Battlefield tour Somme (1 Viewer)

[Bazc79]

I think the ossuary is a collection of bones from about 130,000 soldiers all collected from the battlefield and all jumbled together, so no records of who they were.
Basically, blown to pieces and the bones collected. Looking through the windows from the outside is quite an emotional experience.

I can imagine this trip being quite an emotionally draining, but worthwhile experience.

 

[Orion]

I think the ossuary is a collection of bones from about 130,000 soldiers all collected from the battlefield and all jumbled together, so no records of who they were.
Basically, blown to pieces and the bones collected. Looking through the windows from the outside is quite an emotional experience.

That’s correct, but I wasn’t aware of any lasting memorial to the individuals that fell unknown, unlike the carefully recorded names on, for example, the Menin Gate, Thiepval, Tyne Cot wall, etc. It just seemed very impersonal in comparison to me.

 

[rolosroller]

If you can get hold of a book called * Before Endeavours Fade* By Rosie Coombs it has set tours and maps in it, bit dated now as printed in the 1970/80's but a good starting point

Before Endeavours Fade: Guide to the Battlefie... by Coombs, Rose E.B. Paperback | eBay

Author:Coombs, Rose E.B. Before Endeavours Fade: Guide to the Battlefields of the First World War. Book Binding:Paperback / softback. Each month we recycle over 2.3 million books, saving over 12,500 tonnes of books a year from going straight into landfill sites.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[David and Sally]

That’s correct, but I wasn’t aware of any lasting memorial to the individuals that fell unknown, unlike the carefully recorded names on, for example, the Menin Gate, Thiepval, Tyne Cot wall, etc. It just seemed very impersonal in comparison to me.

Similar. Menin Gate is the memorial to those lost but have no known grave. Tyne Cott and many other cemeteries have graves to unknown soldiers so they may be recorded on the Menin Gate anyway. Either way, a tour of the WW1 ares should be part of the national curriculum to help teach our children never to do anything so useless again.

 

[Bazc79]

That’s correct, but I wasn’t aware of any lasting memorial to the individuals that fell unknown, unlike the carefully recorded names on, for example, the Menin Gate, Thiepval, Tyne Cot wall, etc. It just seemed very impersonal in comparison

https://www.e

http://

Before Endeavours Fade: Guide to the Battlefie... by Coombs, Rose E.B. Paperback | eBay

Author:Coombs, Rose E.B. Before Endeavours Fade: Guide to the Battlefields of the First World War. Book Binding:Paperback / softback. Each month we recycle over 2.3 million books, saving over 12,500 tonnes of books a year from going straight into landfill sites.

www.ebay.co.uk

Thanks rolosroller I should of said earlier, I found a copy on amazon so I bought it. Thank you for the effort though. Much appreciated.

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[Bazc79]

Similar. Menin Gate is the memorial to those lost but have no known grave. Tyne Cott and many other cemeteries have graves to unknown soldiers so they may be recorded on the Menin Gate anyway. Either way, a tour of the WW1 ares should be part of the national curriculum to help teach our children never to do anything so useless again.

Absolutely!

 

[Bazc79]

Maybe Kubrick’s film ‘Paths of Glory’, although controversially anti-war at the time of release, accurately reflected the attitude of the higher ups to the common soldier?

You've inspired me to watch this. It's on prime, so that's the rest of my night sorted

 

[Kybod]

Did the trip around the WW1 sites around 10 years ago, there was absolutely no problems with parking a Motorhome. Overnight I stayed on the numerous Camping Car Aires in the regions.

Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial · rue de l'Ãglise, D73, 80300 Auchonvillers, France

âââââ · Memorial

maps.app.goo.gl

Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme · Rue de l'Ancre, 80300 Thiepval, France

âââââ · Historical landmark

maps.app.goo.gl

Lochnagar Crater · Rte de la Grande Mine, 80300 Ovillers-la-Boisselle, France

âââââ · Historical landmark

maps.app.goo.gl

Sheffield Memorial Park · Unnamed Rd, France, 62111 Hébuterne, France

âââââ · Memorial park

maps.app.goo.gl

Canadian National Vimy Memorial · Route départementale 55, Chem. des Canadiens, 62580 Givenchy-en-Gohelle, France

âââââ · Memorial

maps.app.goo.gl

Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 · Berten Pilstraat 5a, 8980 Zonnebeke, Belgium

âââââ · War museum

maps.app.goo.gl

Tyne Cot Cemetery & Visitors Centre · Vijfwegestraat, 8980 Zonnebeke, Belgium

âââââ · Military cemetery

maps.app.goo.gl

I did this over three days and by the end I was an emotional wreck. Having said that the following year I did Verdun and the Lorraine region.
Mike

 

[Bazc79]

Did the trip around the WW1 sites around 10 years ago, there was absolutely no problems with parking a Motorhome. Overnight I stayed on the numerous Camping Car Aires in the regions.

Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial · rue de l'Ãglise, D73, 80300 Auchonvillers, France

âââââ · Memorial

maps.app.goo.gl

Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme · Rue de l'Ancre, 80300 Thiepval, France

âââââ · Historical landmark

maps.app.goo.gl

Lochnagar Crater · Rte de la Grande Mine, 80300 Ovillers-la-Boisselle, France

âââââ · Historical landmark

maps.app.goo.gl

Sheffield Memorial Park · Unnamed Rd, France, 62111 Hébuterne, France

âââââ · Memorial park

maps.app.goo.gl

Canadian National Vimy Memorial · Route départementale 55, Chem. des Canadiens, 62580 Givenchy-en-Gohelle, France

âââââ · Memorial

maps.app.goo.gl

Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 · Berten Pilstraat 5a, 8980 Zonnebeke, Belgium

âââââ · War museum

maps.app.goo.gl

Tyne Cot Cemetery & Visitors Centre · Vijfwegestraat, 8980 Zonnebeke, Belgium

âââââ · Military cemetery

maps.app.goo.gl

I did this over three days and by the end I was an emotional wreck. Having said that the following year I did Verdun and the Lorraine region.
Mike

This is brilliant. Thank you for that. To think you can get all that in, in 3 days is good to know. I had no idea of how much time would be needed at each location to properly take it all in.

 

[Kybod]

This is brilliant. Thank you for that. To think you can get all that in, in 3 days is good to know. I had no idea of how much time would be needed at each location to properly take it all in.

The first four in that list are close together, Vimy Ridge is a bit further north, the last two are in Belgium and close to Ypres and the Menin Gate.
My personal favourite is the site of the trenches and the memorial at Vimy Ridge.
Mike

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[Bazc79]

The first four in that list are close together, Vimy Ridge is a bit further north, the last two are in Belgium and close to Ypres and the Menin Gate.
My personal favourite is the site of the trenches and the memorial at Vimy Ridge.
Mike

Thanks mike.
Yeah vimy ridge and thiepval are right at the top of the list for me. Them and obviously the last post at the menin gate.

 

[stevewagner]

We're actually starting off in Ypres, I've got us booked in at the camping jeugdstadion site. For 2 days.
I tried to book the Velodrome site but found it's quite confusing. I sent them an email last week but not heard anything. I'll keep trying that one.
Thanks for the heads up though. I wasn't keen on hiring a car AND having the van there as well.

Free overnight parking by the college at Ypres

 

[Bazc79]

Free overnight parking by the college at Ypres

Ah great! Thanks for the heads up

 

[Bailey58]

A publisher often mentioned on here a few years ago but not so often these days is Vicarious Books who publish a motorhome guide to touring the sites of both world wars, it's half price too at the moment.

 

[Barryh]

Here’s my great grandad at Thiepval, O’Gorman J. His service record would have him down as a bit of a lad. One name amongst the thousands and thousands who gave their lives here.

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[The general]

Free overnight parking by the college at Ypres

A short walk to the gate and thru ramparts to the town of Ypres

 

[cyberyacht]

Nice aire at Zillebeke as well. Walk into town. No-one has mentioned Peronne. The museum there is a bit different.

 

[Ingwe]

My great uncle was shot in the head at Delville Wood (Longueville) aged 17. He'd joined up like a lot of South Africans, lying about his age which was quite common apparently. Recruiting officers didn't check too much. Anyway he survived but was brain damaged and needed care for the rest of his life. We went to the South African Memorial at Delville Wood and it was an intensely moving experience. We also did Vimy Ridge, Hawthorn Crater, Tyne Cott, Thiepval and Ypre as well as lots of smaller cemeteries dotted all over that area.
As other have posted, some of the memorials allow parking overnight and we've never seen the area busy, apart from Thiepval and Ypres. We used Major Holt's Guide of the World War 1 Battlefields which has maps and other interesting information.
If you PM me your address, I'll gladly post it to you FOC.
Enjoy (if that's the right word) you trip in any event. It is certainly moving.

 

[MisterB]

dont foget to visit the german memorial at Langemark aswell, very sombering as they all are. there is also a welsh memorial not far away from there

my grandfather died at Zillbeke lake, just outside Ypres and has his name inscribed on the Menin Gate. It was an area for a bit of respite from the fighting but the germans fired shells into regularly, as no doubt we did into their respite areas.

 

[Bazc79]

My great uncle was shot in the head at Delville Wood (Longueville) aged 17. He'd joined up like a lot of South Africans, lying about his age which was quite common apparently. Recruiting officers didn't check too much. Anyway he survived but was brain damaged and needed care for the rest of his life. We went to the South African Memorial at Delville Wood and it was an intensely moving experience. We also did Vimy Ridge, Hawthorn Crater, Tyne Cott, Thiepval and Ypre as well as lots of smaller cemeteries dotted all over that area.
As other have posted, some of the memorials allow parking overnight and we've never seen the area busy, apart from Thiepval and Ypres. We used Major Holt's Guide of the World War 1 Battlefields which has maps and other interesting information.
If you PM me your address, I'll gladly post it to you FOC.
Enjoy (if that's the right word) you trip in any event. It is certainly moving.

Thats insane!! You just can't imagine being in that situation.

That's very kind of you to offer that, I'll send you a PM, if I meet you on a site somewhere I'll buy you a beer or 2 for your trouble.
Thank you!!

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[tony_g]

We have visited a lot of museums and memorials on the Somme in the last few days. The one that stands out is the Sir John Monash Centre at the Australian Memorial at Villers Bretonneux. Superb audio/visual coverage of the conflict. Of course there is an Aussie slant but the same conditions applied to all soldiers. Very moving. Free admission to the museum. €3 for headphones for the interactive audio guide or bring your own. We ended up going back the next day to cover everything! Stayed at the aire in nearby Bray sur Somme. Its a pity that there weren't more commanding officers like Sir John Monash. Opened in 2018 and apparently cost 100 million Aussie dollars!

 

[grumps147]

We're actually starting off in Ypres, I've got us booked in at the camping jeugdstadion site. For 2 days.
I tried to book the Velodrome site but found it's quite confusing. I sent them an email last week but not heard anything. I'll keep trying that one.
Thanks for the heads up though. I wasn't keen on hiring a car AND having the van there as well.

Well worth persevering with this site. In my opinion the town has, below and alongside the church, a very good museum. At the time we had an almost 8m motorhome and had no problems at any of the larger historical sites. Maybe you would if there is a particular anniversary celebration, but not normally. Many of the smaller sites and graveyards have a small parking area nearby, again we never had any problem with these. Sounds like you are doing your research, but allow a bit of time each day for things you come across and are curious about. Take heed of the advice offered above about the pressures of visiting so many sites in such a tight timeframe will have, not many deal with the enormity of it all without it having some effect on you, so be prepared for it. It is fantastic how the Commonwealth War Graves Commission look after it all so well.
There is no seating at Ypre, so perhaps wheelchair may help if mobility is an issue - it's not just the ceremony time, you have to be there in advance to get a good position.

 

[Tonks]

Much respect for your dad.
In 2024 it will be good to have reservations where you can as the 80th Anniversary is going to mean everywhere will be exceptionally busy although you will miss the busiest period as you're going just ahead of the actual anniversary dates.
I'll be interested to see some pictures of your trip in due course.

 

[cyberyacht]

Talking of names on memorials, my name is on the one at Thiepval. Date of death is my birthday. Spooky or what? However, like Mark Twain, reports of my demise......

 

[Bazc79]

We have visited a lot of museums and memorials on the Somme in the last few days. The one that stands out is the Sir John Monash Centre at the Australian Memorial at Villers Bretonneux. Superb audio/visual coverage of the conflict. Of course there is an Aussie slant but the same conditions applied to all soldiers. Very moving. Free admission to the museum. €3 for headphones for the interactive audio guide or bring your own. We ended up going back the next day to cover everything! Stayed at the aire in nearby Bray sur Somme. Its a pity that there weren't more commanding officers like Sir John Monash. Opened in 2018 and apparently cost 100 million Aussie dollars!

Fantastic. I'll add it to the list. Thank you.
I'm starting to see that the aires are a far more popular stop over, compared to the campsites. I'll definitely look into them.

Yeah i dont think it matters where the soldiers on the memorials came from, the absolute hell they went through, would of been the same I'm sure.

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[Bazc79]

Talking of names on memorials, my name is on the one at Thiepval. Date of death is my birthday. Spooky or what? However, like Mark Twain, reports of my demise......

 

[Bazc79]

Much respect for your dad.
In 2024 it will be good to have reservations where you can as the 80th Anniversary is going to mean everywhere will be exceptionally busy although you will miss the busiest period as you're going just ahead of the actual anniversary dates.
I'll be interested to see some pictures of your trip in due course.

Thank you tonks.
I'll definitely post some pics.

 

[Bazc79]

Well worth persevering with this site. In my opinion the town has, below and alongside the church, a very good museum. At the time we had an almost 8m motorhome and had no problems at any of the larger historical sites. Maybe you would if there is a particular anniversary celebration, but not normally. Many of the smaller sites and graveyards have a small parking area nearby, again we never had any problem with these. Sounds like you are doing your research, but allow a bit of time each day for things you come across and are curious about. Take heed of the advice offered above about the pressures of visiting so many sites in such a tight timeframe will have, not many deal with the enormity of it all without it having some effect on you, so be prepared for it. It is fantastic how the Commonwealth War Graves Commission look after it all so well.
There is no seating at Ypre, so perhaps wheelchair may help if mobility is an issue - it's not just the ceremony time, you have to be there in advance to get a good position.

Thanks grumps147.
That's good to know you didn't have problems regarding the size of your motorhome. Mine is just over 8m so it'd good to know that these sites won't pose a problem. It's a Christmas present I am putting together for him, and as he's been before, I think I'll let him dictate the pace and see what he wants to go for.

I did see on someone's youbtube video, that they recommend getting there an hour before the ceremony at Ypres.

 

[Bazc79]

dont foget to visit the german memorial at Langemark aswell, very sombering as they all are. there is also a welsh memorial not far away from there

my grandfather died at Zillbeke lake, just outside Ypres and has his name inscribed on the Menin Gate. It was an area for a bit of respite from the fighting but the germans fired shells into regularly, as no doubt we did into their respite areas.

Mister B, may I ask your grandfather's name? Would be nice to look up and pay respects. Also, good idea about the German memorial. Seeing it from the other side.
I'm sure at the end of the day the majority of the German soldiers were, like our lads, just trying to keep themselves alive long enough to get home to their families. Following orders, and looking out for their mates.

 

[Ingwe]

Mister B, may I ask your grandfather's name? Would be nice to look up and pay respects. Also, good idea about the German memorial. Seeing it from the other side.
I'm sure at the end of the day the majority of the German soldiers were, like our lads, just trying to keep themselves alive long enough to get home to their families. Following orders, and looking out for their mates.

It’s also very interesting, when visiting the German graveyards, to see just how many Jewish soldiers lost their lives fighting for Germany. And we all know what happened almost immediately after 1918 with the Friekorps, the SA and the rest!

Of course it is just as sad to think of those German boys who died, as their enemies, for the purposes of the Imperial powers and not any ideology as in WW2.

And we like to think that we, as civilised beings, have learned anything from the hell that generation went through. Fat chance.

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