location of Gird Trench on Somme

[mcelwee]

At some stage would like to get to France and follow the movements of the Otago Battlion in theri attack on Factory Corner, Goose Alley, Grid Trench and Grid Support. How possible is it to get to this area and where would you start from?

Thanks

[Herekawe]

Hi

The areas you want are all around or within a few hundred meters of the village of Flers which is easily accessable from Bapaume or Albert quite close to the motor way Arras/Paris.

If you haven't been there before you will find all the roads signposted, good roads, easy to find things.

You can travel there easily from England by air or ferry or get the Eurostar to Lille and go south down the motorway towards Paris and get off at Bapaume.

If you want to follow the battle for NZ the attack started from between High Wood and Deville Wood close to the village of Longeuval - the NZ Memorial is on the ridge near High Wood a couple of km from Flers. The NZ Memorial to the missing is in the Caterpillar Valley Cemetary at Longueval.

One thing that always surprises me compared to NZ is that all these places Flers, High Wood, NZ Memorial, Caterpillar Valley Cemetary Longueval, Deville Wood etc are only a couple of kms apart - in some ways its almost a built up area.

If you go to Bapaume and have time go out the opposite side of the Bapaume/Albert Road to Grevillers there is a NZ Memorial to the missing of the 1918 battles.

I don't have any maps to hand to send you but I must say that in my 12 months as a forum member everyone has been incredibly helpful - so I have no doubt someone will send you something.

Regards

James

[mcelwee]

Excellent

Thanks James! I have been ther before 20 years ago on one of the Holt battlefield tours but it was before I had gleaned all this information about the Otago battalion so another trip will have to be done!!

Marie-Louise

Hi

The areas you want are all around or within a few hundred meters of the village of Flers which is easily accessable from Bapaume or Albert quite close to the motor way Arras/Paris.

If you haven't been there before you will find all the roads signposted, good roads, easy to find things.

You can travel there easily from England by air or ferry or get the Eurostar to Lille and go south down the motorway towards Paris and get off at Bapaume.

If you want to follow the battle for NZ the attack started from between High Wood and Deville Wood close to the village of Longeuval - the NZ Memorial is on the ridge near High Wood a couple of km from Flers. The NZ Memorial to the missing is in the Caterpillar Valley Cemetary at Longueval.

One thing that always surprises me compared to NZ is that all these places Flers, High Wood, NZ Memorial, Caterpillar Valley Cemetary Longueval, Deville Wood etc are only a couple of kms apart - in some ways its almost a built up area.

If you go to Bapaume and have time go out the opposite side of the Bapaume/Albert Road to Grevillers there is a NZ Memorial to the missing of the 1918 battles.

I don't have any maps to hand to send you but I must say that in my 12 months as a forum member everyone has been incredibly helpful - so I have no doubt someone will send you something.

Regards

James

[Herekawe]

Hi

Have you looked at the history of the Otago Regiment from www.nzetc.org, Andrew McDonalds "On My Way to the Somme" and if you can get a copy Ian McGibbon's "New Zealand Battlefields and Memorials of the Western Front" which is a tour guide for NZ sites and is very good - may be available at your local library?

James

[davidmichaeljarvis]

I have a trench map overlayed onto google earth of this area if someone will tell me how to post it I will. I have tried a couple of times with other overlays and the screen came up blank.

[trenchtrotter]

Marie-Louise,

See my recent thread re my last trip in Nov this year. I covered the area extensively and all is easily walkable and accessible. If you were to go to AIF Burial Ground cemetery on Grass Lane and stand in the entrance looking away from the cemetery across the track, there is a small embankment and then fields. On the rising slope in front of your eyes would be Gird Trench and Support protecting Guedecourt. From the cemetery one can see Factory corner. Opposite Factory Corner is a derelict barn. Alongside this on the western side is a track (North Road on trench maps). This ran SW to a junction with Abbey Road and Turk Ave. Turk Ave is easily seen by a row of Poplars and this led toward Eaucourt L'Abbeye. Goose Alley and all the areas mention are there and can crops permitting be walked.

See my sunset picture for reference on the visit thread.

If I can further help would love to.

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=156010

TT

[bruce]

At some stage would like to get to France and follow the movements of the Otago Battlion in theri attack on Factory Corner, Goose Alley, Grid Trench and Grid Support. How possible is it to get to this area and where would you start from?

Thanks

I wouldn't start from New Zealand!!!

Bruce

[SWorrall]

mlm,

I have a selection of maps which I can send you.

Just sent you a PM with my mail address, since you can't use the PM system yet.

Simon.

[willy]

If i am on the somme when you are, i will show you the area, if not it is easy to find as described before, but is best seen after the harvest really.