the gunners dream Posted 11 August , 2005 Share Posted 11 August , 2005 Paul Great pics, I'm taking a group over that way in October and I might take them on a walking route around Serre. I've never seen the shell craters, can you be a bit more specific as to where they are in relation to the Hamlet? Thanks Steve Smith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinglma Posted 11 August , 2005 Share Posted 11 August , 2005 Great photos Paul. I think its one of the most poignant places on the Somme. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andigger Posted 11 August , 2005 Share Posted 11 August , 2005 I can only agree that as an arm chair tourist these pics are great from my perspective. Just curious, how long did it take you to make the whole circuit. Was this an all day trip, or something you decided to do spur of the moment? Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 11 August , 2005 Author Share Posted 11 August , 2005 Steve - if you walk or drive down the main street of Serre you cannot miss them. Andy - it took me just over 3 hours to do this, with a stop for snack lunch en-route and time to take over 150 photos (these are only some of them). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunners dream Posted 12 August , 2005 Share Posted 12 August , 2005 Paul Many thanks for that. Steve Smith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StAubyns Posted 20 August , 2005 Share Posted 20 August , 2005 Paul, this thread inspired me to follow in your footsteps last week(Tuesday). I started from Newfoundland Park, walked out through the back gate and into Beamont Hamel, along the Sunken Lane, along the Redan Ridge, down to Sheffield Park and returned via Kilometre Lane to Auchonvillers called for a small beer at Avrils, and back to Newfoundland Park. 3 photos I'd like to add, 2 from the edge of Hawthorn Ridge Crater and 1 from Sheffield Park. regards Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StAubyns Posted 20 August , 2005 Share Posted 20 August , 2005 and the third Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 20 August , 2005 Author Share Posted 20 August , 2005 Nice one Geoff - the weather has turned very bad indeed since you took these! Glad you had an interesting walk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 20 August , 2005 Share Posted 20 August , 2005 That view of the Sheffield Park cemetery reminds you just how intimate it is - just a bunch of pals still together after all those years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 20 August , 2005 Share Posted 20 August , 2005 That view of the Sheffield Park cemetery reminds you just how intimate it is - just a bunch of pals still together after all those years. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Railway Hollow has always been one of my favourite cemeteries on the Somme. It always amuses me when it's referred to as "The Accrington Pals' Valhalla" in some publications (RH contains 15 of them, whereas Queen's Cemetery contains 50). Anyone any idea where, and from who, this terminology originated? dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StAubyns Posted 20 August , 2005 Share Posted 20 August , 2005 Railway Hollow Cemetery contains a grave inscription along the lines of "The French are a great people, worth fighting for", I have thought of photographing this several times but have never done it. I feel guilty that I cannot remember the name of the soldier concerned. No doubt someone will remind me! Regards Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 21 August , 2005 Author Share Posted 21 August , 2005 The grave is Alf Goodlad of the Sheffield Pals and the inscription reads 'The French are a grand nation worth fighting for'. I must say I have never seen this spot referred to as a 'valhalla' before; it's not a term I would personally use, I must say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StAubyns Posted 21 August , 2005 Share Posted 21 August , 2005 Thanks for the reminder Paul. I will take that photograph of Alf Goodlad the next time I am there. I go to the Somme at least three times a year and can never resist going to Railway Hollow, it is a very peaceful place to be. Regards Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 21 August , 2005 Author Share Posted 21 August , 2005 Geoff - until you get the chance yourself, here is a photo of his grave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinglma Posted 21 August , 2005 Share Posted 21 August , 2005 Ironic (given the inscription) that his name could be read "A Good Lad" Thanks for posting the photo Paul - I've seen the inscription but don't think I ever took a photo. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StAubyns Posted 22 August , 2005 Share Posted 22 August , 2005 Thanks for the photo Paul, its much appreciated. Regards Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piscator Posted 22 August , 2005 Share Posted 22 August , 2005 Paul, Great photo's, brings back memories of my visit last year to Serre, the stretch of trench by the Sheffield memorial has a very haunting feel to it, its hard to imagine what it must have been like and how those guys felt just before going over the top. Hoping I can get back there soon and have a walk round. Len Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 5 September , 2005 Author Share Posted 5 September , 2005 Just bumping this up again as I had been looking for some photos I took in the same area of the Redan Ridge back in the early 1980s, when there were more craters. General view first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 5 September , 2005 Author Share Posted 5 September , 2005 View into one of the craters. I did post these on the 'Western Front Then & Now' thread, but all the photos have gone from that now, sadly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted 5 September , 2005 Share Posted 5 September , 2005 Nice picture Paul, showing a now-lost view. Last time I looked inside this crater (if it's the one I'm thinking of) it was two-thirds full of building-rubble, with a fridge-freezer or two thrown in (excuse the pun) for good measure. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andigger Posted 5 September , 2005 Share Posted 5 September , 2005 Redan Ridge. General view first. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> With just a little imagination you can see the artillery shell exploding on the ridge..... Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevew Posted 6 September , 2005 Share Posted 6 September , 2005 Paul, What an excellent thread.............great pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
985acoy Posted 6 September , 2005 Share Posted 6 September , 2005 View into one of the craters. I did post these on the 'Western Front Then & Now' thread, but all the photos have gone from that now, sadly. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
985acoy Posted 6 September , 2005 Share Posted 6 September , 2005 <{POST_SNAPBACK}> last post a screw up great pics paul interesting thread 985 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyHollinger Posted 7 September , 2005 Share Posted 7 September , 2005 I, too, had the same question about the "unused" land ... or maybe just for pasture? Someday I wish to visit the Somme ... until then, it is pictures like yours that take me there and allow me to reflect on the events ... Again, thanks ... the pictures and the verbiage were wonderful ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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