kerry Posted 10 January , 2003 Share Posted 10 January , 2003 Does anyone have any info on the set of trenches and dugouts apparently set up to represent German trenches, as a training simulator, in the woods near Dirty Bucket camp 3 kilometres NW of Vlamertinge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 17 January , 2003 Share Posted 17 January , 2003 Kerry I can't help with the specifics of the training simulator but the author AM Burrage in his book"War is War" (under the name Ex-Private X) describes Dirty Bucket Camp thus: "It was aptly named. It was a canvas camp with the tents standing like a dingy flotilla of fishing boats riding at anchor in a sea of Flanders mud. There, where we were supposed to be "resting", we went through the same old "training." Much button and buckle polishing and rifle cleaning were followed by eight or nine hours of physical jerks, squad drill, bayonet fighting, bomb throwing, and the whole dreary round of it which we knew by heart to the point of sickness." Terry Reeves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 18 January , 2003 Share Posted 18 January , 2003 I think that before all British offensives, demonstration trenches and scale models etc of the ground that was to be attacked, were made in the camps behind the front. If you know what division was there on what date, then you can have an idea of what was made in scale in the camp. Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor Dodd Posted 18 January , 2003 Share Posted 18 January , 2003 Is there any more accounts of what the camp was like ?? Conor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 18 January , 2003 Share Posted 18 January , 2003 It's mentioned in Blunden and Campion-Vaughan, plus many regimental histories. Dirty Bucket Camp was used as a POW cage at the end of the war and into 1919 - good old Jacky found me a photo of it on Ebay once. If I remember, I will post it here if of interest? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor Dodd Posted 18 January , 2003 Share Posted 18 January , 2003 Yes if you could post it on the forum it would be brilliant I know a person whos grandfather was there in 1918 he was a officer I think they stayed in a nearby chateau. Conor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacky Platteeuw Posted 18 January , 2003 Share Posted 18 January , 2003 "good old Jacky" Watch your language young man or its going to cost you something on the Forum dinner!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 19 January , 2003 Share Posted 19 January , 2003 As we're going to be in your country mate, I should think all the drinks are on you?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacky Platteeuw Posted 19 January , 2003 Share Posted 19 January , 2003 I hate to tell you mate but in my opinion the 'highest' in rank on this Forum should have the honour. Chris as webmaster doesn't count and I only see one Captain: guess who Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRIAN TALMER Posted 19 January , 2003 Share Posted 19 January , 2003 Hi Jacky & Paul I think Jacky has the right idea the highest rank pays the mess bill Cheers Brian Talmer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 19 January , 2003 Share Posted 19 January , 2003 You guys have obviously never heard of the chain of command!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRIAN TALMER Posted 19 January , 2003 Share Posted 19 January , 2003 Hi Paul You obbiously forgot that the officers went over the top first and dosen't that also apply to the Bar and the men follow Cheers Brin Talmer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 20 January , 2003 Share Posted 20 January , 2003 Good old Paul, if we get to the Shellhole before him he wants us all to put our beers on his tab! What a guy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 16 March , 2003 Share Posted 16 March , 2003 Finally got round to scanning the photo. Hope it's of interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor Dodd Posted 16 March , 2003 Share Posted 16 March , 2003 How long after the war were German POW's kept ? were they cleaning up the battlefields etc. ?? Conor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 16 March , 2003 Share Posted 16 March , 2003 They were all kept until the Versailles treaty was signed. I guess the last ones were released in early 1920. The German prisoners were used to clean up the battlefield, lay out cemeteries etc. Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor Dodd Posted 16 March , 2003 Share Posted 16 March , 2003 Thanks for that Jan Conor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry Posted 20 March , 2003 Author Share Posted 20 March , 2003 Excellent, now that you've discussed who will be first to buy what for whom, would some kind soul answer my question pleasei.e. a grid ref or similar location indicator? Thanks, Yours in Thirst Kerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor Dodd Posted 20 March , 2003 Share Posted 20 March , 2003 Sorry we got a little !!!! of the point do you want to know where Dirty Bucket is ??? Conor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacky Platteeuw Posted 20 March , 2003 Share Posted 20 March , 2003 At your service Kerry. I have three mentions od Dirty Bucket: 1) Dirty Bucket Camp: sheet 28 NW1 A30a 4.2 2) Dirty Bucket Corner (crossroad of the hamlet): sheet 28NW1 B19c 2.7 3) Dirty Bucket Sidings:sheet A24d 9.2 Dirty Bucket hamlet (in Flemish 'Vuile seule') is situated on the territory of Vlamertinge near Ieper. Jacky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry Posted 25 March , 2003 Author Share Posted 25 March , 2003 Many thanks Jacky - do you happen to know if the area where the camp was can be visited - or do I need to seek prior permission of the landowner? Kerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacky Platteeuw Posted 25 March , 2003 Share Posted 25 March , 2003 Kerry, I think it is a private wood now. So you should certainly seek permission of the landowner. Cheers, Jacky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry Posted 26 March , 2003 Author Share Posted 26 March , 2003 Thanks Jacky, sorry for this next predictable question - do you happen to know who that might be? Kerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacky Platteeuw Posted 26 March , 2003 Share Posted 26 March , 2003 Kerry, I will try to get that information. Cheers, Jacky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Wills Posted 4 April , 2003 Share Posted 4 April , 2003 "After a day or two we moved up by way of Hospital Farm and Dirty Bucket Corner to Siege Corner Camp - a dirty muddy place. Just off the Ypres main raod i got HQ on a respectable bit of ground near a stream and a big old farmhouse. Our forward HQ was amost unhealthy place, continually shelled and reached across the mud by duck-boards - also continually shelled...the men and horses all lived in the utmost sqaulor and discomfort. Belgium was in every way terrible and a thousand times worse than France." Jack Fairfax-Blakeborough, a Horsemaster who established stables in the area in the autumn of 1917. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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