 35,000 servicemane who died durning the first world war who had no known grave. And when you read about it, those are only people who dies in one particular area and not from the whole period of the war - about 2 years.

Our daughter had pointed us towards it, having been there earlier in the year. Both my wife and I had great-uncles whose names were on that memorial, which we found. To say it was thought provoking is an enormous understatement. We just stood in silence for ages.

We also both found cemeteries - just small cemeteries in the countryside - where we had a relative buried.

http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/82700/ARRAS MEMORIAL

 

[The Hon Sec]

Have stayed in Arras whilst on organised trip from our village to trace the memorials of local men. The railway station was heavily bombed by the Germans in 1940 and the war memorial in front shows the shrapnel scars.

 

[grubbyhands]

During the day we also visited the Canadian memorial, which is staffed by students from Newfoundland.

The Canadians also suffered horrendous loses simultaneously 6-8k away from the Theipval memorial site.
Here the original trenches have been left in place.
And the Canadian students explain how, and where the soldiers fell.

Essentially after 2 weeks constant ariel military bombardment from the allied forces, the senior officers expected the German lines to be decimated, and provide little if any resistance.
The German lines however had built superb shelters, and had also broke the allies lines of communications.

When the Canadians went over the top into no mans land, they were expected to reach a village 3k past the German trenches.
Geographically the Canadians were disadvantaged as they descended down the hill, as their silhouettes were visible and they had no cover to shelter from any machine gun fire.

They lost in excess of 700 men in approximately 30 minutes and made around 50-100 yards in distance.

Another terrible account of loss, for almost non existent returns.
And to make matters worse, this example was being repeated across a 45k area.

20,000 men died on 1-7-1916, with another 30,000+ maimed and injured for life.
58,000 people in 1 day!
That's every single man, woman and child in the Amex for 2, or 3 home games.
Puts things into perspective

I visited Thiepval some years ago and also ,on the same day, The Newfoundland memorial.The knowledge and genuine appreciation of what their countrymen and relatives had done reduced me to tears. I believe I'm right in saying that, regarding the Thiepval arch, the remains of some soldiers listed on it's walls are even to this day being found. They are then given a proper burial in a suitable war cemetery and their name is then removed from the monument.

 

[Muzzy]

As a coach driver I have been to almost every cemetery around both Ypres and The Somme. Every trip I've ever done has been very humbling.
During many of these trips I've carried some fantastic tour guides that are experts in their knowledge of this war. Some of the stories will bring a lump to anyone's throat.
The last post ceremony performed daily at 8pm under the Menin Gate is not to be missed if you ever get the opportunity to attend. My own great grandfathers name is etched on that memorial.
Not sure whether I'll ever get the chance to go and visit again myself but if you do then be sure to visit the following places...
Tyne Cot
Langemark (sp)
Paeshendale museum
Hill 62
Essex farm
These are all located close to Ypres and are the main sites of all WW1 tours.


Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

 

[The Hon Sec]

Forgot to mention that also in Arras at the old fortress until recently still used by the French Army there is, in the dry moat at the rear, a post marking the spot of the original at which a large number of French Underground members were shot. Their memorials are on the wall alongside. Very moving and atmospheric.

 

[swindonseagull]

I visited Thiepval some years ago and also ,on the same day, The Newfoundland memorial.The knowledge and genuine appreciation of what their countrymen and relatives had done reduced me to tears. I believe I'm right in saying that, regarding the Thiepval arch, the remains of some soldiers listed on it's walls are even to this day being found. They are then given a proper burial in a suitable war cemetery and their name is then removed from the monument.

Thats correct they recently actually removed the name of one chap who was found I think 2 months ago, he was identified by his service number on a rusty fork that was found with him.
His name was subsequently removed from the monument, he was given a full military burial from both French and British forces.

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

Another recommendation for the last post ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres, just to pay your respects - but especially if you have an ancestor among the 54,000 without a formal grave who are commemorated on the gate itself. Another 30,000+ names had to be recorded on a further monument when they ran out of space..... http://www.lastpost.be As a rule it is worth getting into position 20-30 mins ahead of the ceremony as it can get crowded.

Was there last autumn and very impressed by the numbers of younger generations attending - and many participating in acts of remembrance. A lot of Anzacs were taking the opportunity to visit Ypres while over here for the Rugby WC. We witnessed a tribute by a squad of young Kiwi rugby players who sang a haunting traditional Maori song. Not a dry eye in the house.

We will remember them.