davedixon Posted 30 July , 2003 Share Posted 30 July , 2003 Got back last week from the usual brilliant Walking The Somme tour, minus Paul who was working with the beeb! Vic, one of our guides mentioned as we passed the spot, that the remains of 5 German soldiers had been found as work commenced on the new visitors centre at Thiepval. Hadn't seen it reported here and thought some of you might be interested. Dave Dixon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drummy Posted 30 July , 2003 Share Posted 30 July , 2003 Hope some forum member can add some information to this report?? Its not all that frequent to hear of remains being found on the Somme, I would certainly be interested to know more of this discovery. Cheers Neil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 30 July , 2003 Share Posted 30 July , 2003 Just to confirm this; I was there the day after they were found. Someone on site said there was no ID, but 'Prussian' buttons, which surprised me as I would have presumed they were from 180 Regt who defended Thiepval the day up to it fell on 26.9.16. The remains have been passed to the German wargarves commission, and I understand they may be buried in the Kamaradengraben at Fricourt. Welcome to the forum Dave; sorry I wasn't walking with you last week! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph J. Whitehead Posted 30 July , 2003 Share Posted 30 July , 2003 From 1 July to the fall of Thiepval a number of different regiments defended this area including small contingents from other divisions used as reinforcements. It is not unexpected to find Prussian remains such as buttons. Ralph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 30 July , 2003 Share Posted 30 July , 2003 Thanks for that Ralph; I was hoping you might add something. Sadly this means that these men will probably never be identified, even to a unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 31 July , 2003 Share Posted 31 July , 2003 Soldiers from Württemberg had Prussian buttons too. Only Bavarians had other buttons. ID should come from shoulder straps, ID disk or regimental markings on leather equipment. Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 31 July , 2003 Share Posted 31 July , 2003 Thanks for that Jan - I believe that nothing like that was found with any of the bodies, which perhaps indicates an actual burial as opposed to a battlefield burial? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 31 July , 2003 Share Posted 31 July , 2003 Does anyone know what will happen with the five German lads now.? Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 1 August , 2003 Share Posted 1 August , 2003 See above - I think they will be buried at Fricourt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 1 August , 2003 Share Posted 1 August , 2003 Thanks for that Paul, Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lees Posted 20 August , 2003 Share Posted 20 August , 2003 I was on the Somme last week and I was told that there was no 'proper' investigation done to try to identify the 7 bodies found. I was told that the button was used to say that they were all Germans and they were promptly taken away from the site. Wouldn't this have been an excellent opportunity for the developers of the project to gain valuable publicity for the whole project? I wonder why it was kept so quiet. I don't suppose there might be commercial interests conflicting with the memorial aspect of this issue. I would be interested to know more if anyone can shed any more light on this. Regards, Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hussar Posted 20 August , 2003 Share Posted 20 August , 2003 I agree Ken, If true, it does seem to have been done rather quietly and with unseemly haste. Given the position, and the purpose of the building under construction I would have thought it would have generated much more interest. However, I fear that pecuniary concerns may have been the driving factor for the contractors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph J. Whitehead Posted 21 August , 2003 Share Posted 21 August , 2003 There is probably someone out there with more facts than we know, it is a shame they do not take the time to explain the situation and the findings. It would go a long way to prevent supposition from many people, myself included. Ralph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 22 August , 2003 Share Posted 22 August , 2003 Personally I am also surprised that not more has been done to at least identify what unit this men might have been from... I shall make some enquiries next week and post again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 22 August , 2003 Share Posted 22 August , 2003 it's obvious: they are just German..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 23 August , 2003 Share Posted 23 August , 2003 Sadly, I tend to agree with Egbert's analysis. I cannot help but conclude that much more would have been made of this discovery had the remains been British or French. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lees Posted 23 August , 2003 Share Posted 23 August , 2003 Can anyone tell me whether the sheet fencing went up around the site before, or after the discovery of these bodies? The whole site now appears to be screened from public view. I wonder why. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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