haworthnick Posted 23 December , 2007 Share Posted 23 December , 2007 Is there anyone on the forum who was on the Ledger Holidays "Walking thew Somme" that set off on the 20th August this year, a wonderful time and my imnd still wanders back there when work fails to keep my attention, i did the coach tour of the Western Front a bout 6 years ago but walking the Somme was something magical Nick PS If I'm on the wrong bit of the forum I'm sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dah Posted 23 December , 2007 Share Posted 23 December , 2007 Hi Nick, I wasn't on the trip - but I hope you're lucky in finding someone who was. Your note doesn't explain what it is you're after - as it may be that some other forum members might be able to help. If it's photos of locations you're after, other members can certainly help. KR David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haworthnick Posted 24 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 24 December , 2007 David. I'm not really sure what I'm after, I think mainly just the chance of getting in touch with some of the people on the tour. But if anyone could help with the direction of " gun pits" that were pointed out to us on the way to Mametz wood just after Danzig Alley Cemetary, I just couldn't orientate them with the position of where I thought the front line was. If this post makes sense then any opinions would be helpful, if it doesn't just tell me to shut up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 24 December , 2007 Share Posted 24 December , 2007 Hi Nick - this is a 'Then and Now' map of where the gunpits are located. With the file size restrictions on this site it's hard to post a map showing the wider context, but the gun sites were approx 2.8 miles behind the front lines around High Wood and Longueval. First a WW1 map from September 1916, then a modern comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 24 December , 2007 Share Posted 24 December , 2007 Modern map, below. If you are interested in talking to people who were on the trip with you, our company does have its own forum. Advertising rules here no doubt forbid me to put a link to it, but I am sure you will find it ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick D Posted 24 December , 2007 Share Posted 24 December , 2007 I think this thread answered a one I started in June, named- Mametz wood, what are they ? I'm sure it's the same place, but I'm hindered by the fact I can't attach photographs or maps !! Mick D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 24 December , 2007 Share Posted 24 December , 2007 Hi Mick - still haven't found that photo yet, either! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick D Posted 24 December , 2007 Share Posted 24 December , 2007 Paul, If you know the location described by me in June, and the one in this thread to be the same, then my question is answered ! Mick D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huytonhoofer Posted 26 December , 2007 Share Posted 26 December , 2007 I did this wonderful tour in June of this year and it opened up a whole new interest for me. I have photograph of the gunpits and i believe the walk started at Danzig Alley Cemetery and followed a route along to the Welsh Division Memorial opposite Mametz Wood and ended at Flat Iron Copse Cemetery. I'm happy to post a photograph of the gunpit, but taken in summer time, the grass is high and there's not much to see really. All it does for me is confirm where I was at a point in time. The narrative from the guide was more important in painting the picture. I posted earlier in the year some pictures which you will find here ( excluding the gunpit) http://www.flickr.com/photos/12579202@N04/ I'd do it all again without hesitation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huytonhoofer Posted 26 December , 2007 Share Posted 26 December , 2007 As an additional help to locate the area try Google Maps here's a link http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=e...p;z=14&om=1 The other fascinating aspect of these ariel maps is searching out the battle scars, in terms of shell craters and old trench lines that are still visible today particularly noticeable when the crops are yet to grow. A level of detail you don't get on the tour when the crops are high and ready to harvest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haworthnick Posted 26 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 26 December , 2007 Thanls for the THen and Now maps, they have helped orientate me in the right direction, everything seems to make perfect sense when you are there wity the guide but when casting your memory back things tend to get a little jumbled, I'll see what I can gather from my Topography of Armageddon and my N&MP maps, my original post was sentr while I was at someone's house and did not hall all my stuff with me. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haworthnick Posted 26 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 26 December , 2007 JUst out of interest Paul, what is the map sheet and the reference that you used to show where the gun pits are, just so I can find it for my own peice of mind. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 26 December , 2007 Share Posted 26 December , 2007 It's 57DSE4-3A, dated 010916. The gun pits are in square X29b. FYI (and others!) right on the corner of this embankment, almost where the gun pits end, was a post for Field Ambulances. It was used extensively by FAs throughout the fighting for High Wood. I suspect there was a cemetery here once, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haworthnick Posted 29 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 29 December , 2007 Thankyou Paul for all your asssitance, I've found the gun pits on the N&MP maps, and it has also helped orientate things a lot clearer. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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