Northern France -Somme

[WinchesterDave]

Well, since I was a young lad I've been coming over to the battlefields pretty much every year. However, this is the first year I have been since I've had my camera. I have taken quite a few in the last two days so I've skimmed it down to around 10. I'm sure there are some of you have been, but to me it never gets boring; I love it..

 

on a shooting note...these french hunters are mad!! yesterday there was a bloke just walking down the road with his Beretta semi auto over his shoulder. .they all shoot right by main roads...completely different to UK.

 

 

that's the wildlife out the way.

 

My black and white picture was taken in the 'sunken lane' where the 1st Bn Lancs Fusiliers launched from on the morning of the 1st July 1916. As many of you will have seen, there was a famous picture of the lads which was taken a few minutes before they went over the top of the lane. I tried to recreate it-it's an unusual place, and I walked up the bank as they did and faced towards the German front line, it's truly mad!

 

this is Hawthorn Ridge cemetery: just to the left of this picture is the mine crater which was recored on video which you may have seen. Further left about 2-300 meters is the sunken lane.

 

This is the American Cemerty near Bony.

 

 

 

 

I hope you like them, two usual subject and a few very different I've thoroughly enjoyed the photography here, and the colours of the trees coupled with the sun...it's truly been ace!!

 

Atb,

 

Dave

Edited October 26, 2015 by WinchesterDave

[WinchesterDave]

 

 

I thought I'd attach these two of the cormorant I shot

[hambone]

Some nice pics there

[Catamong]

Great pictures Dave, I know that area very well, was there only a fortnight ago, your comments re the French shooters are noted, but as you probably realise they all have to wear Hi-Viz jackets now, and pass a competency test to obtain a hunting licence, it's a bit different over here..!

 

Cat.

[WinchesterDave]

Great pictures Dave, I know that area very well, was there only a fortnight ago, your comments re the French shooters are noted, but as you probably realise they all have to wear Hi-Viz jackets now, and pass a competency test to obtain a hunting licence, it's a bit different over here..!

 

Cat.

Thank you ahhhh nice, where did you stay? and yes,the majority of shooters do indeed wear bright orange. ..but some just in normal olive drab and dark colour. I did not realise what they had to do to go not shooting though

[kippylawkid]

Brilliant pics Dave. It's on my bucket list to do the WW1 battlefields. Should be on all school syllabus.

Lest we forget.

[Catamong]

Thank you ahhhh nice, where did you stay? and yes,the majority of shooters do indeed wear bright orange. ..but some just in normal olive drab and dark colour. I did not realise what they had to do to go not shooting though

 

I stayed one night at the Hotel BB in Arras, it's on the outskirts, close to the shooting ground where I am a member.

 

The next night we stayed in the Mercure Amiens, near the Cathedral.

 

I was hoping that the lights show would be on at the Cathedral, but they stop at the end of September, and start again in December.

 

I was doing a 2 day trip with a guy who'd not been before.

 

We did the following sites:

 

Vimy Ridge tunnels

Thiepval memorial

Ulster Tower

Redan Ridge & Serre Rd

Newfoundland Park

Pozieres (Tommy Cafe)

Lochnager crater, La Boiselle

Delville Wood

Devonshires Cemetery

Australian Memorial, Villers Brettoneux

 

Plus loads of other minor places of interest, and a good few cemeteries, (British, Commonwealth, French & German).

 

My mate found a live hand grenade near the Ulster Tower, plus a live rifle round, he was chuffed to bits. I let him photograph them and they were left in place.

 

I've done all of these places many times, the facilities have improved immensely over the last few years, due mainly to the vast numbers of organised tours for UK schoolkids, (as these trips ARE on the syllabus).

 

One bird I often see there is a Hen Harrier, they are quite common over there.

 

Cat.

[WinchesterDave]

Brilliant pics Dave. It's on my bucket list to do the WW1 battlefields. Should be on all school syllabus.

Lest we forget.

Thank you mate. you should go mate. if you're interested in a tour my brother has just set up his own company; Esprit Tour Services. He was on 'BBC Northwest Tonight' last week having taken a blind school from Liverpool over to Ypres.

 

if you google Esprit Tour Services you'll find his site but he is looking at taking schools out.

[WinchesterDave]

 

I stayed one night at the Hotel BB in Arras, it's on the outskirts, close to the shooting ground where I am a member.

 

The next night we stayed in the Mercure Amiens, near the Cathedral.

 

I was hoping that the lights show would be on at the Cathedral, but they stop at the end of September, and start again in December.

 

I was doing a 2 day trip with a guy who'd not been before.

 

We did the following sites:

 

Vimy Ridge tunnels

Thiepval memorial

Ulster Tower

Redan Ridge & Serre Rd

Newfoundland Park

Pozieres (Tommy Cafe)

Lochnager crater, La Boiselle

Delville Wood

Devonshires Cemetery

Australian Memorial, Villers Brettoneux

 

Plus loads of other minor places of interest, and a good few cemeteries, (British, Commonwealth, French & German).

 

My mate found a live hand grenade near the Ulster Tower, plus a live rifle round, he was chuffed to bits. I let him photograph them and they were left in place.

 

I've done all of these places many times, the facilities have improved immensely over the last few years, due mainly to the vast numbers of organised tours for UK schoolkids, (as these trips ARE on the syllabus).

 

One bird I often see there is a Hen Harrier, they are quite common over there.

 

Cat.

Ah cool:) I'm off to Arras tomorrow or Thursday night for a meal.

 

All the places you mention are awesome. Hawthron ridge Cemetery is directly behind Newfoundland Park.

 

I find sometimes the minor places are the best if you have the right war diary accounts, trench maps etc.

 

atb

[Catamong]

Yes, Hawthorn ridge is a favourite spot of mine, a good book that covers the action there on 1st July 1916 is "Walking the Somme", by Paul Reed, no doubt you may have read it..?

 

Cat.

[WinchesterDave]

it's a good spot up that way certainly. Yes I have read it/looked through it.

 

Dave

[fortune]

My grandfather is planted in Gorre British & Indian cemetery a couple of K north east of Beuvry just over the canal on a junction in a small village. killed 1918. I have his death medal, his pipe, A rusty tin of rolled fags still intact and a tin of pipe baccy, his spoon and various letters and rail warrants ect. This was sent back to his widow. The payout for his death was a pittance and my gran was left on her own to bring up two girls. No back up and no help. Her health suffered considerably. This sort of thing still goes on today when wives are removed from their homes and cast out. I know that the servicemen who have lost limbs get help but there are a lot that are cast out into society unprepared and a lot get into serious problems. which are not addressed by the government or the military. In some ways I fell proud of him and in other ways I think what a mug but he had no choice other than to serve. It was no different to my father who served in Burma and who went out a fit strong young man and came home a wreck and had the rest of his life bent and distorted by the effects that it had on him, his marriage, and the whole life of his family. What were we doing in Iraq and Afghanistan and even now in Syria?

[misser]

good pics....when one looks at the rows of crosses it puts into perspective what we take for granted today...for those that do not stand behind our armed forces...maybe they should stand in front of them..........

[Grandalf]

There is a Poppy Collector near you at the moment - Please give generously.

We, The Royal British Legion, never ever forget any of our serving or ex service personnel.

Ninety two years of service to the military community and still doing our bit for the lads and lasses.

[WinchesterDave]

My grandfather is planted in Gorre British & Indian cemetery a couple of K north east of Beuvry just over the canal on a junction in a small village. killed 1918. I have his death medal, his pipe, A rusty tin of rolled fags still intact and a tin of pipe baccy, his spoon and various letters and rail warrants ect. This was sent back to his widow. The payout for his death was a pittance and my gran was left on her own to bring up two girls. No back up and no help. Her health suffered considerably. This sort of thing still goes on today when wives are removed from their homes and cast out. I know that the servicemen who have lost limbs get help but there are a lot that are cast out into society unprepared and a lot get into serious problems. which are not addressed by the government or the military. In some ways I fell proud of him and in other ways I think what a mug but he had no choice other than to serve. It was no different to my father who served in Burma and who went out a fit strong young man and came home a wreck and had the rest of his life bent and distorted by the effects that it had on him, his marriage, and the whole life of his family. What were we doing in Iraq and Afghanistan and even now in Syria?

That's very interesting. My dad has been a dedicated medal collector and researcher since he was given his first medal by his grandmother at the age of 12. I agree with you there should be more support for families who are left, it's awful really.

 

Dave

good pics....when one looks at the rows of crosses it puts into perspective what we take for granted today...for those that do not stand behind our armed forces...maybe they should stand in front of them..........

Absolutely. .. I think this should he experienced by everyone