bierlijn Posted 22 January , 2008 Share Posted 22 January , 2008 Hello Forum, Every time I see a trench map of the Hill 60 area, there is a feature called "The Ravine" marked. I guess that this must have been a significant feature of the battlefield to be so clearly noted like this. Did it have any actual strategic importance, and did it play a part in any actions in the area? It seems to be in publically accessible woodland in a walking area so I'd be interested if anyone has been to visit it & could report what is there. Hugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 22 January , 2008 Share Posted 22 January , 2008 Hello, This should be the Ravine, near present Woods cemetery. Not easy to walk in. Regards, Cnock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bierlijn Posted 22 January , 2008 Author Share Posted 22 January , 2008 Not exactly the Grand Canyon, is it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 22 January , 2008 Share Posted 22 January , 2008 Hugh, That is right Cnock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnreed Posted 22 January , 2008 Share Posted 22 January , 2008 My wife's Great Uncle was posted as M.I.A. on a Trench Raid by 18th Battalion London Irish Rifles on 7th April 1917. We walked up the Ravine in April 2007 at the Lower part of the re-entrant there is a small dam where there is quite a bit of water, you can walk on the left hand side of the Ravine, I used "Linesman" to keep me on track. See photo. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnreed Posted 22 January , 2008 Share Posted 22 January , 2008 Just as a matter of interest the height difference between the bottom of the Ravine and the top near Impudence Trench was only 10 metres. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIFTER Posted 16 March , 2008 Share Posted 16 March , 2008 As there is a knowledge of The Ravine area could you have a look at my thread 1/17th London Rgt. under the Units part of the forum and let me know if you have any info please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bierlijn Posted 17 March , 2008 Author Share Posted 17 March , 2008 The best material I have found so far on The Ravine is a newish publication by called "Van The Bluff naar die Grosse Bastion" published by Provinciaal Domein De Palingbeek. It's a 50 page ring bound book costing 3 Euros and is also available in English or French from the Palingbeek Visitors Centre and In Flanders Fields shop. It has specific sections on The Ravine and Molenbosstraat including photographs and maps. The Ravine is a 'cascade stream', ie when it rains heavily, it becomes a torrent running down from the higher ground adjacent to the Molenbosstraat walking path. Hence the new dam at the bottom. There is a lot to see in this and The Bluff/canal area, and it has great open access possibilities. Attached is a photograph of a smashed blockhouse on the reverse slope at (I think) Buffs Bank, where you can clearly see the undisturbed cratering of the slope as it leads down to the canal. Hugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIFTER Posted 17 March , 2008 Share Posted 17 March , 2008 I agree with Hugh, the book is excellent and in 2007 only 3 euros! Walking this area is very easy with good, mainly flat pathways, there are excellent car parks nearby all of which are marked on the plan in the back of the book. Because it was getting dark we had to miss Wood and Hedge Row area but plan to go back this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bierlijn Posted 17 March , 2008 Author Share Posted 17 March , 2008 I really think the Bluff area is underserved by modern battlefield guides, and to me it's a gaping gap in the lines of the Battleground Europe book series. Both the Messines Ridge and Hill 60 entries reference the area as deserving a book of its own and I'm sure many would agree. Nigel Cave, who wrote the excellent Hill 60 and Hooge entries in the series has kindly replied to my enquiry about this, but the answer it that there is no book in preparation. In the absence of this guide, can anyone recommend any other publications which cover The Bluff area in any detail? Hugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Tucker Posted 17 March , 2008 Share Posted 17 March , 2008 Not in terms of a modern guide but there is a lot of battle detail in Atteridge's History of the 17th(Northern)Division who were at the Bluff in February 1916. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephendixon Posted 20 March , 2008 Share Posted 20 March , 2008 I agree with all the comments above. Its a real shame that there is no specific publication regarding the actions at the Bluff in February 1916. I was lucky enough to walk around this area in 2007 on a glorious Spring day. The area is beautiful and well worth a visit. I stumbled across the Palingbeek guide "From the Bluff...." at the Cloth Hall in Ypres. It one of a number of publications produced by the local tourist office in the "Tales for on the road" series. I can't recall the other titles but would highly recommend it as a guide to walking in the Bluff area. Will be revisiting the Bluff next month and once again will be using the above guide which features a number of walks, in differing lengths, as it describes the landscape in front of you. My GGF was killed at the Ravine during February 1916 serving with the 9th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment. It almost takes your breath away standing there today, it's hard to imagine a more peaceful space on the whole Salient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clio Posted 21 March , 2008 Share Posted 21 March , 2008 There is good coverage of the 1915/16 fighting within this sector in Armageddon Road edited by Terry Norman. Nasty place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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