Where Owen fell

[Tom Kilkenny]

I'm planning a jaunt to the Somme next month on my motorbike and I was wondering if anyone could tell me the best way of identifying where Wilfred Owen fell. I have the Helen McPhail's Battleground Europe title on Owen

Ideally, I'd like to be able to compare a contemporary trench map with a modern map and, no doubt, there is some wonderful software that would allow me to do this.

Can anyone help?

Tom

[Soren]

Whilst crossing the Sambre–Oise Canal I believe ( near Ors )

[Michelle Young]

I think it is more or less parallel with Ors British cemetery.

Michelle

[Deerhunter]

We (my kids and I) went to his grave in Jul 08, and took some time to find his headstone in the churchyard at Ors. There is Ors Military Cemetery on one side of the village and a scattering of British Military Graves in the churchyard. The WFA has put a plaque on the RHS of the roadbridge over the Sambre-Oise Canal there, which identifies the place where Owen fell to approx 300m; accordingly, the "rough" area is quite easy to find.

I reckon it's on the LHS of the bridge over the canal, where the canal has a slight bend in it. To be frank, that's the place where I'd put an MG position (if on the German side of the Canal), as any gun on that bend can be traversed to put enfilade fire into any point on the allied side of the canal. Tbat's purely an observation, but I do not have any maps or other evidence to support that.

Ors Military Cemetery is very close to this point across the field (approx 250m), although it is further to reach by road. You'll see what I mean when you get there.

Really worth a visit, though.

Edited to add: Michelle, spot on. That's the bend in the Sambre-Oise Canal, effectively the closest spot to Ors Military Cemetery.

[Michelle Young]

Thanks Deerhunter! The walk to Ors British is a bit of a minefield avoiding cowpats if I remember!

Michelle

[Paul Reed]

If you go to the GPS location below you will be on the 2nd Manchester's right flank for the attack on 4.11.18. Look roughly NE up the canal, and you are looking at the area where Owen fell.

GPS: 50°06.174'N, 3°38.343'E

[Alan Tucker]

Walking north on the towpath from the Ors bridge you can see the higher ground held by the Germans on the opposite bank. You can glimpse Motte Farm (white) where there was a German MG position. The spot where Owen attempted a crossing was further north and as already described in relation to Ors Britiish Cemetery.

[Tom Kilkenny]

Thanks everyone.

Paul Reed's GPS reference might just tempt me to buy satnav before I go!

Tom