Somme visit underway!

[Andy davidson]

Hi JBee

 

I once got told that one visit is all it takes to get under your skin, then it can take years and years of visits and you still only scratch the surface. I am now up to 11visits, only went on my own the last one. Congrats on going on your first visit solo, an achievement well done, and here's to many many more.

 

Andy

[JBee]

6 hours ago, Andy davidson said:

Hi JBee

 

I once got told that one visit is all it takes to get under your skin, then it can take years and years of visits and you still only scratch the surface. I am now up to 11visits, only went on my own the last one. Congrats on going on your first visit solo, an achievement well done, and here's to many many more.

 

Andy

Thanks Andy.

 

I met a few folk there who seemed surprised at my travelling solo but for me it worked. 

 

Definitely true it gets under your skin.

 

I'm already planning the next one. 👍

[Ghazala]

On 08/09/2019 at 13:23, JBee said:

Day 3 - Serre

 

The village that started this trip and the battalions who fell there, mainly lads from the Sheffield streets around where I now live. There are many terraced streets near my home and after looking on the brilliant web site 'A Street Near You' the names and details of many local soldiers came forward from the page. And there it began.  Some were from WW2  but I decided to concentrate my research on the local guys of the 12th Battalion Y&L (Sheffield City) from WW1 who were at Serre. 

 

One, in particular, lived very near my home and his parents are buried in our local cemetery, with his name also mentioned on their joint grave. His mother died in 1913 and Alfred was the only son, who had followed his father, William Alfred, into his accountancy practice, based in the city centre, behind the cathedral.  I still pass their home, a large Victorian detached house with the original front door, now painted a rich, dark blue. I told Alfred all this when I met him finally at Railway Hollow. I showed him the pictures of his parents' grave in Sheffield, with it's poppy cross and I placed one on his.  I told him his house still looked the same as when he left it and was still the best house on the street. I told him he was still mentioned  today, due to the inscription his father chose for his headstone, from a letter home that Alf had sent earlier that year. It wasn't until I followed the trail of Alfred Goodlad, private and bandsman, that I realised how many others also consider him (and all the others) really, rather special.

 

And here he is...

 

 

 

Railway Hollow Cemetery at Sheffield Memorial Park

 

A most poignant cemetery to visit. Look for the grave of Alf Goodlad, On his grave reads 'The French are a grand nation worth fighting for'. This was taken from a letter home to his mother and it caused a lot of interest after the war amongst the local French people. 

 

Private Alfred Goodlad 12/929

12th Bn York and Lancaster Regiment

Died on 1st July 1916 aged 23

Son of William and Jane Goodlad

of 36, Marshall Rd., Woodseats, Sheffield

Grave: A 22

The French are a

Grand Nation

Worth fighting for

Vide Alf’s letter home

 

[jay dubaya]

I spent a lot of my youth on Woodseats and often not far from Alf's house

 

                                               

 

Edited 12 September , 2019 by jay dubaya