Simon Jones Posted 12 May , 2005 Share Posted 12 May , 2005 I have come across a reference in the Holts guide to the Somme that at one time there was a memorial to miners in Ovillers. I am writing a book on 179th Tunnelling Company at La Boisselle and so I would be very interested if anyone knows anything about this. Many thanks Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 12 May , 2005 Share Posted 12 May , 2005 New one on me - which version of their guide was it in; an early one? One would ask why it would be in Ovillers; considering both the mines went off in or near La Boisselle?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Jones Posted 12 May , 2005 Author Share Posted 12 May , 2005 New one on me - which version of their guide was it in; an early one? One would ask why it would be in Ovillers; considering both the mines went off in or near La Boisselle?! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Absolutely! It is in the 2003 revised edition. I have accounts by two 179 Tunnelling Company officers of returning to the battlefields and neither mention it. Is there anything in the Michelin guide? Regards Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 12 May , 2005 Share Posted 12 May , 2005 No - I wonder where they got it from? Mind you their first edition (and later?) Somme map showed White trench near Mametz and Munich Trench near B-H as "preserved trenches", so perhaps it just an error? They have a website; you could drop them a line? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted 12 May , 2005 Share Posted 12 May , 2005 Just a thought - if there was a memorial, then it could have been in or near Ovillers Military Cemetery, and long removed/forgotten. Cemeteries were focal points, often the only "settled" and accessible plots of land in a district, immediately post-war. This could explain why it was in Ovillers rather than in or around La Boisselle. (I haven't heard of this memorial either.) Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 13 May , 2005 Share Posted 13 May , 2005 Rose Coombes doesn't mention it in BEF. Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Jones Posted 13 May , 2005 Author Share Posted 13 May , 2005 Thanks all, I'll drop them a line & let you know. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Jones Posted 16 June , 2005 Author Share Posted 16 June , 2005 Thanks all, I'll drop them a line & let you know. Simon <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I had a reply from the Holts but they say they don't know now where they got the info from. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Posted 16 June , 2005 Share Posted 16 June , 2005 I had a reply from the Holts but they say they don't know now where they got the info from. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thats encouraging Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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