Martin Bennitt Posted 6 March , 2011 Share Posted 6 March , 2011 well it certainly seems 'in character' for the area. The birds are obviously meant to think it's just another abandoned pillbox cheers Martin B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Gray Posted 6 March , 2011 Share Posted 6 March , 2011 Hmm, not too sure about Ornithologists, haven't noticed too many of them in the Somme / Ancre valley, but there's plenty of Duck hunters there, that's for sure. It's far more likely to be a shooting hide than a bird watching hide. Rob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herekawe Posted 7 March , 2011 Share Posted 7 March , 2011 Hi Its an impressive construction in NZ we make a maimai with corrugated iron and bits of wood. Probably for bird watching pretty hard to hit a moving target through that little slot unless it was sitting on the water right in front of you. James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris mccarthy Posted 7 March , 2011 Share Posted 7 March , 2011 I'm with James, they must have some formidable ducks around there, to warrant such an construction. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Gray Posted 7 March , 2011 Share Posted 7 March , 2011 Hi Its an impressive construction in NZ we make a maimai with corrugated iron and bits of wood. Probably for bird watching pretty hard to hit a moving target through that little slot unless it was sitting on the water right in front of you. James Well, with respect perhaps you don't know the Somme Valley very well..?? These Duck hides are literally everywhere, the hunters very often use permanent floating decoys to lure the birds onto the surface of the water just in front of the hide, then BOOM. Rob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herekawe Posted 8 March , 2011 Share Posted 8 March , 2011 Well, with respect perhaps you don't know the Somme Valley very well..?? These Duck hides are literally everywhere, the hunters very often use permanent floating decoys to lure the birds onto the surface of the water just in front of the hide, then BOOM. Rob. Fair enough. For some reason I assumed shooting on the water would be banned like it is here. To each his own I suppose. We use the decoys duck callers etc so they fly within range but if they land they are "safe". Next time I am there I will look out for it. James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilbo139 Posted 4 September , 2020 Share Posted 4 September , 2020 (edited) I’ve been trying to find out a bit about this photograph I took I believe in 1991 and came across this thread, it was taken in the village of Méaulte and obviously close to the airfield. I last drove past in 2016 and believe it is still there but completely hidden. Perhaps someone could confirm that this is Second World War and built to protect the airfield. If so my apologies for straying. Please forgive the quality it was probably taken on a Kodak Instamatic..Regards Colin Edited 4 September , 2020 by gilbo139 Spelling mistake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 4 September , 2020 Admin Share Posted 4 September , 2020 This looks to me like the bunker in Festubert, not Meaulte. It gets a mention in Before Endeavours Fade. My photo was taken in about 1988. Th bunker is still there but totally covered in foliage, you have to know it's location to spot a tiny bit of concrete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 4 September , 2020 Admin Share Posted 4 September , 2020 Found another photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilbo139 Posted 4 September , 2020 Share Posted 4 September , 2020 Have to agree it looks very similar but I actually don’t remember visiting Festubert, unfortunately I’ve only got one photograph of it but I have got a copy of Before Endeavours Fade so I’ll check that out.Even the fence posts look the same however I’m still convinced it’s in Méaulte as I’ve looked out for it a number of times over the years.....thanks for your input! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 4 September , 2020 Admin Share Posted 4 September , 2020 Page 68 of BEF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
14276265 Posted 4 September , 2020 Share Posted 4 September , 2020 The well-camouflaged Festubert bunker as of July 2019. Totally hidden. Images from Google. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 4 September , 2020 Admin Share Posted 4 September , 2020 The wooden shutters and the roof pitch in the Google Earth photos look very similar to the photo that gilbo posted, as does the drain cover in my photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilbo139 Posted 4 September , 2020 Share Posted 4 September , 2020 And the electricity / phone cable........ha ha,I’m still hoping someone will come along and say they’ve seen the one in Méaulte!, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mebu Posted 6 September , 2020 Share Posted 6 September , 2020 Michelle is correct, it is Tramways House, in Festubert. Built by 427 RE Company, of 42nd Div, as a shelter on the Barnton Tramway, and used by 55th Division on their stand there. Certainly not Meaulte. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilbo139 Posted 6 September , 2020 Share Posted 6 September , 2020 Yes , I have to agree, I’ve had that photo a long time and convinced myself it was Meaulte, but after seeing Michelle’s post I agree it has to be Festubert. I do remember visiting a particular grave in Richeburg in the late eighties or early 90s so I can only assume I passed that bunker , photographed it and have recently resurrected it and mistaken it for one that I am sure is in Meaulte but is probably later vintage , Thanks all for jogging my memory! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilbo139 Posted 6 September , 2020 Share Posted 6 September , 2020 I’m sure a concrete structure lies behind these trees...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mills-bomb Posted 9 September , 2020 Share Posted 9 September , 2020 On 04/09/2020 at 14:42, 14276265 said: The well-camouflaged Festubert bunker as of July 2019. Totally hidden. Images from Google. The home owners obviously don’t want the likes of us poking around in their front garden by the looks of that hedge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilbo139 Posted 27 November , 2020 Share Posted 27 November , 2020 Further to my September post and being rightly corrected on what I thought was a picture of a concrete emplacement in Meaulte I’ve had a sort through some old photographs and have now found the photos I was referring too......definitely looks later vintage than 14/18 but also now so well hidden you would drive straight past. Apologise for the quality but they’re old 35 mm snaps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mebu Posted 27 November , 2020 Share Posted 27 November , 2020 Nice old pic. Part of defences for the Meaulte airfield, WW2. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilbo139 Posted 27 November , 2020 Share Posted 27 November , 2020 Thanks Peter I’m glad that’s been sorted , just shows how mistakes can be made over time !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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