salientguide Posted 9 October , 2006 Share Posted 9 October , 2006 Just back from the Guild of Battlefield Guides annual weekend. This year the theme was what could one do in Calais if delayed at the Tunnel or ferry. Like most pals and a million others we dash straight out of town from the ferry or bypass it totally from the tunnel. If there is time to spare we head for that ghastly horrible Temple of Mammon hell on earth otherwise known as City Europe that dreadful shopping centre or equally ghastly cut price booze warehouses. But a plea for the town Calais itself has loads to offer. The historical theme was the 1940 defence of Calais by the Greenjacket brigade. Out of our period but how many Pals know 2,500 men were deliberately sacrificed, No repeat no evacuation considered or allowed to buy a precious 36 hours for organising the Dunkirk perimeter up the coast. They fought to the last man, 200 being killed probably 400-600 wounded and all put in the bag and marched away to 5 years captivity, all within sight of home. Further history there is the citadel close, within yards of the port a Vaubin fortress with complete ramparts and fortifications, from the genius who built the Ramparts at Ypres.Two further forts are also explorable one, Fort risban on the harbour and the other just outside.Around this area are many restaurants all serving excellent quality meals .most with fixed price menus anything from 15-30 euros for 3 courses and excellent cooking.There is also a good war museum inside an ex german command bunker in the park. A good hours worth there. mainly WW2 but a small room on Calais in the Great War. As well as leave packets it was also a French submarine base. There are also photos , without a date of many buildings damaged, presumably by bombing ? gothas or zepplins anyone know? So perhaps a tip for travelling next time you dash to and from the Western Front. If you want a meal there is an alternative to ferry canteens or dreadful chunnel sandwiches and coffee in paper cups. Go into calais near the harbour. Parking is pay at machines and v cheap. Also good small hotels. I for one may well stop overnight there next time going to the Somme or further south setting off fresh the next day. It is surprisingly easy to get into follow Centre Ville signs and out of A 16 clearly marked. SG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 9 October , 2006 Share Posted 9 October , 2006 Not a bad thought. Mrs Broomfield deserves a few days away before Xmas......might take her there. We've driven through it so many times (or, in later years, round it). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salientguide Posted 9 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 9 October , 2006 Steven can't pretend it is a very architecturally attractive town mostly destroyed in WW2 and lots of 60,s square concrete flats but it is interesting and worth a visit and the food is far far better than ferry or chunnel grub. We stayed in the George V hotel a clean warm and comfy 3 star I think again with a good breakfast and restaurant. The restaurants around the old harbour are good and one can watch the ferries. SG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen D Posted 9 October , 2006 Share Posted 9 October , 2006 I'll agree. Stopped off at The Dover Patrol Memorial and the Cemeteries last October and had a day trip this August. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 9 October , 2006 Share Posted 9 October , 2006 ......might take her there. Steven Excellent idea. We stopped an extra night a couple of trips back. Plenty of reasonably priced hotels around - particulary around Calais Plage (or near Cite Europe if you fancy a bit of retail therapy as well). Ate at La Buisonniere (try Google). Fab food. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christine liava'a Posted 10 October , 2006 Share Posted 10 October , 2006 and while you are in Calais, go to Sangatte and get a photo for me of Lekima Mua LEKIMA MUA Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Fijian Labour Corps Unit Text: 67th Coy. Age: 26 Date of Death: 01/01/1918 Service No: 67 Additional information: Son of Ratu Sakiusa Vakalolo, of Somo Somo, Taveuni, Fiji. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: XVI. A. 12. Cemetery: LES BARAQUES MILITARY CEMETERY, SANGATTE pretty please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyspiller Posted 10 October , 2006 Share Posted 10 October , 2006 SG On the topic of 1940 http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...showtopic=32250 Rgds Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 10 October , 2006 Share Posted 10 October , 2006 In fact you can follow the battle for Calais by doing a street walk. Nigel Cave's Battle Ground Europe, Wharncliffe Publishing Ltd, 1990, covers it in some detail providing two good maps, a commentry, and a number of photographs. It starts and finishes outside the town hall. Terry Reeves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salientguide Posted 11 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 11 October , 2006 Terry in fact the Guild of Battlefield Guides weekend was guided by John Cooksey himself a Guild member and author of the Battleground Europe Calais publication ( I believe Nigel Cave is the series editor as well as author and co-author of several books in the series) who led us on the tour, and walked us all ragged all over the town. Initially John drove the group out to the Coquelles Ridge overlooking the town to point out the observation the Germans had once they took this position. Once in the town he walked us through giving a blow by blow account up to the final surrender of Brig. Nicholson ( who had already refused two calls to surrender) in the Vauban Citadel. great weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelab Posted 12 October , 2006 Share Posted 12 October , 2006 and while you are in Calais, go to Sangatte and get a photo for me of Lekima Mua... Hi Christine, I am due to go across to Calais for the day tomorrow, so will try and get to Les Baraques and take a pic for you! Strangely, I went there back in August to visit the grave of a good friend of my late father-in-law... Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisC Posted 12 October , 2006 Share Posted 12 October , 2006 Hi Christine, I am due to go across to Calais for the day tomorrow, so will try and get to Les Baraques and take a pic for you! Strangely, I went there back in August to visit the grave of a good friend of my late father-in-law... Angela And oddly enough so am I. So if anyone wants a piccie or 2 from Les Baraques or Calais Southern, post quick tonight. Chris C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Take on me Posted 12 October , 2006 Share Posted 12 October , 2006 Long shot, but here I go... Last time I was in Calais (well actually pulling out of Calais on the ferry) I thought that I saw a Cross of Sacrifice next to the sea front very close to the area where the ferrys dock. Does anybody know anything about this? Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 12 October , 2006 Share Posted 12 October , 2006 Jon It's the Rifle Brigade memorial for the battle of Calais, May 1940. Terry Reeves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 12 October , 2006 Share Posted 12 October , 2006 And oddly enough so am I. So if anyone wants a piccie or 2 from Les Baraques or Calais Southern, post quick tonight. Chris C If you get time - Please - Les Baraques Military Cemetery Sangatte 6259 L/Cpl Arthur Dring 11th AIF, 28/9/1917 - grave I. B. 9 32746 Private William Lambert 9th Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby) 17/12/1917 - grave II. C. 1 Calais Southern Cem- 7351 Private Herbert Fox, 9th SF (N&D), 3/9/1917, grave Plot H. row 5 grave 4. Only if you have time. thanks stevem morse.steve@btinternet.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisC Posted 12 October , 2006 Share Posted 12 October , 2006 No worries Chris C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salientguide Posted 12 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 12 October , 2006 JGM...Picture of Guild of Battlefield Guides members, at the end of last Saturdays tour of Calais, at the Greenjackets memorial Calais ferry terminal. SG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Take on me Posted 13 October , 2006 Share Posted 13 October , 2006 Yes that is ceratainly the one. Is it symbolically right up against the sea front or did fighting take place in that area? Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyspiller Posted 13 October , 2006 Share Posted 13 October , 2006 Jon Not sure about the area of fighting, the Memorial was moved from another location due to building work. Maybe from the other side of the quay. Please see the photos in the other thread mentioned. Rgds Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen D Posted 13 October , 2006 Share Posted 13 October , 2006 Yes that is ceratainly the one. Is it symbolically right up against the sea front or did fighting take place in that area? Jon Memorial moved from original location due to redevelopment of docks area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelab Posted 14 October , 2006 Share Posted 14 October , 2006 and while you are in Calais, go to Sangatte and get a photo for me of Lekima Mua Hi Christine, Lovely sunny day in Calais today... Here is your pic. Luckily the stone was being struck obliquely by the sun, so the inscription was very easy to read. I have reduced the size to the requirements of the forum, but if you want a copy of the larger version, please pm me with your email address. I also attach a general view of the cemetery, which backs on to the beach at Bleriot-Plage. Angela EDIT: OH NO! Why won't my pix appear? I have managed this feat successfully in the past, and this time have followed instructions to the letter about reducing the size of the images to 600x600 pixels max. Can anyone help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelab Posted 14 October , 2006 Share Posted 14 October , 2006 Hi STeve, I have got pix for you today of the Dring and Lambert graves. Unfortunately the sun was right behind them, so the inscriptions are not very easy to read - particularly that of Lambert, which is not in very good condition. I failed to be able to attach the images for the email above, so if nothing show up on this one either, please PM me with your email address and I will email them over to you. Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 14 October , 2006 Share Posted 14 October , 2006 Hi STeve, I have got pix for you today of the Dring and Lambert graves. Unfortunately the sun was right behind them, so the inscriptions are not very easy to read - particularly that of Lambert, which is not in very good condition. I failed to be able to attach the images for the email above, so if nothing show up on this one either, please PM me with your email address and I will email them over to you. Angela Hello I have the same problem attaching things! I have sent PM but also would like to officially thank you for taking the time. stevem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christine liava'a Posted 14 October , 2006 Share Posted 14 October , 2006 So would I, Thanks again. Bula Vinaka, Christine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelab Posted 14 October , 2006 Share Posted 14 October , 2006 Steve and Christine, have emailed pix to you. And I wonder if I've cracked the problem with the image posting. Now I have found the "help" feature, I see that as well as neding to be max 600x600 pixels, pictures have to be no more than 100Kb. So will just experiment with one of these pix to see if it works... YESSSSSS! Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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