Muerrisch Posted 24 June , 2003 Share Posted 24 June , 2003 Sunday 22nd June was anniversary of biggest German mine explosion on Western Front in 1916, did great damage to B Company 2nd RWF. Crater officially named Red Dragon after the heroic defenders. I know a lot about it BUT what I don't know is when it was filled. Word was in the 1980s that it was still there, by the time I stirred myself in the 1990s there it was, gone, so to speak. These days it is just about discernible NE of Givenchy if the field is wet and without crops. And does anyone please have a photograph of it when it was more impressive than a moist hollow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 25 June , 2003 Author Share Posted 25 June , 2003 Right! I shall have to throw my Teddy out of the cot if no-one is interested in the biggest German bang of the war! Are there no other mine crater fanatics out there? Or RWF freaks? Teddy is in great danger. Save a Teddy with your generous reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 25 June , 2003 Admin Share Posted 25 June , 2003 Poor Teddy! If you keep Bulletins, I seem to recall that there were some letters about the crater a while back. I visted the crater in 1989, there were some impressive dead rats about! I think I've got a photo, but how good it is, I can't remember. If you wan't I'll plough through a lot of pics.......... Regards, Michelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 25 June , 2003 Share Posted 25 June , 2003 As Michelle says, the crater disappeared sometime in the early 1990s. When I first went to this area in the early 80s the ground either side of the road near the 55 Div memorial had many mine craters; only wish I could find my photos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andigger Posted 27 October , 2004 Share Posted 27 October , 2004 Thought I'd bring this back up to see if any current Pals might have a pic or know more about the crater being filled. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurent Posted 27 October , 2004 Share Posted 27 October , 2004 Red Dragon crater filled (pictured in september 2004) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurent Posted 27 October , 2004 Share Posted 27 October , 2004 aerial view (2004) with trenches line Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurent Posted 27 October , 2004 Share Posted 27 October , 2004 with trenches map (1918) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurent Posted 27 October , 2004 Share Posted 27 October , 2004 Panorama photo Duck's Bill and Red Dragon Crater (filled) 2004. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landsturm Posted 27 October , 2004 Share Posted 27 October , 2004 Are there no other mine crater fanatics out there? Yes there are... mine warfare is very (notoriously) interesting subject. I myself am trying to gather information on big bangs of 17.2.1915 at Les Eparges, for a comic book I`m working on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Birch Posted 27 October , 2004 Share Posted 27 October , 2004 Interesting photos. I find it amazing that the ground can be re-instated so well after such major disruption. The aerial photograph shows no traces. Yet I have seen others where there is distinctive marking where there were previously trench systems, paricularly in chalk. What is the sub soil here? Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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