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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Walking the Somme


malcolmwaters

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Hi All

Apologies if this has been posted in the wrong section I did my best .........

My intention for my next visit to the Somme is to leave the car and do some walking, Base camp will be Battery Valley Farm so I'll be right in the middle  I'm wondering if any member has any idea if there are any recommended books/leaflets with maps covering medium length walks 6-8 hours (I wont be speed marching so this would be about 10/12 miles) or even any suggested routes

I intend to do this on my own not with any guides or groups 

Any help appreciated

Malcolm

 

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Malcolm 

A starting point that I would suggest is Walking the Somme by Paul Read , circular tours of various lengths.

Enjoy your walking

Malcolm 

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Hi Malcolm

one of my great uncles ended up in the old cemetery before being moved.

Paul Reed's Walking the Somme covers many walks around the area of the Ancre and Thiepval

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Agree with other recommendations of Paul Reed, and for a more in depth walk over a particular area- the Battleground Europe books are good.

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Kindle versions of some of Paul Reed's books are currently discounted to $1.99 on the Amazon US store. I just got 3 of them (Somme, Arras, and Ypres). I looked on the UK Amazon Store and his Somme book is £3.79. Kindle is probably not the greatest for 'in the field', but that's not a bad price for background reading.

Also, I have enjoyed reading Thomas Scotland and Steven Hays book 'Understanding the Somme: 1916: An Illuminating Battlefield Guide'. To me—who admittedly, is someone who has yet to set foot anywhere near the Western Front—this looks like a very useful book to have on hand while planning some walks. 

Enjoy your visit!

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12 hours ago, chaz said:

Hi Malcolm

one of my great uncles ended up in the old cemetery before being moved.

Paul Reed's Walking the Somme covers many walks around the area of the Ancre and Thiepval

was that the old cemetery at Grandcourt ?

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Hi Malcolm

Battery Valley, Grandcourt, he was concentrated to Connaught. 

When last there, we had a drive around but could not find the site of the old Battery Valley cemetery

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You could listen to the Battle Walks podcast hosted by Mat McLachlan and Peter Smith. Although has a bit of Australian bias they have walked quite a lot of the Somme battlefields and may help give you some inspiration.

I would certainly recommend Paul Reed's book 'Walking the Somme' and there is also his podcast 'The Old Front Line '

Edited by ewanarm68
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4 hours ago, chaz said:

Hi Malcolm

Battery Valley, Grandcourt, he was concentrated to Connaught. 

When last there, we had a drive around but could not find the site of the old Battery Valley cemetery

Now I have heard the story before about moving the cemetery it may have been from the host at Battery Valley Farm or it might have been from one of Mat McLachlan documentaries you could always drop an email to Battery Valley Farm if you want to try again 

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3 hours ago, ewanarm68 said:

You could listen to the Battle Walks podcast hosted by Mat McLachlan and Peter Smith. Although has a bit of Australian bias they have walked quite a lot of the Somme battlefields and may help give you some inspiration.

I would certainly recommend Paul Reed's book 'Walking the Somme' and there is also his podcast 'The Old Front Line '

Good Idea .......... I could listen all day long to Mat McLachlan 

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12 minutes ago, chaz said:

Malcolm

from the CWGC records  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/526725/a-gleed/#&gid=2&pid=1

wont be over again for a while, unless we can find another house that ticks our boxes.

I see the map reference is that for Battery Valley or Connaught cemetery .......... ah ok I see both

Edited by malcolmwaters
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7 minutes ago, malcolmwaters said:

I see the map reference is that for Battery Valley or Connaught cemetery

The ref at the top of the page (R. 25) is Connaught; that against the graves (R. 14) is Battery Valley

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15 minutes ago, Don Regiano said:

The ref at the top of the page (R. 25) is Connaught; that against the graves (R. 14) is Battery Valley

 

15 minutes ago, Don Regiano said:

The ref at the top of the page (R. 25) is Connaught; that against the graves (R. 14) is Battery Valley

thanks ^_^

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