First trip to the Western Front next week...can't wait!

[Buffnut453]

After an extended delay, I'm finally going to visit the Western Front.  Trip is much shorter than I'd like but needs must etc.  I'll be staying in Lille so I can flip-flop between Ypres and Warneton.  Most of the non-museum sites are related to family members who served in the Great War.  Current plans are:

22 Sep:

o   Ramparts Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium - visiting a relative who's buried there

o   "In Flanders Fields", Cloth Hall, Ypres 

o   Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 then on to other sites in the area if I have time (e.g. Tyne Cot, the German trenches at Bayernwald and Polygon Wood)

o   Pond Farm Museum 

o   Menin Gate – Last Post played daily at 2000, if I can get back from Pond Farm in time

23 Sep:

o   Prowse Point Military Cemetery, Hainaut, Belgium

o   Pont d’Achelles Military Cemetery, Nieppe, France - visiting a relative who's buried there

o   Tour of La Basse-Ville battlefield

24 Sep: 

o   Essex Farm Cemetery, Boezinge

o   Hooge Crater Museum

25 Sep:

o   Drive to Amiens via Bethencourt (Le Jeune Bois near Caudry) / Cambrai Tank Museum (possibly...but timing may be an issue) / Quéant Road Cemetery / Mory / La Boisselle / Pozieres Memorial 

26 Sep:

o   Vert Gallant Airfield Site (Le Rosel, La Vicogne)

o   Somme Battlefield (near Amiens)

o   “Musee Somme 1916” in Albert

 

Like I said, it's something of a flying visit but it's all I can manage at the moment.  Still really excited to be going.  

I'd welcome any other suggestions for things to do on 24 Sep.  One alternative is to drive to Waterloo, since I'm "in the area".  

[Buffnut453]

Just made a major breakthrough regarding my relative who was killed near La Basse-Ville in September 1917.  He served in the 2nd Bn Rifle Brigade but the War Diary doesn't provide any specific details of locations.  On a wild hare, I checked out the War Diary of the unit they'd relieved on 19 September, the 2nd Royal Berkshires.  Sure enough, the Royal Berkshires' War Diary gives map references for the section of line they were holding.  So I now have a specific place to visit during my tour next week.  

Talk about serendipitous timing!  I am one happy camper!!

[Don Regiano]

Maybe the 25th brigade war diary could add some more info?

[JWK]

For the 24th may I suggest Museum of the Battle of Fromelles  https://www.musee-bataille-fromelles.fr/en (closed on Tuesdays)

and Talbot House in Poperinge   https://www.talbothouse.be/en/museum/home

 

The Pond Farm is a working farm, and visits are only by reservation ( https://depondfarm.be/en/contact1  )

It doesn't seem to be open for visits on the 22nd .....  But you can always ask!

And if I'm not mistaken his (young) neighbour has a similar museum.

[Michelle Young]

How about dropping into Loos on the 25th?

[Buffnut453]

16 hours ago, Don Regiano said:

Maybe the 25th brigade war diary could add some more info?

Thanks Don, I'll give that a look.  I think I've checked it before but my memory's failing! :-)

[Buffnut453]

16 hours ago, JWK said:

For the 24th may I suggest Museum of the Battle of Fromelles  https://www.musee-bataille-fromelles.fr/en (closed on Tuesdays)

and Talbot House in Poperinge   https://www.talbothouse.be/en/museum/home

 

The Pond Farm is a working farm, and visits are only by reservation ( https://depondfarm.be/en/contact1  )

It doesn't seem to be open for visits on the 22nd .....  But you can always ask!

And if I'm not mistaken his (young) neighbour has a similar museum.

Many thanks JWK.  I have a strong suspicion Talbot House may be added to my agenda.  

I already have an appointment booked at Pond Farm.  It was high on my priority list given its association with 55th (West Lancs) Div in which a number of my relatives served.  

[Buffnut453]

7 hours ago, Michelle Young said:

How about dropping into Loos on the 25th?

Hi Michelle,

Thanks for the pointer.  Unfortunately, my journey on 25 Sep is pretty packed already visiting sites where my relatives served, were buried, and are commemorated.  Do appreciate the input, though.

Kind regards,
Mark  

[JWK]

The "neighbour" of Stijn @ Pond Farm:

https://brayfarmcollection.weebly.com/

Maybe of interest?

[Buffnut453]

20 hours ago, JWK said:

The "neighbour" of Stijn @ Pond Farm:

https://brayfarmcollection.weebly.com/

Maybe of interest?

Thanks for the pointer.  I'll have to look them up.  

[sassenach]

On 19/09/2021 at 15:45, Buffnut453 said:

Many thanks JWK.  I have a strong suspicion Talbot House may be added to my agenda.  

I already have an appointment booked at Pond Farm.  It was high on my priority list given its association with 55th (West Lancs) Div in which a number of my relatives served.  

I would absolutely include Talbot House. If your relatives served in the Salient there's a good chance they'll have visited TH. 

[Buffnut453]

Folks,

Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions.  I had a fantastic trip and saw all the sites I wanted to visit, and more besides.  I thought I'd share this photo of Ramparts Cemetery - I'm rather proud of it:

 

 

[seaJane]

Great photo! Glad you had such a good time.

Husband and I went to Tournai for the centenary of his great-uncle's death (8 Nov 1918) to visit the grave, but apart from that we have no known GW casualties so I have not had sufficient motivation to visit Ypres and so on. But some day we must!

 

[Michelle Young]

Bet you can’t wait to get back out there! I spent my visit in a state of disbelief that I was out there again. It was a brilliant trip. 

[slick63]

Aimed at those who have ventured overseas, what company did you use for the day 2 antigen/lateral flow test, and what was the cost please ? 

Edited 9 October , 2021 by slick63

[angelab]

TestingforAll has done us well several times. I chose it as recommended by Which? Magazine.

Now that just a lateral flow test is required, I believe the cost is just £19 per person.

[Frajohn]

Last week we used https://www.simplytestme.co.uk, a number of guests have also used them. Too date there have been no problems and the cost is £12.00 per test.

 

Kind regards

 

John

[KIRKY]

On 14/11/2021 at 21:41, Frajohn said:

Last week we used https://www.simplytestme.co.uk, a number of guests have also used them. Too date there have been no problems and the cost is £12.00 per test.

 

Kind regards

 

John

Just used same company very easy, thanks for your tip.

Tony