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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Mons


steven belfast

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Going back to france in october for 4 days and plan to take in mons on our way to the menin gate, my great grandfather fought at mons with the south lancs any places on relevant interest anyone can reccomend

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A few places to visit but now only plaques to see and a very special cemetery St Symphorien Cemetery. Would suggest you have a read of the Holts's Battlefield Guide t the Western Front North for background and details. More information used to be available from the local tourist office so look for that as well.

Bernard

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There is a bit on 2/S Lancs in Jack Horsfall's and my Mons in the BE series - they suffered most of their casualties near Cuesmes, to the south of Mons. For the Mons battlefield the area is relatively unchanged, at least that was the case when I was there a good number of years ago now. There are a number of SLs buried in the communal cemeteries (eg probably amongst the 70 or so unknowns in the communal cemetery at Cuesmes) around and about, including a single CWGC grave, Private John Wright SL, in the small communal cemetery at Ciply - he's buried near the back wall of the cemetery.

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  • 1 month later...

The South Lancs position is relatively unchanged and easy enough to find. Go to the center of Frameries (just south of Mons) and drive north along the main street for about 500m, under a rail bridge, turn right into the industrial park just past the gas station. The rise just north of the park is their position. You can walk that field and find all kind of web gear parts, cartidges and even army spoons. A few years ago I posted a map and some pics.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Greetings from Mons...

St Symphorien is a must. There is a 'first shot' memorial just outside Mons on the road to Soignies (just past S.H.A.P.E.) - the same location as the last position of the Canadians when the war ended. Nimy is worth a look too. I've got a (printed out) pdf guide to the battlefields around Mons on my desk that I thought I downloaded from their tourist office website, but now I can't find the link. If I can find the link I'll post it or I can scan it in and email to you if it helps.

There is another guide at the link below though.

http://www.sefton.gov.uk/docs/BATTLEFIELD%20GUIDE.doc

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Many thanks to all for the replies, Army Officer thanks a lot for that

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@steven belfast - I can't find the link to the file on the tourist office website (I think they may have removed it for some reason). I do have the original pdf though - if you send me a PM with an email address I'll send it on to you. I would post it here but it's not mine to post if that makes sense. Same goes for anyone else after a copy - it's an 8 page in depth study of the Mons area.

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