59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Share Posted 15 February , 2008 Evenin' all, just spent the most amazing 2 days wandering & driving inbetween Armentieres & Festubert via Neuve Chapelle. Central to all that,of course,is Aubers,a tiny place with an influx of new money,judging by thr huge/posh houses that have sprouted there.Still,they do not outweigh the bunkers that survive there.Never seen so many! My quest began as an attempt to find the area were 2 of our family fought together at Christmas 1914.One to survive for a while,one to die just before xmas itself. Lets start with some photos.I'll try & label them as best I can but,I didn't take notes so help would be welcome for glaring errors.Ta. What I 1st believed to be Rouges Bancs.Turns out to be NML N of Neuve Chapelle.bah. Leads on to Trou aid post cem(I think?)A possible spot for my cousin Davy to be an 'unknown' in. et voila Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 A lovely cemetery,even on a cold,foggy day. & its moated. See the lone French unknown on the right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 15 February , 2008 Share Posted 15 February , 2008 I was at Le Trou in October - a wonderful place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 One of the earliest, To ,of course,one of the 9th May 1915 men. Pte.Ellis is for some reason on his own & facing away from all other head stones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 & then off to,here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 Aussies own VC corner,memorial & the only mass grave I've seen for the Commonwealth. Do others exist? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 Then, a few yards down the lane to,this... Recognise it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 15 February , 2008 Share Posted 15 February , 2008 Very nice set of photos, 59165. Thank you. I do not believe there is any mass grave of the scale of VC Corner and certainly not an entire cemetery devoted to it; there are quite a few where there are a large number of unknowns buried in a single grave. I am thinking for example of the Guards Grave at Villers-Cotterets, several graves at Beaumetz-lez-Cambrai, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 Ta Chris.I'll see about visiting the Beaumetz spot soon,Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 As I dont have a map or linesman,I next ended up here .Not the most orderly tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 Souza blockhaus nr Deleval farm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 & Hitlers 'bunker' on the ridge.This is where he had his photo taken in 1940 & close to where he won his EK2. A look down from the ridge.Folks have said its up to 20 m high but I havent seen a spot much higher than 25 ft.in 2 days of looking.High enough,though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 More of them,around the ville. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 At the bottom of the ridge is this huge signalling post,with 2 houses built around it now. Has made an excellent coal bunker & drying room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 & a view looking up at the ridge from this post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 & today,with a bit more sun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 The church at Fromelles & from,I hope,Rouges Bancs. Talk about unfavourable ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 I think this is the hamlet of Rouges Bancs but its unnamed at both ends,plus its shut for road works From my 3 different maps,I believe this is the Rouges Bancs Ive been looking for for so long.We'll see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 15 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2008 & what I think may be the land where a double VC action occured.The last to be gazzetted for 1914 & where my great cousin,a Seaforth,was pulled out of the dirt by a Border Regt.man who would,after his death,be a member of the same family by marriage & chance! Apt that there is still a Brit screw picket there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6th Shropshires Posted 15 February , 2008 Share Posted 15 February , 2008 Thanks 59165, I have an interest in this area, and hope to visit it one day but will make do for now by looking at your great pics. Annette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 16 February , 2008 Admin Share Posted 16 February , 2008 Good to see the area again, thanks for sharing the photos. Michelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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