Bernard_Lewis Posted 28 September , 2015 Share Posted 28 September , 2015 And has fallen over... Bernard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tootrock Posted 28 September , 2015 Share Posted 28 September , 2015 Seems to be working now, but there is something wrong with the links on the website. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 30 September , 2015 Share Posted 30 September , 2015 Do the organizers and the attending public understand against whom the British fought July 1st 1916? I wanted to register in the online feature of the posted link per post #1 but Germans are excluded from the drawing, only British residents are allowed. Well- happy celebrations on July 1st. We shall remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flers1916 Posted 30 September , 2015 Share Posted 30 September , 2015 I have been told by a resident that all movement will be controlled and 'locals' will need a permit to enter the designated zones. It is only a number, 100. I do dislike big commemorations full of politicians and disinterested 'celebrities' getting priority over us ordinary people who have family connections and/or a genuine interest or long standing study of the Somme battlefields. I will go back in 101. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 30 September , 2015 Share Posted 30 September , 2015 I've definitely decided against trying to arrange a school visit, even with a small party as we did in 2006. We'll wait until the Autumn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelcave Posted 1 October , 2015 Share Posted 1 October , 2015 Security is the thing here. There will be mega VIPs present. It was bad enough at the visitor centre opening with just the D. of Gloucester there! let alone Hollande, Cameron, et al. There was a special train for the visitor centre opening that stopped at Bapaume. Probably not worth going really. It will be horrid. A few minor corrections. 1. Duke of Kent 2. They came on a special Eurostar and stopped at the Somme TGV station - coaches all organised, escorted etc and then disappeared off for the event, returning to collect everyone for the return leg. As Eurostar had been a sponsor, it also heavily subsidised the tickets for it. 3. It was not open to one and all, IIRC - i.e. the official opening was for contributors and those closely involved with the work - a sort of 'thank you'; not too surprising, that, given catering etc etc . It was possible to park your car, if that is how you came, close to the Centre. This time I suppose that there will be parking at Meaulte and buses shifting everyone. The problem comes as to how you get from Thiepval to, say, the Ulster Tower and/or the Newfoundland site AND then find a shuttle to get you back to your vehicle. Added to this is what will happen at Fricourt and Guillemont - and then there is the Lochnagar Crater question as well.. I am sure someone will let people know in the fullness of time. I think that whatever the solution that emerges that people will need to be on site at Thiepval several hours before anything much actually happens. I suspect that the area will be 'closed down' for some time before the ceremonies - i.e. no vehicular access in the area marked roughly by Aveluy, Auchonvillers, Beaucourt, Pozieres, Authuille for some hours - maybe even day(s) beforehand. Whatever, I am glad that I don't have to try and organise it all. Although I can sympathise with the view that it is all VIPs and so forth, more often than not with limited - if any real - interest in the battle/war. However, there would be an outcry if they did not go - failing to respect the memory, that sort of thing. Living in the times that we do, that involves very complex security etc etc. Gone are the days, alas, when you could wonder down Downing Street, a la, young Harold Wilson, and have your photograph standing by the door of No 10. One has to sympathise with the powers that be: the Somme is not an area that has an infrastructure designed to cope with the periodic mass of people who might turn up for a particular event (of course that is what gives it much of its charm!). I shall be quite happy to watch proceedings on the TV and then visit a couple of days afterwards when things (one can live in hope) will have calmed down considerably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 1 October , 2015 Share Posted 1 October , 2015 No chance, I suppose, of French farmers or London Cabbies having some form of protest? That I would pay to watch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffsyeoman Posted 1 October , 2015 Share Posted 1 October , 2015 Hmm. Having decided against a cross Channel holiday (to Normandy) this year for reasons of ferry port inundation and crowded ships and trains... having filled in my form and expressed an interest in the train service, a slight "wibble" has been induced by Mr Broomfield's thought above.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 1 October , 2015 Share Posted 1 October , 2015 A few minor corrections. 1. Duke of Kent 2. They came on a special Eurostar and stopped at the Somme TGV station - coaches all organised, escorted etc and then disappeared off for the event, returning to collect everyone for the return leg. As Eurostar had been a sponsor, it also heavily subsidised the tickets for it. 3. It was not open to one and all, IIRC - i.e. the official opening was for contributors and those closely involved with the work - a sort of 'thank you'; not too surprising, that, given catering etc etc . It was possible to park your car, if that is how you came, close to the Centre. Yes, you are quite right. Always get my Royal Dukes mixed up. And yes the station was indeed 30 km south of Bapaume. A great day as I sat opposite Peter Simkins and had a great champagne fuelled chat with him. Yes, the trip was greatly subsidised by Eurostar and others with deep pockets - and I understand that another Eurostar train "road shotgun" ahead of the event train. No little cost just for that. The train was delayed slightly on departure as there was a real Lord as drunk as a lord in the station facilities who had to be rescued by a squaddie sent by a Major-General. But your overall point is well made - the great and the good have to go and they have to be protected and that is that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wesley Wright Posted 14 October , 2015 Share Posted 14 October , 2015 I am told on the 1st July 2016 even if you have a ticket for Thiepval, you will not permitted to visit Ulster Tower or Beaumont Hamel. One venue only!! Wesley Wright Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartH Posted 14 October , 2015 Share Posted 14 October , 2015 It will be interesting to see which Royal or Royals turns up, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 14 October , 2015 Share Posted 14 October , 2015 Prince Charles was there in 2006. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8055Bell Posted 29 October , 2015 Share Posted 29 October , 2015 The train was delayed slightly on departure as there was a real Lord as drunk as a lord in the station facilities who had to be rescued by a squaddie sent by a Major-General. I've entered the ballot and opted for the Eurostar if it goes and I go. My earlier fear about mixing with the great and the good is now allayed. Please order me a spare drunken Lord for on-train entertainment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanCurragh Posted 30 October , 2015 Share Posted 30 October , 2015 We were there in 2006 - and obviously there was a huge exclusion area around Thiepval, but outside that area was quiet - there were maybe 10 or 20 at Serre at 07.30. Is that not the better option (or Gommecourt, or Redan Ridge maybe) for quiet contemplation? Or I wonder if those areas will be cordoned off as well next year? 100 is just another number, as has been mentioned above, but still, I'm not sure I want to miss this anniversary.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pighills Posted 30 October , 2015 Share Posted 30 October , 2015 Oh gosh, yes! Think how wonderful to be at Serre at the exact moment, but 100 years later. Or Redan Ridge looking across to Hawthorn crater. That has got to be so much bette than being at a stone memorial with the big wigs and probably not even able to get close to see what's going on. Better still, imagine if there were 20/30 or 50 or more with the same idea. Now that would be something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 30 October , 2015 Share Posted 30 October , 2015 Yes there are many potentially better places to gather outside the exclusion zone where you will actually be able to breath and shed a quiet tear 100 years on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 30 October , 2015 Share Posted 30 October , 2015 Yes, we found that it was possible to move around quite freely outside the immediate Thiepval area in 2006 and the day before conducted a perfectly normal battlefields tour day to La Boiselle, Longueval and Maricourt/Montauban, where we retraced the Manchester Pals attack on foot. My impression, rightly or wrongly, is that there's going to be a much more restrictive security presence over a wider area next year. I always swore I'd be there for the 100th anniversary of 1st July but have reluctantly decided against it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelcave Posted 31 October , 2015 Share Posted 31 October , 2015 I wonder if the CWGC is making any allowance for South Africans on the ballot? From the website it would appear not, yet they are the only one of the major dominions who have a significant representation on the memorial - the others using Vimy or V-B or B-H or close to the site of where there they were killed (NZ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest scrappydoo Posted 13 November , 2015 Share Posted 13 November , 2015 Hi I wonder if any one knows or has heard of a service at the manchester regiment,s memorial at the little grave yard in Contalmaison where the 12th brigade lost over 400 men on the 7/7/1916 including my wifes great granddad pt James H Hancock 23492 12th manchester reg as We would be better off there scrappydoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
priv Posted 26 November , 2015 Share Posted 26 November , 2015 Well - having almost forgotten I had entered the Ballot I have just received confirmation I have been allocated a pair. Clearly with what has been going on in the world in recent weeks the Security element will be extremely high. It was something of a coincidence as the OH and I had planned on a weeks touring France around that time - with the odd stop off "maybe possibly oooh is that where we are" at Ypres, so looks like the plan will be to get there early for the day and then take OH off for further education. I have never "won" anything from a Ballot like this before and whilst I am thrilled I am deeply honoured to have the opportunity to attend this Commemoration. I fully appreciate that there will be a lot of people who would have wanted to attend - but I have just been lucky. Tickets are non-transferable so thankfully that would put an end to an Ebay malarky ! Priv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannyboy1807 Posted 26 November , 2015 Share Posted 26 November , 2015 I have also been allocated 2 tickets. I am also honoured and moved at having the opportunity to attend the commemoration. sorry to the ones who didn't get allocated tickets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphed Posted 26 November , 2015 Share Posted 26 November , 2015 I have also been allocated two tickets and feel privileged and humbled. i was planning to visit a couple of recently found relatives resting places on the western front next year. This has put the icing on the cake and i can't stop smiling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuartmacrae1916 Posted 26 November , 2015 Share Posted 26 November , 2015 Applied, but didn't get tickets in the ballot, Very disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lees Posted 26 November , 2015 Share Posted 26 November , 2015 It seems that all of the applicants were informed one way or the other today by e-mail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanCurragh Posted 26 November , 2015 Share Posted 26 November , 2015 I've merged together two topics on the ballot - and remarkably enough, we have been successful too..... 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