DAVE PLATT Posted 7 May , 2011 Share Posted 7 May , 2011 Hi All, Awesome forum and what a fantastic opportunity to have so many WW1 experts in one bag. I'm serving military, REME, tanks being my expertise, I have 3 years left, however, same as most of you its great to get out in the battlefields and walk the ground, I like off the beaten track, identifying the known pictures and film footage and matching that to todays topography. I've taken battlefield tours for about 12 years, and being a Notts and Derby lad I like to research and specialise in the Sherwood Foresters. I went over to Fonquevillers and Gommecourt a couple of weeks ago and spent a few days looking at what the Sherwood Foresters did on the 1st July 1916. Being a biker, its easy to shoot over from Notts to the Somme and visit, if any of you want to talk about the Sherwood Foresters 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Battalions, ride a motorbike and fancy joining my group for a visit let me know and maybe we can hook up. I joined the Guild of Battlefield Tour guides last year, its great to have visits with those experts, brains like planets! Finding the Fallen and Digging up the Trenches are most interesting, I signed up for some battlefield digging, do any of you do that? It was such a shame that Professor Richard Holmes died last weekend, he has championed the WW1 battlefields for a long time and will be sadly missed. Enjoy and get out there Dave Platt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimSmithson Posted 7 May , 2011 Share Posted 7 May , 2011 Hi Dave and welcome to the Forum. I am sure you will spend many happy hours here with the interest you have and be able to contribute as well. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEd Posted 7 May , 2011 Share Posted 7 May , 2011 Hello Dave and welcome to the forum, I am new here aswell and have learnt and read some fascinating things on here. Look forward to seeing some pics of your travels! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 7 May , 2011 Share Posted 7 May , 2011 Welcome, You will find some very knowledgable N and D chaps here. Like you I have spent some time walking around Gommecourt, a most rewarding area...easy to understand one days battle and sacrifice. Some nice Notts and derby insignia has been found in that field! TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVE PLATT Posted 8 May , 2011 Author Share Posted 8 May , 2011 Hi Fella's, Thanks for the welcomes and reply's, good of you. I spent 4 days at Gommecourt recently following what the Foresters did on 1 July 1916, i am fortunate we have the SFs museum here in Nottingham and a section at Nottingham casle, quite a bit about Albert Ball too, he was our WW1 RFC hero, I went to his grave last year at Annoulin and read his citation at the grave side, never fails to put a lump. I had a group of 7 bikers, it was a great visit, started Ypres and did the salient, saw the new Sherwood Foresters memorial at Tyne Cot went on the Somme and finished in Dieppe. I'm looking for Somme accomadation, stayed a few places in the past but fancy a change, any recommendations please? Regards Dave Platt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 8 May , 2011 Share Posted 8 May , 2011 Well there is a hotel in Fonquevillers you know. Caters for French and little English but cheap and cheerful, footie fan and right where you need to be! Avrils at Auchonvillers is a given ( to this Forum). Never staayed there myself but folks recommend it! TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVE PLATT Posted 9 May , 2011 Author Share Posted 9 May , 2011 Hotel in Fonq? mmm please tell me more Web address please if you have it Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joris Ryckeboer Posted 9 May , 2011 Share Posted 9 May , 2011 Never stayed there, but I think TT means this hotel? (in fact Chambres d'Hotes, or B&B ) http://www.aubleudunord.fr/ Kind regards! Joris PS: Not Somme yet, but still Pas de Calais. If you search by region on the www. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 9 May , 2011 Share Posted 9 May , 2011 Joris, Thats the one...I love it! TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVE PLATT Posted 10 May , 2011 Author Share Posted 10 May , 2011 Thanks fella's I will scan it and see if it suits. I've just booked Chavasse house at Hardecourt with Jon Porter, he and his brother own some really nice properties and the prices are good, ideal for groups a 16 and an 18, then a couple of 4s chavasseferme@aol.com They are a couple of ex Marine Commando's and mad keen on WW1, lots of battlefield artifacts to show off too. Regards Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salientguide Posted 10 May , 2011 Share Posted 10 May , 2011 Thanks fella's I will scan it and see if it suits. I've just booked Chavasse house at Hardecourt with Jon Porter, he and his brother own some really nice properties and the prices are good, ideal for groups a 16 and an 18, then a couple of 4s chavasseferme@aol.com They are a couple of ex Marine Commando's and mad keen on WW1, lots of battlefield artifacts to show off too. Regards Dave Welcome Dave to the forum and to the GBG hope we might meet at one or two functions. Interested in Chavasese Farm as accomodation so would be glad to hear of your opinion afterwards as havent used there before. regards SG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVE PLATT Posted 13 May , 2011 Author Share Posted 13 May , 2011 Hi, Yes, we have been talking, I'm quite impressed with the service and what they have done, I want to something similar in the future. Have you stayed with them? or else where on the area? Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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