gary_pearcy Posted 24 December , 2007 Share Posted 24 December , 2007 I'm visiting France/Belgium for New Year and am considering re-tracing the steps of a family ancestor. Lance-Corporal W. Grundy (known as Billy) was awarded the DCM for his bravery whilst in action at Houthulst Forest, serving with 20th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. I have recently read that the Forest is used by the Belgian authorities as a site for detonating the "Iron Harvest" which sounds like an interesting (and clearly very dangerous) place to visit. I just wondered if any users of the site new if visitors to this area were allowed to walk in any unrestricted parts of the Forest? Merry christmas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVB Posted 24 December , 2007 Share Posted 24 December , 2007 Hello, not the whole forest is taken by the army. You can enter the forest near the Belgian Cemetery on the road between Houthulst and Poelkapelle, but also nearer Houthulst and in Houthulst itself. This is the most northern part of the forest. The southern side can not be entered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havrincourt Posted 24 December , 2007 Share Posted 24 December , 2007 Hello A peaceful place today, well worth a visit It would be great to see your photographs on your return.......on our trip this year the camera did not work, so never got any pictures! But I do have some old photographs/postcards of the area that you might like, I can also dig out a trench map , PM me with your e-mail address and I'll get some things together Merry Christmas Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 25 December , 2007 Share Posted 25 December , 2007 Hello, Also take a look here : http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...outhulst+forest Regards, Cnock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary_pearcy Posted 27 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 27 December , 2007 Hello PM me with your e-mail address and I'll get some things together Not sure what you mean by this, but thanks to all who have replied. Any photos/maps etc would be really interesting. My e-mail address is gary_pearcy@btinternet.com Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marnik Posted 28 December , 2007 Share Posted 28 December , 2007 Hello Gary, Find some photos here from the bunkers in the forest. There's no public allowed in this part of the forest. Kind regards, Marnik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary_pearcy Posted 28 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 28 December , 2007 Amazing pictures!! Would love to get in there myself. Thanks for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 28 December , 2007 Share Posted 28 December , 2007 I remember my first drive into Ieper, when I started seeing bunkers, pill boxes I was in anorak heaven! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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