March 2017 Trip

[trenchtrotter]

I have recently returned from my usual march trip to the old Western Front. Most time on Somme but a day at Ypres and a day 21/3/1918 lines just above St Quentin.

 

Weather variable to say the least. Spring sun on a coulee of days but torrential rain all day too.

 

Perfect hosts at the Silent Picket B and B Martinpuich and also The Dug Out B and B, Ypres.

 

Some moving times out there and some sad finds.

 

Spent a fair amount of time around Pozieres this time.

 

Below is Australian collar badge from a field between Pozieres village and Mouquet Farm. 

 

 

 

 

Complete preserve jar from near High Wood. Survived ploughing. Definitely WW1

[trenchtrotter]

Rather damaged and bent Suffolk shoulder title. Only reads SUFFO now. I think from 7th Suffolks?

This Lee Enfield oil bottle from Gueudeucourt. Pierced by a sliver of shell or shrapnel.

 

 

[trenchtrotter]

I did a lot of walking and visited cemeteries and individual soldiers also. I have more items that I found, maybe later.

 

The fields were generous to me this year for some reason.

 

Weird walking and thinking with no company as I was a lone traveller this time.

 

Thanks for viewing.

[Beechhill]

Thank you for sharing, TT! Would love to see more. 

 

/Dan 

[mandy hall]

And me, your trips are always interesting.

 

Mandy

[Pighills]

Jealous as usual 

[Fattyowls]

I'm with Dan and Mandy on this one TT; I'm very keen to see more, and hear more if you will be at the Old Contemptibles on Friday. Provided it is available we can watch Kim jealously balancing glasses of wine in both hands. Do you think the rain had an impact on the number of finds?

 

Pete.

 

P.S. I'm also jealous of the fact you were able to sample Jenny and John's epic breakfasts at the Silent Picket. I've hardly been able to face a British croissant since I sampled the ones Jenny gets from the boulanger in Albert.

[trenchtrotter]

Hoping to be at Contempts on Friday. 

Sadly pics limited this year as rain effectively prevented my use of camera.

 

However some shells to be going along with. Near the Butte.

 

 

[horrocks]

That sign up beyond the Butte carries an impressive cache at its foot at this time each year. You wonder where they keep coming from!

[17107BM]

As always thanks for posting up your March Battle field trip.

 

Shame the weather took it's toll. Look forward to you posting though.

 

Cheers Sir.

Gary.

[Mick D]

Keep it coming, love this stuff ! 

[MikeyH]

trenchtrotter,

 

Yes, more please!

 

Mike.

Edited 20 March , 2017 by MikeyH

[trenchtrotter]

Thanks,

 

As stated photos are somewhat limited.

 

I spent my first day in the Salient, concrete spotting.

 

These images show part of a series of bunkers to the south and east of Diksmuide. You can see the big memorial at Diksmuide in the background of one of the images.

 

The first bunker is known as the Arabian Bunker. Occupied at some stage by French North African troops who created arabic features inside and wrote Arabic script on the wall above door. The remains of the script written by the Belgian Engineers who constructed bunker also present.

 

 

[Mick D]

Another of my favourite subjects, bunkers !