frans Posted 25 August , 2005 Share Posted 25 August , 2005 Due to the bad weather conditions last weekend there was no work done in the field. The picture is of detonators which have been cleaned which were found in previous weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 25 August , 2005 Share Posted 25 August , 2005 Great picture non the less Laid out like that they almost look like art, Frans. Hope the weather perks up for the Diggers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frans Posted 27 August , 2005 Share Posted 27 August , 2005 Finally some decent weather to do some serious digging. Pol and Gabi finished of the german drain pipe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PROCONSUL Posted 29 August , 2005 Share Posted 29 August , 2005 I have been following this thread with the greatest of interest and I would like to add the attached photo. I think it apropriate to show to those kind souls (the Diggers) who take such care with the war dead that, where possible, all efforts are made to provide a fallen soldier with a final and dignified resting place amongst his comrades. The photo shows the burial of two soldiers from the 17th London regiment. Recovered in 2004. Names unknown and only identified from a heavily corroded badge uncovered at the same time. The circumstances were that two bodies were found together. One body was identified by its recovered cap badge but not the other. The consequence is that one headstone only has a badge but neither have a name. The uniformed officer is a Brigadier who is presently serving and who considered it an honour to attend the burial. The other two chaps are the Hon Sec of the Tower Hamlets Rifles Assn for many years,and the Padre from St Georges in Ypres. I just thoight it would be nice to show the wheelgoing full circle as it were and that respect runs all the way. Makes you quite proud to be British. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PROCONSUL Posted 29 August , 2005 Share Posted 29 August , 2005 And here is the badge. I include this to remind that a little piece of corroded metal can tell quite an emotive story. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marina Posted 29 August , 2005 Share Posted 29 August , 2005 It was good to see these pics - thanks for posting. Marina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob B Posted 29 August , 2005 Share Posted 29 August , 2005 Thanks for keeping us up to date with all you are doing, it is both moving and fascinating. The badge looks like Kings Royal Rifle Corps but I hesitate as the surrounding leaves don't go with it. Any help as to what the badge is? Thanks Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riflegreen Posted 29 August , 2005 Share Posted 29 August , 2005 Looks like 17th Londons , Poplar & Stepney Rifles . Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob B Posted 30 August , 2005 Share Posted 30 August , 2005 Thanks for that Chris. Cheers, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soren Posted 30 August , 2005 Share Posted 30 August , 2005 It was good to see these pics - thanks for posting. Marina <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes, this is obviously a really good thread, as I have nothing of interest to add I'll just continue to follow it.................. but many thanks nonetheless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcderms Posted 30 August , 2005 Share Posted 30 August , 2005 Info on the 17th Londons can be found HERE. Buy the badge HERE. Nice image HERE.. Badge seems to match but can anyone check the war diary and see if the 17th were at Boezinghe in 15 or 16? I'd assume no later as the cap badge indicate a cap wearer rather than a tin hat (Frans can you enlighten us)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frans Posted 31 August , 2005 Share Posted 31 August , 2005 Info on the 17th Londons can be found HERE. Buy the badge HERE. Nice image HERE.. Badge seems to match but can anyone check the war diary and see if the 17th were at Boezinghe in 15 or 16? I'd assume no later as the cap badge indicate a cap wearer rather than a tin hat (Frans can you enlighten us)? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I will find out for you mcderms, it was before I started with De Diggers. I will come back to you, Frans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 31 August , 2005 Share Posted 31 August , 2005 Excellent thread and thanks for for posting the picture. Good to see that the lads were buried with due respect and ceremony as they deserve and all as a result of the work of the Diggers. I was told on a recent trip to the Western Front that a lot of soldiers carried their cap badges in their jacket pockets and that this was where they would be found for identification of the regiment. Seems reasonable when you consider that they had to pay for the badge if they lost it and then pay for a replacement. Anybody else heard this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyHollinger Posted 1 September , 2005 Share Posted 1 September , 2005 Once again ... thanks ... this is one of the most important threads on the forum ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frans Posted 3 September , 2005 Share Posted 3 September , 2005 This photo was taken this afternoon and this innocent looking rabbit food was just laying on the surface. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frans Posted 3 September , 2005 Share Posted 3 September , 2005 Here you can see that it is actually the charge of a shell and just scatterred over the area. There is no problem at all after ninety years to light it. Once again it shows that great care should be taken with any item. It can still all be lethal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frans Posted 3 September , 2005 Share Posted 3 September , 2005 A collection of this afternoons shells and handgrenades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frans Posted 3 September , 2005 Share Posted 3 September , 2005 Another find of an enfield rifle, pick axe and shovel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frans Posted 3 September , 2005 Share Posted 3 September , 2005 Remains of a german discus handgrenade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 5 September , 2005 Share Posted 5 September , 2005 Frans, do you know(or anyone else for that matter) Are the indentations round the edge for finger grips by any chance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkristof Posted 5 September , 2005 Share Posted 5 September , 2005 That is where the detonators normally are. But they are missing here. this is how it normally looks like: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Poilu Posted 5 September , 2005 Share Posted 5 September , 2005 And the name 'discus', although in common usage is a bit of a misnomer. It was not designed to be cast in a horizontal plane like a discus but actually in a vertical manner. Index finger over the top cover. The pin was pulled and as the grenade was spun centrifugal force expelled the brass inner piece exposing the central star striker to the detonators (four) - any of which on contact with the ground would explode the grenade. The one shown is a defensive pattern - the smaller offensive is much rarer. This is what the inside of a defensive discus or 'oyster' grenade looks like, charge held in the cloth bag: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 6 September , 2005 Share Posted 6 September , 2005 Thanks guys Obviously no expert on arms and equipment, me.(visions of the Olympic style discus throwingas perpetrated by tachey ladies of eastern europe) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frans Posted 10 September , 2005 Share Posted 10 September , 2005 Late last saturday we stumbled on the remains of possibly three soldiers. Because it was to late to set the official procedure in motion, they were covered up again. The photo shows that we have removed the sheeting from last week and that the area has become restricted access. I will explain what the official procedure is. Firstly before anything can be done a police officer has to be present. We receive instructions from him and he determins if it becomes a restricted area. We will unearth the remains and these are documented and photographed. Then removed and put in a special bag. Then we carry on around the remains for anything that could help to identify the remains. These are all bagged and documented. The moment that this is done our work (De Diggers) is completed. The police officer will take the remains to the Houthulst Barracks where if needed a pathologist will do further investigations. When certain to the identity of the remains the Belgian Home Office will contact the English, German or French authorities and hand over the remains to them. The identification process is done by the respective countries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frans Posted 10 September , 2005 Share Posted 10 September , 2005 What we found was unexpected. Two german soldiers and an Englishman sandwiched inbetween. It was a difficult and time consuming job which took all of us the entire afternoon. On the photo the first of the German soldiers is being removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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