spike10764 Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 Next week I'm off to The Bay of the Somme on the French coast, for a weeks holiday with my wife and family. I then plan to take a day out (as yet uncertain which) to visit the Thiepval Memorial to take my OWN picture of my Great Grandfathers inscription. Then I plan to visit the Lonsdale Cemetery Authuille and try to get a feel to the events and places I've only read about. My family are at yet undecided whether to stay on the campsite by the coast, or come with me for the day, although the strange mix of emotions I expect to feel may be best kept private. I plan to travel from Le Crotoy via Albert and up the Bapaume road(I'm toying with a return via Arras, but time may defeat me on that). I know I'll really have to try and make a sensible plan to make the most of my day, but knowing me I'll be off at a tangent before I know it. As long as I get the picture and the Lonsdale cemetery in, I'll be happy though. I say.... well hopefully because the fates are conspiring a bit. Couldn't believe it , came back from a course at work and 1 week to go, my cars playing up. If I can't get it fixed early in the next week, then come about Wednesday I'll be frantically trying to hire a car for 9 days, including a trip across the Channel(is that possible?-I'll find out).Then it'll be changing the Seacat Ferry details, and praying for good weather Wish me luck ..... ...but don't call me lucky Spike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Birch Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 Have a great trip, Spike. Incidently the Lonsdale Cemetery is an easy walk from the Thiepval Memorial. You pass through the Leipzig Redoubt, and from here you can walk down to the Lonsdale Cemetery over the ground up which the 11 Borderers attacked on July 1 1916. It gives you a very good indication of the uphill struggle the British faced. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisC Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 Hi Spike10764 I went recently to the Lonsdale and can second Tim Birch. On the edge of the Bois D'Authille the Battalions faced an uphill advance of about 300m towards the Leipzig Redoubt. If you look at the ground today, you would say it could not be done in the conditions and tactics of 1916, but it seems that it was one of the few successes of 1st July. I have a few photos if you are interested. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
healdav Posted 19 July , 2004 Share Posted 19 July , 2004 If your car is still down, I would suggest renting a car in France (the major companies are the same everywhere), thus saving on ferry fares and the hassle that British companies still put on international travel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 19 July , 2004 Share Posted 19 July , 2004 If your car is still down, I would suggest renting a car in France (the major companies are the same everywhere), thus saving on ferry fares and the hassle that British companies still put on international travel. Agree with that, easy walk to the building in Calais, sometimes you have to call from there, agent comes from town to give you keys to car. And with left hand drive you are less likely to have trouble when passing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 19 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 19 July , 2004 To all One major result - car fixed today-the man from the AA came(as part of the warranty) fitted 4 new ignition coils and hey presto. Setting off on Friday and staying over around London. Sailing Saturday pm. wooo hooo Tim-thanks for the advice Chris C- always interested to see photos of the area-I'll PM you off forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 5 August , 2004 Author Share Posted 5 August , 2004 UPDATE Well I finally did it, I visited the places I'd only read about. It was only 4 hours or so, my family were with me so I couldn't please myself as much as I'd have liked to, but I got the basic things done that were my minimum for the trip. From the Bay of the Somme coast I drove inland to Abbeville then Amiens. On the long straight roman roads fron Amiens to Albert, I first started to see the roadsigns for places I'd only read about. Villages and Towns that have names from the stories of The Great War, Corbie,Dernancourt, Ribemont . Then over a hill and before me Albert, with the Golden Virgin gleaming in the sunlight. Round Albert to another straight road and we approach Ovillers , La Grande Mine is signed(visited this later-boy it 's deep). Then up to Pozieres, turn right on to the D71 for Thiepval, past Mucky Farm(never moo Cow) and the memorial which first was sighted much earlier is right in front of us, Parked up and finally, finally got my own photo of the inscription- my Great Grandads Name among the 73000 ,Photos aplenty and I left my own memorial tribute to him on the Central plinth, After signing the visitors book, off to find The Lonsdale Cemetery, down into Authuille and sharp left up a single track road that runs over the ridge. Enough space to park and down the track to visit the Lonsdale Cemetery. More snaps and a walk around, and around, and around- they had to drag me away. Then on the crest of the ridge- the quarry on the Leipzig Salient-called the Granatloch by the Germans. Not much left now but you still get an idea of the task facing the 32nd division that day. Looking down the track(track2) that was the direction of attack-without the crops there is no cover after the woods and the view from the ridge is all downhill. Still had time for a quick visit to La Boiselle- the Grande Mine- quite a sight(the souvenir sellers were out -but they've got to make a living I suppose( By now the kids point blank reused to leave the car). So reluctantly I set off back for the coast, sad but happy,if thats appropriate. One thing I DO know- I will return and I will see more( the remembrance trail looks interesting) next time. I will be putting some pictures in the Gallery when time permits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Miller Posted 5 August , 2004 Share Posted 5 August , 2004 Well done Spike! Good to hear you finding the places that have meant so much to you on paper. Now you'll be able to plan ahead for a proper visit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 6 August , 2004 Share Posted 6 August , 2004 Glad you got there Spike, well woth a visit for a longer period family permitting. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 6 August , 2004 Author Share Posted 6 August , 2004 I was here..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 6 August , 2004 Author Share Posted 6 August , 2004 View of the Thiepval Memorial from the Lonsdale Cemetery... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 6 August , 2004 Author Share Posted 6 August , 2004 La Grande Mine- seen in person I was taken aback by the sheer volume of earth that must have been displaced Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 6 August , 2004 Share Posted 6 August , 2004 Spike, Great photos, sure you are aware of the Colin Bardgett book "The Lonsdale Battalion" which describes the actions of this Battalion on 1st July. See scan for your great grandfather, bottom entry. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 6 August , 2004 Share Posted 6 August , 2004 Yuk, Sorry about the size of the scan Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 9 August , 2004 Author Share Posted 9 August , 2004 Thanks Andy, Last year I managed to get acopy of this book after some searching- I got number 9 of a special first print of 600 , signed by the author and with a small copy of the Man or Mouse poster inside. It's like my bible-so to speak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Robertson Posted 9 August , 2004 Share Posted 9 August , 2004 Well done Spike - methinks the trip won't be your last. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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