burlington Posted 5 October , 2013 Share Posted 5 October , 2013 I will be at this location in a couple of weeks and wonder about the story behind these three isolated graves and why they were not brought 'in from the cold'. Anyone know? Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fattyowls Posted 5 October , 2013 Share Posted 5 October , 2013 I will be at this location in a couple of weeks and wonder about the story behind these three isolated graves and why they were not brought 'in from the cold'. Anyone know? Martin Hi Martin, I've just checked in the Middlebrooks' "The Somme Battlefields"(Penguin 1994) and apparently the three men were buried in a shell hole after falling in a minor attack by the 1/2nd Londons on 10th September. The family of one of the men, Capt. Dick Heumann bought the piece of land and together with the relatives of CSM B Mills and Sgt. A W Torrance who lie with him requested that the grave should not be disturbed. They placed a stone over the graves which remains although the CWGC placed a border around it and maintain the memorial. Hope you have a great trip; if possible could you post a photograph of how the site looks? Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cullbaggie Posted 5 October , 2013 Share Posted 5 October , 2013 is this the memorial past the guards cemetery in the fields?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fattyowls Posted 6 October , 2013 Share Posted 6 October , 2013 Cullbaggie, I think it is. I've just checked on Google Maps and the grave appears to be just visible at the highest resolution. It's just to the east of the square wood where the original farm was. I close by a month ago visiting Guillemont Road and the site of the Quadrilateral at Ginchy but yet again I didn't have the time to explore the area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick D Posted 6 October , 2013 Share Posted 6 October , 2013 I tried in June this year to visit the location, I was unable to find it or see it due to the high crops. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepoy Posted 6 October , 2013 Share Posted 6 October , 2013 Here is a Google Earth image showing the isolated grave location Sepoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fattyowls Posted 6 October , 2013 Share Posted 6 October , 2013 Here is a Google Earth image showing the isolated grave location Sepoy Sepoy, nice one. I'm going to have to teach myself how to do that.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick D Posted 6 October , 2013 Share Posted 6 October , 2013 It is also worth remembering that there isn't anywhere to park near the farm and the track is a bit much for non 4 wheel drive vehicles. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepoy Posted 6 October , 2013 Share Posted 6 October , 2013 Although I have been aware of this grave/s for years, I have never visited it. Is there a path leading to it or does one just walk up the edge of the field? Sepoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick D Posted 7 October , 2013 Share Posted 7 October , 2013 There is no path, I intended to walk between to points and hopefully find it, I hadn't planned for the high crops though. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cullbaggie Posted 7 October , 2013 Share Posted 7 October , 2013 There is no path, I intended to walk between to points and hopefully find it, I hadn't planned for the high crops though. Mick Hi Mick is the farmer a bit feisty or does he not mind people walking on his field to see/Photo the grave? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick D Posted 7 October , 2013 Share Posted 7 October , 2013 Well I never actually got to find out if he minded me trampling a path across his field or how happy he was for my car to block his track, so I don't know ! Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fattyowls Posted 7 October , 2013 Share Posted 7 October , 2013 Gentlemen, the boy Middlebrook in the aforementioned guidbook says that the three soldiers are in an official war grave and visitors have a right of access. However he suggests letting the farmer know and helpfully includes the requisite phrase: "pour visiter la tombe des soldats Britanniques dans le champ" just to head off the possibilty of feistiness. That said if the farmer is growing that 3m high corn you aren't going to find the site in a hurry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burlington Posted 10 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 10 October , 2013 I will be there is 12 days time.Hopefully all the crops will have been harvested by then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepoy Posted 10 October , 2013 Share Posted 10 October , 2013 I will be there is 12 days time.Hopefully all the crops will have been harvested by then. I look forward to hearing about your experiences of visiting this grave and please post some photographs! Sepoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burlington Posted 10 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 10 October , 2013 I look forward to hearing about your experiences of visiting this grave and please post some photographs! Sepoy OK will do, if I get there!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco Posted 10 October , 2013 Share Posted 10 October , 2013 The grave in 2011. Kind regards, marco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBee Posted 8 September , 2019 Share Posted 8 September , 2019 I've just been out to Guillemont area and missed seeing this as was unsure of access rights etc. The harvest is in, so the fields are all empty and ploiughed now making access easier. I'm going back in December so will try and make a visit to this then. 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