John S Posted 14 January , 2005 Share Posted 14 January , 2005 This is the second photo. Slightly larger that the first, this one being 8 x 5.5 cms. The taller diamond shaped memorial in the background has 7 letters as follows ??MM?NS. My best interpretation of the missing letters is N or R, O or U, I or E. Checked CWGC site just in case for possibles using mix of letters and the only three (Rummins x 2 and Rummens x 1) are all named on various memorials Perhaps the relationship of the cemetery to the houses and the headstones grouped round the Cross may be a clue? Thanks John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doogal Posted 14 January , 2005 Share Posted 14 January , 2005 (edited) Hi I may be sticking my neck out a little far, but I think it is a communal cemetery, i.e. one that existed for French civilian use. The larger crosses and headstones in the background seem to indicate that this is the case. So, now we've narrowed it down a bit.... In all seriousness, I hope this is of help. I've a copy of Unending Vigil at home. I'll see if there are any snippets of info that might help. Pehaps a different way of narrowing it down is to think about the unit of the soldier and the year of death. Even though he is commemorated at Thiepval, there may be a way of approachinig this 1) For the moment, choose to trust that his sister had some logic attached to this photograph's location and evidently went to a specific cemetery - and kept the photograph - perhaps she knew many of his comrades were buried there, or had some knowledge now lost to us 2) CWGC and Silent cities give potted histories of most of the cemeteries in France, explaining on the whole what regiments are buried in each cemetery - and which action. Get the soldiers details and try cross referencing in this way, then you may find that there are only one or two potential locations that have the right combination of regiment, communal status and dates. OK, so this is all one long trail of assumption, but it is possible a means of slicing up your search a bit more. Of course, there may be a Pal who can identify it immediately without all that palavour... and this is no joke, the depth of knowledge here never ceases to amaze me. regards doogal p.s. editing by me due to a display of rubbish writing and lack of clear logic Edited 14 January , 2005 by doogal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 14 January , 2005 Admin Share Posted 14 January , 2005 John Looking at the appearance of the housing in the second picture, could the Cemetery be somewhere in a mining area, as the houses look a bit like miners Corons. This may narrow the search down a bit. Just a thought. Michelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobpike Posted 14 January , 2005 Share Posted 14 January , 2005 Looks like Aire Communal a little? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 14 January , 2005 Admin Share Posted 14 January , 2005 Furthaer to my posting above, looking at Silent Cities and the CWGC site (glad I have a Pop Up Blocker, its ALWAYS busy when I look at that site!) May I suggest (probably erroneously) Maybe Mazingarbe Communal Cemetery Extension Or Bully Grenay Communal Cemetery extension or Fosse10 Communal Cemetery extension, Sains en Gohelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 14 January , 2005 Share Posted 14 January , 2005 John, I wish I had seen your photos sooner. For I'm afraid that I have to say my predecessors are wrong. The first second I saw it I was (99%) sure : this is Ypres Town Cemetery. And I can prove it. For I took a photo from almost exactly the same spot a week or two ago. Two rows of headstones. Behind them (on the right) is where now the CWGC staff headstones are. (A few have recently been moved to Ypres Town Cem. Ext. close by.) If you wonder where the cross of sacrifice is which is visible on tour photo : on mine it is hidden by the second tree from the left. The little houses, all identical, in the backgrond are the "Ligywijk" in Ypres. Small houses built after WW1 for working class people. Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 14 January , 2005 Share Posted 14 January , 2005 And to make comparison easier : John's photo again. Bit smaller. And now I'm not 99% sure, but 101%. Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John S Posted 14 January , 2005 Author Share Posted 14 January , 2005 Aurel I have e-mailed you from the other thread but a great thanks for your response. To have the same picture 80 years later is fantastic. To all the others who replied thanks for your response also, your time and interest is very much appreciated. Regards John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
37th Posted 14 January , 2005 Share Posted 14 January , 2005 That was super fast, how remarkable to have the same photograph taken from almost exactly the same spot nearly 90yrs later. Top marks to you Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 14 January , 2005 Share Posted 14 January , 2005 Aurel, The second picture is also in "The Silent Cities" although without the women walking along, so it definetely looks like Ypres Town Cemetery, well done. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 14 January , 2005 Share Posted 14 January , 2005 (...) how remarkable to have the same photograph taken from almost exactly the same spot nearly 90yrs later. Top marks to you Aurel Actually it was not that "difficult". Ypres Town Cemetery only has two sections : one on both sides of the Menin Road entrance, one near Ypres Town Cemetery Extension. And when taking a picture of the latter section, one is bound to take it from that spot if one wants the (only) 2 rows. That the photographer of Silent Cities, as Andy pointed out, was standing on the same spot for his photo, proves it. Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yves Le Cuziat, MBE Posted 15 January , 2005 Share Posted 15 January , 2005 G'day No doubt IT IS CORBIE BRITISH CEMETERY Regards Yves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 15 January , 2005 Share Posted 15 January , 2005 Yves, Sorry, but I'm afraid I have to disagree. Still 101% sure it is Ypres Town Cemetery. And I think my modern photo leaves no doubt. What are your arguments ? Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yves Le Cuziat, MBE Posted 15 January , 2005 Share Posted 15 January , 2005 Hi Aurel No problem..Be sure that I am going to change my glasses regards Yves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 17 January , 2005 Share Posted 17 January , 2005 Aurel Nice work, and well done. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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