Drummy Posted 29 May , 2005 Share Posted 29 May , 2005 fantastic stuff, once gain must say these are really interesting posts thanks for taking the time to post the pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted 30 May , 2005 Share Posted 30 May , 2005 Hi Frans This is Very very interesting. Thanks for sharing it with us. Cheers Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernardmcilwaine Posted 31 May , 2005 Share Posted 31 May , 2005 brilliant stuff,thanks bernard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swizz Posted 31 May , 2005 Share Posted 31 May , 2005 I have only just discovered this thread and have found it absolutely fascinating. Thanks for posting the photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 1 June , 2005 Share Posted 1 June , 2005 Frans, as ever, these are great pictures. Please post some more as and when you are able. They do give an insight into the work done by the diggers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammilnad Posted 1 June , 2005 Author Share Posted 1 June , 2005 Just to complete the whole story, we found this morning the drawings made for the dugout. The photo is exactly the same position as the drawing. Ieper is to the right. I will just translate the words:- 1.Spoorwegberm Railway bedding 2.Zitbank Bench 3.Slaapplaats Bunkbed 4.Bominslag Explosion 5.Ingang Entrance Bunk size is 58cm x 190cm There was sleaping place for 14 soldiers (7 x 2 high). The six German soldiers which were found were in the first two bunks from the right. The gold wedding ring was given to the German authorities and they identified him as follows. Inscription in the ring- Kruckeberg Ludwig Went missing 31.07.1917 during the battle of Passendaele. Belonged to the 8th compagnie of the 94th infantry regiment. Together with the 95th and 96th regiment who were stationed in the Zonnebeke area. The 94th regiment was also known as The fifth Thueringse of the Groothertog (Archduke) of Saksen. The dugout was captured with two other bunkers near the end of July 1917, by the Royal Ulster Rifles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammilnad Posted 2 June , 2005 Author Share Posted 2 June , 2005 I just was told a few days ago they take the best things home and let the rest rot... They found a German Stirn or Graben panzer. I did not ended up in a museum, but in a digger's private collection <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I would just like to reply politely to this. We work with facts, not on hear say! It is very correct that a German Graben Pantzer was found, actually not one but two. They were found at the end of last year in okt and nov. The best example is already being shown in the Hooghe Crater Museum. The second which was not in such good condition is still being preserved, but will be shown when finished in one of the museums. As I have said before in the topic regarding the snipers helmet, this is going to be excibited in the IFF museum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john w. Posted 2 June , 2005 Share Posted 2 June , 2005 Cheers for the information, and keep up the great work. It means that people in the future get to see it. I never knew about a snipers helmet, so thanks for that John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaymen Posted 2 June , 2005 Share Posted 2 June , 2005 Frans A thoroughly absorbing thread. Congratulations Glyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Chap Posted 3 June , 2005 Share Posted 3 June , 2005 Frans, Many thanks for sharing the fantastic photographs with us. It was very absorbing. Regards, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammilnad Posted 4 June , 2005 Author Share Posted 4 June , 2005 Here are some pictures of the work the Diggers did today. I have noticed that sometimes they are called the "remainder of the Diggers" but I can asure you that they are still carrying on there work at full strength as they have done for the last twenty years. As always one of the great supporters of the Diggers, Jacky Platteeuw was present. Todays work was to the left and right of where was excavated three weeks ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammilnad Posted 4 June , 2005 Author Share Posted 4 June , 2005 Top photo of a territorial badge T4. Bottom photo of a mills grenade still in pretty good condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammilnad Posted 4 June , 2005 Author Share Posted 4 June , 2005 Top photo of a spade still in the ground. Middle, spade when removed. Bottom photo shows you that every item is carefully documented and photographed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammilnad Posted 4 June , 2005 Author Share Posted 4 June , 2005 German stickgrenade found in the British 1915 trench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammilnad Posted 4 June , 2005 Author Share Posted 4 June , 2005 Top photo of grenade with charge still inside. Bottom photo shows some of the finds of today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 4 June , 2005 Share Posted 4 June , 2005 Thanks gents for a most interesting series of pictures. May I say that the sheer amount of physical work involved is impressive too! Or do you have a "Diggers Pioneer Unit"?! Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 4 June , 2005 Share Posted 4 June , 2005 Frans, Great pictures, thank you for posting these. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyHollinger Posted 5 June , 2005 Share Posted 5 June , 2005 Great pictures ... makes history come alive ... Thanks for all you do ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 5 June , 2005 Share Posted 5 June , 2005 As ever, Frans- fascinating photos. Thanks for sharing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammilnad Posted 7 June , 2005 Author Share Posted 7 June , 2005 Thanks gents for a most interesting series of pictures. May I say that the sheer amount of physical work involved is impressive too! Or do you have a "Diggers Pioneer Unit"?! Phil B <{POST_SNAPBACK}> We could do with a couple of these pioneer units. Frans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammilnad Posted 7 June , 2005 Author Share Posted 7 June , 2005 This is still a bit of a puzzle. A lens just like you used to have on the end of a projector. It has a brass ring on top. It was found next to a tentsheet, maybe a personnal item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammilnad Posted 9 June , 2005 Author Share Posted 9 June , 2005 This is still a bit of a puzzle. A lens just like you used to have on the end of a projector. It has a brass ring on top. It was found next to a tentsheet, maybe a personnal item. We have been informed that the lens is most likely from a lantern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatterySergeantMajor Posted 9 June , 2005 Share Posted 9 June , 2005 Just to complete the whole story, we found this morning the drawings made for the dugout. The photo is exactly the same position as the drawing. Ieper is to the right. I will just translate the words:- 1.Spoorwegberm Railway bedding 2.Zitbank Bench 3.Slaapplaats Bunkbed 4.Bominslag Explosion 5.Ingang Entrance Bunk size is 58cm x 190cm There was sleaping place for 14 soldiers (7 x 2 high). The six German soldiers which were found were in the first two bunks from the right. The gold wedding ring was given to the German authorities and they identified him as follows. Inscription in the ring- Kruckeberg Ludwig Went missing 31.07.1917 during the battle of Passendaele. Belonged to the 8th compagnie of the 94th infantry regiment. Together with the 95th and 96th regiment who were stationed in the Zonnebeke area. The 94th regiment was also known as The fifth Thueringse of the Groothertog (Archduke) of Saksen. The dugout was captured with two other bunkers near the end of July 1917, by the Royal Ulster Rifles. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If it were Irish troops and the date was 31st of July, the only possibility is the 1st Royal Irish (and not Ulster, that was the former name)Rifles. The railway was the border between the 8th Div and the 15th Scottish Div, so a Scottish battallion might have captured the bunker too. I don 't know the exact location of the excavation, but the photos suggest that it is between North/ South Station buildings and Potsdam Farm. If that is true, it is very unlikely that the 8th Div captured the place. I think they didn't go further than the actual bridge crossing the A 19. There was almost no advance in the whole month of August. The 15th (Scottish), 16th (Irish) and 9th (Scottish) had been there also (the 9th made at last a reasonable progress), so there are more candidates for the capturing of the bunker. Other remark: I am not sure if it was really the group which is actually known as "The Diggers" who did the excavation? I see for example Johan Vandewalle on a photo and probably Franky Bostyn had been involved too. All people who are belonging to different archeological groups at the moment. Erwin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 9 June , 2005 Share Posted 9 June , 2005 Erwin, I can be wrong (for I was not involved) but as far as I know : between Hellfire corner and Railway Wood ? Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatterySergeantMajor Posted 9 June , 2005 Share Posted 9 June , 2005 Erwin, I can be wrong (for I was not involved) but as far as I know : between Hellfire corner and Railway Wood ? Aurel <{POST_SNAPBACK}> This would mean that the bunker was captured before the start of Third Ypres? The jumping-off line for the 31st of July was more or less Railway Wood. Erwin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now