Paul Reed Posted 1 November , 2005 Share Posted 1 November , 2005 Found this photos while I was sorting out some old photo albums last week; they were taken by me c.1990 in the Bremen Redoubt in the grounds of the Zonnebeke brickworks. A truly magical place; a WW1 dugout you could just wander around at your leisure! If only I could capture the smell for you as well; it was truly something. Sadly, I understand the whole thing collapsed a few years ago and there is nothing of it left now. The first shot is taken from the bottom of the original stairs looking up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 1 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 1 November , 2005 Shot of the NCOs/Officers bunks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 1 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 1 November , 2005 Looking down main corridor with more bunks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 1 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 1 November , 2005 Other Ranks bunks at the far end of the dugout. Hope they are of interest; I have some more somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 1 November , 2005 Share Posted 1 November , 2005 Thanks for those, I was lucky enough ot be there in 1998 when it was wide open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Poilu Posted 1 November , 2005 Share Posted 1 November , 2005 Hi Paul, Good photos. It was a fantastic place - I was lucky to get down there too in the late 1990's. Glad you found the pictures that you mentioned in the topic below. There are some more pictures and info here : Yorkshire Trench (and Bremen Redoubt). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 1 November , 2005 Share Posted 1 November , 2005 Bremen Redoubt - 1998 Regards, Cnock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaymen Posted 1 November , 2005 Share Posted 1 November , 2005 Great Pics chaps Thanks for sharing them. Glyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted 2 November , 2005 Share Posted 2 November , 2005 Thanks for the photos. What a shame it's no longer there. The fact that it lasted so long demonstrates how robust the German fortifications were and why our artillery bombardments were often not effective. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Johnson Posted 2 November , 2005 Share Posted 2 November , 2005 Thanks Guys, These are wonderful photos, it's such a shame that it's all gone. (Paul, maybe your old photos would make a great "then & now" style book?) Regards PAUL J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Johnson Posted 2 November , 2005 Share Posted 2 November , 2005 Thanks Guys, These are wonderful photos, it's such a shame that it's all gone. (Paul, maybe your old photos would make a great "then & now" style book?) Regards PAUL J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mebu Posted 2 November , 2005 Share Posted 2 November , 2005 Michael, yes they were good....but not German, this was a product of Australian tunnelling, Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 2 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 2 November , 2005 Out of interest Peter, which Australian unit built them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 2 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 2 November , 2005 (Paul, maybe your old photos would make a great "then & now" style book?) Regards PAUL J <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi Paul - maybe one day... when time permits! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mebu Posted 3 November , 2005 Share Posted 3 November , 2005 Paul, in answer to your question, a quick resume of Bremen.... Prior to the autumn '17 attack, there were very few German dugouts in the Zonnebeke area. Earlier on, it was too far in the rear, and German undergrounds were further forward, eg at Hooge and Polygon Buttes. The Canadians found that underground accommodation was necessary and the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Coy started work on several tunnellings in the Zonnebeke area. The initial borings were carried out by the AE &MM&BC (the Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company , "the alphabeticals", under Major Roger Morse). When the Canadians moved from the sector the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company took over several sites, one of which was the site at "Brandenburg" a German strongpoint...which did not have any underground shelter before. 254 Tunn Coy RE probably finished what the Australians had started. The tunnels at the VanBiervliet brickyard/ Bremen Redoubt were discovered in 1983, found as it had been left, with whisky bottles, spanners etc on the floor. and Aleks Deseyne, the then curator of Zonnebeke museum, researched it. It is known that there were 86 similar tunnelled dugouts in the local area....of which only 4 were re-used German workings...almost all were "original" British/Canadian /Australian origins. Still, many people assume that such things are German.....eg several guide books say the OP on Hill 60 is German....when it points East (Major Jolly and the 4th Australian Field Company would not be pleased) Hope this answers your query, Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted 4 November , 2005 Share Posted 4 November , 2005 Still, many people assume that such things are German.....<{POST_SNAPBACK}> ...including me. Thanks for putting me right Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobfoster Posted 4 November , 2005 Share Posted 4 November , 2005 Excellent photos of the Bremen Redoubt. Whst a shame it has collapsed. I was lucky enough to visit it about 1994. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragamuffin Posted 15 April , 2007 Share Posted 15 April , 2007 I was just wondering if there was anything to indicate the sight of the redoubt. I believe it collapsed some time ago, just wondered if there was anything there. Would of this collapsed if it hadn't have been excavated? Danke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBI Posted 15 April , 2007 Share Posted 15 April , 2007 I visited the Bremen Redoubt Some Years Ago,whilst it was still in Excellent Condition,i was told by one of the Workers in the Brickyard,that once the Bunker had been uncovered,that a type of Virus for want of a better description started to attack the Concrete.I am not a Civil Engineer so i couldnt really describe this condition.In the Bunker site itself i found an Ashtray made from the base of a German 77mm Shell.All the Wooden Frames for the Bunks were still in place,as were the Wooden ladders to enter and exit the Bunker.There were even Official "Bremen Redoubt" Roadsigns directing the Visitor to the Bunker Site.Some were amongst My late fathers collection of Video Tapes is a Film that he shot inside the Redoubt,IF i can find it i will Burn it to DVD,and if the Quality is OK maybe i could send You a Copy ? . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick D Posted 15 April , 2007 Share Posted 15 April , 2007 has it all gone as suggested ? Mick D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragamuffin Posted 15 April , 2007 Share Posted 15 April , 2007 Many thanks PBI, and the offer would be appreciated. Is there anything left in the area to pinpoint the posistion? I presume if it was not excavated it would still be intact, abeit underground. Is this not a darker side to excavation? As Mick D said, has it all gone? Danke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBI Posted 15 April , 2007 Share Posted 15 April , 2007 I will have to start wading through over a Hundred VCR Tapes,when i find it i will be burning Myself a Copy as well.When i visited the Site,it was very easy to access it,you just had to be careful of the Brickyard Vehicles that were very Active during Normal Working Hours,i never saw any Coach Parties at the Site though,as it would have been pretty Difficult to find Parking Space for a Coach.From what the Workers at the Brickyard told me,the Tunnel System under the Brickyard itself was pretty extensive and the visible part of the Reoubt was only a Small portion of the Whole Defence system,and the Brick Company were worried that there was a Danger of Tunnel collapse within the Yard.Anyway Afkay,i will start trolling through the Tapes during the Coming Weekend,when i find what i am looking for i will PM you for your Address. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathie Posted 16 April , 2007 Share Posted 16 April , 2007 Is the Redoubt still there???? A few years ago I went hunting for it - not a sign in sight - and I kept driving into the brickworks yard but found noone to ask. Kathie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBI Posted 16 April , 2007 Share Posted 16 April , 2007 All Filled in and as far as i am aware,nothing remains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 16 April , 2007 Share Posted 16 April , 2007 I was in this shortly before it collapsed, I think it was at brickworks at Zonnebekke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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