roel22 Posted 13 April , 2013 Share Posted 13 April , 2013 On wikipedia (Dutch) I read there were entrances to British tunnels on the Scherpenberg (south of Ypres) going all the way to Wijtschaete. That's 7 km in a straight line. Did these tunnels really go this far? Roel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mebu Posted 13 April , 2013 Share Posted 13 April , 2013 Roel, doubt it very much. early attempts to tunnel into the Scherpenberg gave problems with running sand and were abandoned; there are still 6 or so concrete dugouts into the hill (photo of one attached) but these don't go very deep and whether they ever extended to Wijtshaete......it's a long, long way......and to what benefit for the effort? Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roel22 Posted 14 April , 2013 Author Share Posted 14 April , 2013 Thanks, Peter. I do recall my parents talking to a local farmer near the Lettenberg a few decades ago, who claimed tunnels ran all the way to Wijtschaete (he personally had been in them shortly after the war...) Roel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mebu Posted 14 April , 2013 Share Posted 14 April , 2013 Roel, just been doing some digging (sorry, reading) on info at Scherpenberg. The REs had a lot of trouble with dugouts in the hill and left good records of this.......many problems with the geology (mainly running sand) and abandoning tunnels. Nowhere do they mention the great effort to dig such a long subway, Below is map of the tunnels they did produce. Also for lettenburg.....one never says never, but again it is a very long way to Wijtshaete. I hope I'm wrong and one day it may be discovered..... Regards Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roel22 Posted 15 April , 2013 Author Share Posted 15 April , 2013 Thanks, Peter. Must say I also had my doubts when I heard the story... Roel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zijde26 Posted 23 April , 2013 Share Posted 23 April , 2013 People living in the area still say that these tunnels were going to Wytschate. Who knows ? In fact, these openings were used as headquarter for the army during ww1 Gilbert Deraedt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roel22 Posted 24 April , 2013 Author Share Posted 24 April , 2013 Fascinating, Gilbert! Problem is there are not too many around anymore who had the chance to visit these tunnels after the war. (Assuming these tunnels reallly exist!) Roel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1908 Posted 17 December , 2013 Share Posted 17 December , 2013 Hello, The tunnels were not going to Wytschate. Only between the dugouts in the Scherpenberg. And today, all are close. ( landslide ) Regards, S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoppage Drill Posted 17 December , 2013 Share Posted 17 December , 2013 Legends about "secret tunnels" abound in the folklore of all ages. There is some sort of psychological fascination in such things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 17 December , 2013 Share Posted 17 December , 2013 Oberst Füsslein, who commanded the German mining companies in Flanders, recounted in his memoirs that his superiors had wanted him to undermine and blow up Mt Kemmel. Geologists had said that it was feasible and he had been asked if he could do it. He had replied 'Yes', but added that it would involve digging a tunnel about 6km long plus a network of galleries and mine chambers under the Kemmelberg .... and he estimated that it would take until about 1925 to complete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 17 December , 2013 Share Posted 17 December , 2013 walking the WWI fields, I often met locals who told about tunnels running from one village to another, or tunnels running to secret field hospitals, HQ's, etc. never been proven by documents or material traces in the field. Cnock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjamin thyla Posted 3 November , 2023 Share Posted 3 November , 2023 Woww, 10 years ago this thread. Would like to comment it though, as I know the place by heart (one of my favourite running spots). Kemmelberg, Lettenberg and Scherpenberg are 2 (not 3) distinct locations. The Lettenberg is a location on the farest opposite of camping Ypra, although if it was not mentioned with a sign, one might "think" that it is just one more slope of Mt Kemmel. Which it is (according to me) from a runner's point of view. There is no doubt that Mt Kemmel has an underground "system" of bunkers and tunnels: I visited them myself, in fact anyone can: you just need to be with a small group and make an appointment. The Mt Kemmel Commando bunker was in use until 1963 (part of the Cold War Defense System and pact), but it has not been disclosed from when it dates and why Kemmel was chosen. Maybe because there was already an elaborate system? So, to be clear, I nowhere claim that there are tunnels running up to Wijtschaete, what I do claim is that there are underground networks in Mt Kemmel, I saw them myself https://www.toerismeheuvelland.be/nl/commandobunker-kemmel Sincerely, Benjamin Thyla Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mebu Posted 3 November , 2023 Share Posted 3 November , 2023 Certainly not WW1 vintage. Nothing like. The link says it began in 1952. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjamin thyla Posted 3 November , 2023 Share Posted 3 November , 2023 The whole system could be re-activated right away, taken some necessary upgrades into account. I have been long enough in the Army to know one thing for sure, never show the rear of the tongue Cheers, Benjamin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Posted 5 November , 2023 Share Posted 5 November , 2023 The people to contact are the Durand Group. https://www.durandgroup.org.uk/ They explore all sorts of Great War tunnels and make much of their work public. Howard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now