DAVE PLATT Posted 26 October , 2017 Share Posted 26 October , 2017 Hello All, This years visits of the Bouzincourt tunnels have been very popular with visitors from all over the world. With funds going into the pot we have used this to open up another 3 chambers and revealed another 200 pieces of graffiti. We have 27 chambers now and many more names have appeared, Australian, Canadian, NZ, English, Scottish (mainly HLI) and many different Divisions and Battalions. The double chamber shows General Rycroft's name proudly inscribed GOC of 32 Division. More artefacts too, tins of all types, boots, the toilet, tools, mess tins, petrol tins, buttons and badges, water bottles spoons and forks. The last chamber cleared showed 4 Canadian Snipers and 2 Scouts that had written their names on the walls, Alex McRae photo attached was just one of them, his profile (Thanks to Dave O'Mara) attached. 118087 Pte Alexander McCrae Born: Ontario, Canada, 25th March 1896 Next of Kin: Angus McCrae (father) Occupation: Steam Fitter Previous service with 48th Highlanders Enlisted: 13th Canadian Mounted Rifles - Lethbridge, Alberta, 5th February 1915 Transferred to the Canadian Cavalry Depot at Shorncliffe (UK) 10th Sept 1915 Embarked for France and T/fd. To 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles – 20th December 1915 Served with 3rd Canadian Division throughout the war 24 March 1916: treated at 142 Fd.Amb. for ‘scalded hand’ BATTLE OF MOUNT SORREL 2nd – 14th June 1916 Hospital: (Camiers & Wimereaux) June 1916 – contused back (hit by shell shard on 4th June) BATTLE OF FLERS-COURCELETTE 15th – 22nd September 1916 Lightly Wounded 16th September 1916 – remained at duty BATTLE OF THIEPVAL 26th – 28th September 1916 BATTLE OF LE TRANSLOY 1st – 18th October 1916 BATTLE OF THE ANCRE HEIGHTS 1st October – 11th November 1916 5th Dec 1916: attached to 8th Inf Bde as a scout Feb - April 1917: 9 days in 42 CCS, remainder in 39 General Hosp. Le Havre - being treated for Gonorrhoea (forfeited pay) 1st April 1917: (re) attached to 8th Inf Bde as a scout The Battle of Vimy 9th -14th April 1917 The Attack on La Coulotte 23rd April 1917 The Third Battle of the Scarpe 3rd -4th May 1917 Operations towards Lens June – August 1917 The Battle of Hill 70 15th – 25th August 1917 The Second Battle of Passchendaele 26th October – 10th November 1917 Hospital: 3 Canadian CCS then UK (Birmingham and Epsom) July – October 1918 (Pleurisy) Oct- Dec 1918 : Seaford and Kinmel Park Returned to Canada – January 1919 Discharged – 21st February 1919 Contact me direct for a visit, costs depend on group size daveplatt.dp@google mail.com Or see Beaumonthamelview.com Thanks Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIRKY Posted 26 October , 2017 Share Posted 26 October , 2017 Thats great Dave , we really enjoyed our tour in March well worthwhile, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikp Posted 27 October , 2017 Share Posted 27 October , 2017 Well worth a visit. Went in 2015 and was fascinated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick D Posted 29 October , 2017 Share Posted 29 October , 2017 I can highly recommend visiting the tunnels, my visit last week was a highlight of many, many visits to the region over numerous years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harveyfletch Posted 31 October , 2017 Share Posted 31 October , 2017 This is a great tour . Dave is a very knowledgable and enthusiastic host . Thanks Dave . All the best . Dom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobsta Posted 17 November , 2017 Share Posted 17 November , 2017 Went with Dave on the 12th November. Have been to the Somme many times, but this has to be one of the highlights for me. Dave is very knowledgeable and has a true passion for the subject. Would highly recommend. Thanks Dave. Will be visiting again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 20 January , 2019 Share Posted 20 January , 2019 fabulous post. Just found out from a new contact in England that my Great Uncle etched his name in the wall of the tunnel 4 days before he was killed. He and his brother Chester were with the 46th Battalion. This is a real incentive to revisit the Somme again. Thanks very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyne Posted 20 January , 2019 Share Posted 20 January , 2019 Thanks for the post... definitely a place to visit on the next visit to the Somme... M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIRKY Posted 20 January , 2019 Share Posted 20 January , 2019 3 hours ago, Marilyne said: Thanks for the post... definitely a place to visit on the next visit to the Somme... M. Its a must been down twice and different both times, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 11 July , 2020 Share Posted 11 July , 2020 Hi, How can I book a tour of the tunnels? my great uncle is in Bouzincourt cemetery- does anyone know if the Lancashire Fusiliers (Salford Pals) went into the tunnels ? many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horrocks Posted 12 July , 2020 Share Posted 12 July , 2020 On 20/01/2019 at 16:52, Guest said: fabulous post. Just found out from a new contact in England that my Great Uncle etched his name in the wall of the tunnel 4 days before he was killed. He and his brother Chester were with the 46th Battalion. This is a real incentive to revisit the Somme again. Thanks very much. My goodness, I can't begin to imagine your emotions upon discovering this. Remarkable, and moving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frajohn Posted 28 July , 2020 Share Posted 28 July , 2020 (edited) On 11/07/2020 at 23:28, Pie Tries said: Hi, How can I book a tour of the tunnels? my great uncle is in Bouzincourt cemetery- does anyone know if the Lancashire Fusiliers (Salford Pals) went into the tunnels ? many thanks Hi Just to let you know that it is not possible to tour the tunnels. This is not due to the current Covid-19 situation, rather it ia a "Health & Safety issue. Until another form of exit can be constructed and permanent lighting is installed visits will not be allowed. Due to the costs involved I cannot see this happening for the foreseeable future. A shame as it was a great experience to visit. John Edited 28 July , 2020 by Frajohn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelS Posted 29 July , 2020 Share Posted 29 July , 2020 Won't be the same as visiting, but UKTVPlay still has the episode of 'Underground Worlds' (Series 1, Episode 5 - Bouzincourt) which was originally on the 'Yesterday' channel still available https://uktvplay.uktv.co.uk/shows/underground-worlds/watch-online/6093314149001 (Sorry John, probably only available in the UK (?), but sounds as if you were lucky enough to have visited before the shutdown) Some of the other episodes still available visited other Great War & WWII underground locations NigelS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sly Posted 30 July , 2020 Share Posted 30 July , 2020 Hi, Quote Just to let you know that it is not possible to tour the tunnels. This is not due to the current Covid-19 situation, rather it ia a "Health & Safety issue. Until another form of exit can be constructed and permanent lighting is installed visits will not be allowed. Due to the costs involved I cannot see this happening for the foreseeable future. A shame as it was a great experience to visit Thank you for the info, it's not so surprising: that was just a matter of time... and this is going to happen everywhere: unfortunately I see the same happening at Vauquois in the future (I really hope that I'm wrong). The list of WW1 tunnels and undergrounds closing to the public in the last decade is still increasing... Sly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIRKY Posted 30 July , 2020 Share Posted 30 July , 2020 1 hour ago, Sly said: Hi, Thank you for the info, it's not so surprising: that was just a matter of time... and this is going to happen everywhere: unfortunately I see the same happening at Vauquois in the future (I really hope that I'm wrong). The list of WW1 tunnels and undergrounds closing to the public in the last decade is still increasing... Sly Hi Sly hope you are well? What WW1 tunnels are open in the Somme area? Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sly Posted 31 July , 2020 Share Posted 31 July , 2020 Hi Tony, Hope you are well too, to my knowledge only the Naours caves are open in the Somme, it well worth a look if you have never been there: amazing number of graffitis. I don't know any other "tunnel" or "underground" open in the Somme, but other places nearby can be visited: the Wellington quarry at Arras, the tunnels at Vimy (they have just re-open the visitors centre but I am not too sure if the tunnels are accessible?), there are also some interesting tunnels in Bapaume but they are open only one day a year. Regards, Sly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIRKY Posted 1 August , 2020 Share Posted 1 August , 2020 On 31/07/2020 at 06:22, Sly said: Hi Tony, Hope you are well too, to my knowledge only the Naours caves are open in the Somme, it well worth a look if you have never been there: amazing number of graffitis. I don't know any other "tunnel" or "underground" open in the Somme, but other places nearby can be visited: the Wellington quarry at Arras, the tunnels at Vimy (they have just re-open the visitors centre but I am not too sure if the tunnels are accessible?), there are also some interesting tunnels in Bapaume but they are open only one day a year. Regards, Sly Hi Sly , yes we went to Naours this year and it was great. They closed a couple of days after our visit due to the virus. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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