Bob Coulson Posted 11 January , 2003 Share Posted 11 January , 2003 Often come across references in WW1 books about Quarrys, Brickworks, Sugar Factories etc but I have recently read a reference to Brickfields in a book about the Somme. Does anyone know what a Brickfield was.?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 11 January , 2003 Share Posted 11 January , 2003 Hello, Isn't that an old brickwork: bricks weren't baken in an oven, but the clay dried outdoors. Greetings, Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 11 January , 2003 Share Posted 11 January , 2003 The Brickfields were huge piles of undelivered bricks - the most famous was at Cuinchy, where they formed part of the front line from the end of the 1914 until the Spring of 1918; good description of them in Robert Graves' memoirs. The one on the Somme was close to Albert (north-west?) in the approach to Long Valley. At least, that's the only one I have heard of here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 11 January , 2003 Share Posted 11 January , 2003 Paul you know the area better than anyone and my books are at home but wasn't there one past Montauban as the attack went in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph J. Whitehead Posted 11 January , 2003 Share Posted 11 January , 2003 The German records show the brickworks just past Montauban that were defended by units of IR 62 and IR 23. There is also a mention of another near Fricourt in the history of the 111th Reserve. According to the account: 'The English had machine guns and mine throwers at hand and the troops from Reserve 111 weakened through losses yielded toward the western edge of Fricourt. A rear support was formed here in the dugout of the I Battalion nearby the command post at the brick works under Leutnant Dusbach.' Ralph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 11 January , 2003 Share Posted 11 January , 2003 Yes, but a brickfield and a brick works are two different things; brickfields I would equate with Cuinchy and the one near Albert (where bricks were stock-piled); brickworks indeed with Montauban - although I can't think where the one the Fricourt was. I have certainly never seen any pre-1914 photos of one there. Slightly off topic - Ralph, did you know 111 RIR have a memorial at Le Sars, which is still there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph J. Whitehead Posted 11 January , 2003 Share Posted 11 January , 2003 Hello Paul, I tried to locate the brick works located near Fricourt on the German maps but without success. Yes, I was aware that a monument has survived but the accompanying cemetery did not. The original monumnet had a Griffin on the pillar overlooking the graves. A visitor from the 111th Reserve to the site in 1926 was very saddened to see the condition of the cemetery and monument. Apparently in 1926 the Griffin and pedestal were shattered on the ground. The area was overgrown with nettles and the markers of the graves of his comrades were nowhere to be seen. He wondered what had happened to the bodies of the men buried there. Ralph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 11 January , 2003 Share Posted 11 January , 2003 Personally, I think they are all still there - just like the ones here in Courcelette (possibly 2000+ graves). Thanks for trying to look for the map - would be interesting to know where this was in Fricourt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somme1916 Posted 11 January , 2003 Share Posted 11 January , 2003 Paul, I'm near Mons and come down to the Somme quite a bit. I'd like to see the "unmarked" German Cem. at Courcelette sometime. How do I find it/them? To go back to the topic, I'd never even heard the term brickfield until this posting. What a great education this site keeps giving me. What is the title of Robert Graves' memoriors? I've been reading a lot of Great War memoriors resently and I'd love to check it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph J. Whitehead Posted 11 January , 2003 Share Posted 11 January , 2003 Hello Paul, After a bit of searching I believe I have not only located the brick works but also a photograph of it. I tried to locate the same position on the British maps in the Official History and the best I can figure it is in the area where the 50th Brigade attacked on July 1st and opposite the 'Tambour'. The map shows the location of the battalion headquarters and the brick works next to it. The photograph shows the ruins of what appears to be a brick factory or similar buildings. I can scan them when I get to work next week and send them over if you like, just let me know. Ralph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 12 January , 2003 Share Posted 12 January , 2003 Thanks Ralph - that would be great. My email is: battlefields1418@hotmail.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Phillips Posted 12 January , 2003 Share Posted 12 January , 2003 Robert Graves autobiography is 'Good-bye to All That'. An excellent read, although it is some time since I last read it. It is on my re-read list - however there are so many books to read through for the first time! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 13 January , 2003 Author Share Posted 13 January , 2003 Thanks to one and all. As usual excellent info from forum users. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 13 January , 2003 Share Posted 13 January , 2003 I was recently reading part of a memoir where the 2nd Bn. Monmouthshire Reg.were billeted in a brickworks near Courtrai in October 1918. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 14 January , 2003 Share Posted 14 January , 2003 Myrtle, There are still a few brickworks west and south of Courtrai (Marcke-Aalbeke). I guess there were more back in those days. Do you have more info? Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 14 January , 2003 Share Posted 14 January , 2003 Jan Although I read the information re: Courtrai in a book the footnote says that "The memoir (edited by Barry Jonson) by Serg. W.G. Sweet (1921) appeared in The Journal of the Western Front Association - Winter 1990." I don't have that particular copy but maybe somebody on this forum does ? Serg. Sweet describes how one day they had to go up in the town to help the REs build a pontoon bridge with the enemy on the other side of the canal. He also mentions that the Germans were shelling the town and Hallin, the tile-making part. Myrtle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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