squirrel Posted 15 June , 2010 Share Posted 15 June , 2010 An excellent few days - many places visited and met some very interesting people. Over 47 cemeteries and memorials visited. I also laid a wreath at the Menin Gate on 7th June at the Last Post Ceremony, the anniversary of the start of the Battle of Messines and proclaimed the exhortation on 13th June also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted 15 June , 2010 Share Posted 15 June , 2010 So where are the pictures??? Glad you had a good trip. Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Marshall Posted 15 June , 2010 Share Posted 15 June , 2010 It certainly sounds like it was a memorable trip. Photos would be a great addition. Cheers, Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 15 June , 2010 Author Share Posted 15 June , 2010 Pictures are still in the cameras waiting to be downloaded and "adjusted for size". As we are away again tomorrrow, it may be some time before any appear here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 15 June , 2010 Share Posted 15 June , 2010 what he was hoping to keep quiet was that he met Grumpy, even dined with him. And survived to start this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 15 June , 2010 Author Share Posted 15 June , 2010 Thank you sir. It was a pleasure and a delight to meet you. To be going on with however, here is a picture of the square in Poperinghe which is being excavated to discover what lies beneath. So far, the foundations of medievil buildings and a 19th century road - that will be the one that the WW1 soldiers marched on. One of the archeologists told us this as well as imparting the information that the work will be going on for at least a year so look forward to some traffic hold ups and if you want a quiet drink or a meal make it in the evening............... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 15 June , 2010 Share Posted 15 June , 2010 Likewise. Contrary to the impression of the photo., there is some [but not a lot] of parking available in the square, and things seemed to be remarkably normal when we were there. Mind you, I am desensitized by holes in the road, drills, builder's bums, closures etc. in Belgium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Marshall Posted 15 June , 2010 Share Posted 15 June , 2010 Is the only purpose of the digging to see what's there or is there some municipal urgency like a cracked main to take care of? Digging for a year? Where will the market go now? Cheers, Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 15 June , 2010 Author Share Posted 15 June , 2010 Didn't get as far as asking for a more fulsome explanation - I would think it started as a small job and then they found something so the archeologists moved in......the trucks and JCB's took up more room than the area being investigated. The only bright spot is that all the works on the roads around Pop seem to be nearly finishing - just the road markings to do in most cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Marshall Posted 15 June , 2010 Share Posted 15 June , 2010 OK, Thanks. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabine72 Posted 18 June , 2010 Share Posted 18 June , 2010 Nigel, they are doing a complete change in Poperinge, a renovation they call it, the idea first was to put parkingspace unther the square, but that idea was shot to the moon for so many reasons, the news papers here knew what to write for month's. kind regards sabine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Marshall Posted 19 June , 2010 Share Posted 19 June , 2010 Dank u, Sabine. Beste wensen Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 19 June , 2010 Author Share Posted 19 June , 2010 So where are the pictures??? Glad you had a good trip. Bruce here are a few pictures...............more later. Balliuel - a beautiful cemetery. Ballieul again A private memorial at Wimereux - Lt Barnard RFA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 19 June , 2010 Author Share Posted 19 June , 2010 Lt Col John Mc.Crae at Wimereux Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 19 June , 2010 Author Share Posted 19 June , 2010 Ballieul again...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 19 June , 2010 Author Share Posted 19 June , 2010 And again........ Private Percy Saunders London Scottish at Boulogne East. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimSmithson Posted 19 June , 2010 Share Posted 19 June , 2010 Lovely photos - keep 'em coming. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterhogg Posted 19 June , 2010 Share Posted 19 June , 2010 Thank you for posting the photos. I think it is important to stress, that for Forum members such as myself who can't get over to France or Belgium with any frequency (been almost two years for me now), these posts are a real treat and much appreciated. thanks, peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 19 June , 2010 Author Share Posted 19 June , 2010 Thank you for your kind comments - A few more pictures...... VC Corner Poppies ans wild flowers near VC corner Calais South cemetery The new cemetery at Fromelles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Marshall Posted 19 June , 2010 Share Posted 19 June , 2010 Thanks. Great photos. Cheers, Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 20 June , 2010 Author Share Posted 20 June , 2010 Having deciphered my notes, here is where we went and what we saw - I don't have photos for every place we visited.... From the Thursday, we had a New Zealander, an Australian, a Canadian and another English chap with us. Visit to the Western Front Sunday 6th June to Monday 14th June 2010 Sunday 6th June Ferry Dover to Calais Calais South Cemetery – London Irish Rifles casualties Wimereux Cemetery – Lt .Barnard RFA and Lt Col. MC.Crae Boulogne East Cemetery – Private Saunders London Scottish Etaples Military Cemetery – London Irish Rifles casualties Ypres – Ariane Hotel Monday 7th June – anniversary of the battle of Messines 7th June 1917 Bedford House cemetery – London Irish Rifles casualties Wulverghem cemetery – London Irish Rifles casualties Westoutre cemetery - London Irish Rifles casualties Mendingham cemetery (Proven) - London Irish Rifles casualties Vladslo German cemetery Last Post Ceremony Menin Gate Ypres – wreath laid on behalf of the London Irish Rifles Tuesday 8th June Zantvoorde cemetery – London Irish Rifles casualties Harlebeke cemetery - – London Irish Rifles casualties Menin Gate Ypres – London Irish Rifles panel Ypres Town Cemetery CWGC Office Ypres – purchase of memorial crosses Dinner with David Langley (Grumpy) Wednesday 9th June Ypres Reservoir Cemetery – London Irish Rifles casualties In Flanders Fields Museum Rose Coombes Walk and Ypres Ramparts Cemetery Shopping and sightseeing in Ypres Thursday 10th June Grevillers Cemetery – London Irish Rifles casualties Thiepval memorial – London Irish Rifles panel Pozieres memorial - London Irish Rifles casualties Lochnagar Crater La Boiselle Dartmoor cemetery - London Irish Rifles casualties Becourt Cemetery - London Irish Rifles casualties Windmill memorial and Tank memorial at Pozieres Beatus Hotel Cambrai Friday 11th June Delville Wood museum and cemetery – Pte WHR Nutkins East Surry Regiment High Wood – 47th London Division memorial London Cemetery - London Irish Rifles casualties Caterpiller Valley cemetery - London Irish Rifles casualties Flat Iron Copse cemetery- London Irish Rifles casualties New Zealand Somme memorial Flers – 41st London Division memorial Followed the sunken road at Eaucourt l’Abbye to Gird line – Lignoy Tilloy to Butte de Warlencourt Arras – Wellington Tunnels Beatus Hotel Cambrai Saturday 12th June Aubers Ridge cemetery - London Irish Rifles casualties Fromelles – new cemetery and Pheasant Wood Australian memorial VC Corner memorial Le Trou Aid Post cemetery – WH Nutkins RFA Rue Pettilion cemetery Rue David cemetery Y Farm cemetery Bois Grenier Ballieul cemetery - Sapper Bartlett and London Irish Rifles casualties Trois Arbres cemetery Mont des Cats Sunday 13th June Ypres – Wijteschate – Messines – following line of NZ attack 7/6/1917 Tunnellers memorial Messines 16th Irish Division memorial Followed the line of the 16th (Irish) and 36th (Ulster) Division attack 7/6/1917 Peckham Crater Spanbroekmolen crater Lone Tree cemetery Messines British cemetery and memorial NZ Memorial to the missing Motor Car cemetery St Quentin Caberet cemetery Polygon Wood cemetery Buttes New British cemetery Tyne Cot cemetery and memorial – London Irish Rifles casualties Menin Gate Last Post Ceremony – proclaimed the exhortation Monday 14th June Belgian Battery Corner cemetery –Pte F C Nutkins MGC Lijssenhoek cemetery – Sapper Chalker RE and London Irish Rifles casualties Poperinghe – cells – execution post - Lunch at site of La Poupee and “Ginger” Followed the line of the NZ Field Ambulance from Poperinghe to Vlamertinge Zonnebeke Museum Lunch in Ypres Ferry Calais to Dover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralphjd Posted 20 June , 2010 Share Posted 20 June , 2010 Now THAT is what I call a trip. Dead jealous Ralph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted 20 June , 2010 Share Posted 20 June , 2010 Turning green here too! Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger H Posted 21 June , 2010 Share Posted 21 June , 2010 Turning green here too! Bruce Too much Chartreuse! (sorry, I know off topic, but couldn't resist) Roger PS - But I have to agree, what a fantastic trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACRAE Posted 24 June , 2010 Share Posted 24 June , 2010 Lt Col John Mc.Crae at Wimereux A grave I am ashamed to say I have not visited Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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