Martin Bennitt Posted 27 August , 2011 Share Posted 27 August , 2011 Well I would guess we're talking Blackpool FC here, given your location and the reference to the tower. Problem is the only Seasider I can find -- thanks to the Forum's 'Footballers Died' thread -- is goalkeeper William 'Tommy' Fiske, KIA 22/05/1918 while with the border Regiment. CWGC says he is on the Soissons memorial to the missing, so where's his last resting place? Another search reveals he was killed near Fismes, so guess you're there, or thereabouts cheers Martin B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flintwich Posted 27 August , 2011 Share Posted 27 August , 2011 www.fiskes.co.uk/Tommy Guessed a Dundee Utd or Blackpool player Well done, Martin, I was googling and found this when you posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myos Posted 27 August , 2011 Share Posted 27 August , 2011 You are on the right lines, but his name is not that of a footballer, however you have mentioned his name. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfaulder Posted 27 August , 2011 Share Posted 27 August , 2011 What about Benny Green? KIA 26/4/1917 - But he is on Arras Memorial - so no resting place there. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMarsdin Posted 27 August , 2011 Share Posted 27 August , 2011 Stephen Blackpool ? Buried at Ovillers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myos Posted 27 August , 2011 Share Posted 27 August , 2011 Correct Steve...your turn Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMarsdin Posted 29 August , 2011 Share Posted 29 August , 2011 Correct Steve...your turn Andy Sorry for not returning to the thread sooner, I've been travelling back from Belgium. I'll try and think of another one but if anyone else fancies a go - be my guest ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMarsdin Posted 29 August , 2011 Share Posted 29 August , 2011 OK here goes. I passed this cemetery yesterday on my way back from Belgium. During WW1 it was a French cemetery but after the armistice the French (and German) graves were removed and British ones re-interred there. The initial graves were mainly victims of a single air-raid. There is a Southern England connection to both those graves and the WW2 graves there; in fact the WW2 graves have a more specific connection to my subsequent ferry crossing. What is the name of the cemetery ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMarsdin Posted 30 August , 2011 Share Posted 30 August , 2011 By way of an additional clue, when I say, I passed the cemetery, I mean I could see it from the autoroute and it was within a few hundred meteres of the hard-shoulder. Apart from the first 20 minutes, my journey from Jamoigne to Calais was via an autoroute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seany Posted 31 August , 2011 Share Posted 31 August , 2011 I think it could be Bertnacre military Cemetery in north France on the way to Calais? Quite a few were killed in an air raid, it used to be french and the regiment referred to is the Royal West Surreys? Seany By way of an additional clue, when I say, I passed the cemetery, I mean I could see it from the autoroute and it was within a few hundred meteres of the hard-shoulder. Apart from the first 20 minutes, my journey from Jamoigne to Calais was via an autoroute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMarsdin Posted 31 August , 2011 Share Posted 31 August , 2011 Correct Seany, I've never visited it but noticed the cemetery when driving back and looked it up. Your turn now ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seany Posted 2 September , 2011 Share Posted 2 September , 2011 Hurrah ! I'm standing in a farmers field in which my grandfather stood on the 14th June 1917. In front of me I can see a road that rises very steeply towards Messines. In front of me someone is building a truly awful looking house that ruins the view whilst to my left is a cemetery, small and, of course, beautifully maintained - its name sounds like how x-factor losing finalists will spend the rest of their careers. The local saint is patron of an artillery rank higher than my grandfathers. my question (eventually) what is the name of the nearest town? good luck. Correct Seany, I've never visited it but noticed the cemetery when driving back and looked it up. Your turn now ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seany Posted 3 September , 2011 Share Posted 3 September , 2011 One good sleep later and no takers - too hard? here is a picture of where I am standing - it looks like a fairly good howitzer position to me. And another clue my Grandfather was a gunner so the higher rank was .......? Hurrah ! I'm standing in a farmers field in which my grandfather stood on the 14th June 1917. In front of me I can see a road that rises very steeply towards Messines. In front of me someone is building a truly awful looking house that ruins the view whilst to my left is a cemetery, small and, of course, beautifully maintained - its name sounds like how x-factor losing finalists will spend the rest of their careers. The local saint is patron of an artillery rank higher than my grandfathers. my question (eventually) what is the name of the nearest town? good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFayers Posted 3 September , 2011 Share Posted 3 September , 2011 Hi Seany, At this time would your grandfather's section have been attached to 16th Heavy Artillery Group? If so I'd go for Wytschaete. cheers Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFayers Posted 3 September , 2011 Share Posted 3 September , 2011 Actually, scrap the last one seany - you're near Wulvergem aren't you? (Cabaret springs to mind!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seany Posted 3 September , 2011 Share Posted 3 September , 2011 You are correct - cabaret the fate of x-factor losers, St Quentin the patron saint of bombardiers and the 293 siege battery sitting in a field just outside Wulvergem - well done, your turn. Actually, scrap the last one seany - you're near Wulvergem aren't you? (Cabaret springs to mind!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFayers Posted 3 September , 2011 Share Posted 3 September , 2011 Thanks seany - I wasn't aware of the St Quentin / Bombardier connection! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFayers Posted 3 September , 2011 Share Posted 3 September , 2011 Ok, for my fourth penny........ In the summer of 1917 this place briefly had an association with Manchester. Gunner 626025 William Kingham's battery was based very near here in December 1917; and he gave the following description of the area: "A wide plain stretched before us - a plain of shell holes joined by greasy, yellow mud. No sign of kindly Nature anywhere - no grass, no hedges; nothing of man's useful labours, only the earth torn, ruined, degraded, as the fell work of man's destructive powers." When my grandfather and his mates spent a miserable Christmas Day 1917 here, there would have been no turkey for Christmas dinner, and certainly no chicken! Where am I? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterhogg Posted 3 September , 2011 Share Posted 3 September , 2011 Passchendaele? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFayers Posted 3 September , 2011 Share Posted 3 September , 2011 Passchendaele? No, but not many miles away from here........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seany Posted 3 September , 2011 Share Posted 3 September , 2011 Pilckem ridge ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFayers Posted 3 September , 2011 Share Posted 3 September , 2011 Pilckem ridge ? No, not Pilckem, but again not overly far away. The name of the place is very much contemporary - so you might have to get your trench maps out! There is still a farm on the site today, but I guess it doesn't share the same name it had during the war. I'll post another clue or two tomorrow - I'm off to roost! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFayers Posted 4 September , 2011 Share Posted 4 September , 2011 To continue with W. R. Kingham's description of the area: "On our left stood a line of shattered skeletons of trees; they marked where ran, in a somewhat deep gulley, the little stream of the Lekkeboterbekke, dismal and encumbered with debris. Beyond the stream the ground rose slightly , while, limiting the dreariness in front of us, could be dimly seen the higher land around Westroosebeke, the extension of the Passchendaele Ridge." On the 16th August the 11th Battalion Manchester Regiment briefly held this place, but had to fall back. It actually fell three days later at 6.45am on the 19th to a female tank of 1 Tank Brigade and infantry of the 1/8th Worcestershire Regiment - part of an action that was considered to be "the first definite success gained through the use of tanks in the 1917 offensives". To quote Chris McCarthy the place was "harassed by a female tank which ditched 50 yards away (as many as one hundred Germans ran away from this pillbox and the surrounding bunkers and the majority of them were shot down). The strongpoint was occupied and all seven tanks managed to return from the action." No foul play here! Cheers Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seany Posted 4 September , 2011 Share Posted 4 September , 2011 (edited) Duck lodge farm ? Duck lodge farm? Maison du Hibou ? Ducks are fowls and neither chicken or turkey. Owls are not but the 11th Battallion did attack and hold this house of owls briefly I guess Duck lodge farm. no changed my mind re the tank action it must be the house of owls - so i gues Maison du Hibou quote name='SFayers' timestamp='1315136338' post='1639393'] To continue with W. R. Kingham's description of the area: "On our left stood a line of shattered skeletons of trees; they marked where ran, in a somewhat deep gulley, the little stream of the Lekkeboterbekke, dimal and encumbered with debris. Beyond the stream the ground rose slightly , while, limiting the dreariness in front of us, could be dimly seen the higher land around Westroosebeke, the extension of the Passchendaele Ridge." On the 16th August the 11th Battalion Manchester Regiment briefly held this place, but had to fall back. It actually fell three days later at 6.45am on the 19th to a female tank of 1 Tank Brigade and infantry of the 1/8th Worcestershire Regiment - part of an action that was considered to be "the first definite success gained through the use of tanks in the 1917 offensives". To quote Chris McCarthy the place was "harassed by a female tank which ditched 50 yards away (as many as one hundred Germans ran away from this pillbox and the surrounding bunkers and the majority of them were shot down). The strongpoint was occupied and all seven tanks managed to return from the action." No foul play here! Cheers Steve Edited 4 September , 2011 by seany Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFayers Posted 4 September , 2011 Share Posted 4 September , 2011 Hi seany, Not Duck Lodge (too close to Passchendaele), but you're on the right lines using avian terminology! You're actually much closer with Maison du Hibou - it was fire from Maison du Hibou and other local strong points (particularly Bulow Farm) that caused the 11th Manchesters to abandon this place on the 16th August. Cheers Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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