withcall Posted 10 December , 2006 Share Posted 10 December , 2006 Are there any good walks/interesting sites near Vis-en-Artois? I've driven through it loads of times, and stopped to look at the memorial, but would like to have a wander round. The terrain looks as though it ought to have been important during the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 10 December , 2006 Share Posted 10 December , 2006 Aside from the memorial and cemetery, not a lot to see other than fields and farms - but they are of significance. Try this: http://www.1914-1918.net/Diaries/wardiary-2dukes2.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 10 December , 2006 Share Posted 10 December , 2006 South of the village you can follow, with the map from Nicholson, the advance of the Canadian Corps in August 1918 from Cherisy to Upton Wood and Dury Mill and the Crow's Nest. Places now long forgotten, but hard won objectives, with the geography of the ground unchanged, Upton Wood and the Crow's Nest intact, and some fascinating battlefield cemeteries which chart the progress of the advance up to early September 1918. Almost unique on a Great War battlefield in fact. You won't find any of it in any book, so it takes a little bit of research in unit histories, war diaries and trench maps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mebu Posted 11 December , 2006 Share Posted 11 December , 2006 As Paul Said, there is history around Vis, things which can be found include the small quarry by the main road described by Ernst Junger as "an unholy spot.....", the steel shelters in Kestrel Copse, the old steel dugout post on the southern edge of the village......the area is covered in "The Hindenburg Line" by Peter Oldham. Regards, Mebu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 11 December , 2006 Share Posted 11 December , 2006 Sorry Peter - I had forgotten your excellent guidebook to the Hindenburg Line, and also 'Pillboxes on the Western Front' which also has a lot on the HL defences around Arras and Cambrai. Both excellent books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mebu Posted 12 December , 2006 Share Posted 12 December , 2006 Hello Paul, very kind of you to say so....didn't want to advertise, but felt it may help Withcall,Regards, Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Noble Posted 12 December , 2006 Share Posted 12 December , 2006 Hi withcall. A most interesting part of the battlefield as the Pals have mentioned. If you get off the beaten track, loads to see and very emotive, sometimes a bit bleak depending on what time of the year you visit. Look forward to seeing the photos! Regards, Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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