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kbmarcus
Joined: 03 Oct 2005
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 4:06 pm Post subject: My Favorite Somme Memorials |
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A few of my favorite out of the way memorials:
Manchester's Memorial in the Contalmaison civilian cemetary: I found it by accident . Only after two visits did I notice what looked to be a tall gravestone only to walk in and find it. Commemorates a Manchester battalion which attacked Quadrangle Support trench.
Monument to the French 154th Infantry Regiment: All on its own in the middle of a farmed field just south of Maltzhorn Farm. Marks the left flank of the French Army on the Somme. Badly worn down; you have to do a rubbing almost to read the inscriptions. Really out of the way but kind of neat to stand at what was the flank of a line that ran to the Swiss border.
Bell's Redoubt: Very evocative, especially since the patch right behind it has been pretty much left as it was. In Contalmaison just meters from where LT Bell was killed. Or so i think.
For anyone going to the Western Front, think about buying the WFA book on private memorials on the western front. I can't remember the name of it but its worthwhile to find and research these small, private memorials. |
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Des
Joined: 05 Aug 2005
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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Not so much memorials as memory ... I can remember walking across the little roadbridge at the River Ancre on about 30 June 2006. Weather was astounding and the big rush had not started and only the very odd car went past. Stopped at bridge (in the shade) for a while and watched the Ancre River flow past. Gave me time to think.
I have a soft spot for Hamel and Ancre cemeteries. |
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PaulReed
Site Admin
Joined: 03 Aug 2005
Posts: 286
Location: Somme Battlefields
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| Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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Next time you should try bathing in the Ancre close to the Aveluy ponds; just as they did back in 1916. Quite a magical experience!
_________________
Somme Battlefields Website: http://www.somme-1916.com/ |
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scragend
Joined: 28 Nov 2005
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Des wrote: | Not so much memorials as memory ... I can remember walking across the little roadbridge at the River Ancre on about 30 June 2006. Weather was astounding and the big rush had not started and only the very odd car went past. Stopped at bridge (in the shade) for a while and watched the Ancre River flow past. Gave me time to think.
I have a soft spot for Hamel and Ancre cemeteries. |
I second that - the bridge over the Ancre on the road down from the Ulster Tower is probably my favourite spot on the Somme.
On 3rd July (I think it was) this year I parked at Thiepval and walked all the way down, then over the railway and into Beaucourt, then back in a loop through the small hamlet whose name I can't remember to rejoin the road back up to Thiepval. Scorching weather and, despite the crowds in the area, still very peaceful.
Magic...
(When I'm down in that area I try to adjust my walking pace so that the walk from the river to Ancre cemetery is the right length of time for me to recite "Beaucourt Revisited" to myself) |
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