Day 2 - August 29, 2017: On the Somme

Day 2 - August 29, 2017:  On the Somme

Editors Note: I am still working out how to attach photos. Reading text is boring as all get-go so please bear with me as I have some incredible photos to share!
In addition I will be hitting the highlights of the day and touching on one or two events. Completing the post for the entire day is labourous and I do want to balance updating the blog with soaking up the experience here. If the first two days are any indication, I may need a rest when I get home. Thank you for your patience!

Beaumont-Hamel Memorial Park Visit


What an incredible site! The Newfoundland government purchased the land from France in order to preserve it not only in honour of those that fought and died their but for future generations as well. 

 Government of Canada youth are employed as tour guides and are extremely knowledgeable.

On July 1 Canadians celebrate Canada Day. July 1 also commemorates a terrible anniversary for Newfoundlanders.

Newfoundland was still a Dominion of England during the Great War. 












Due to miscalculations and poor communication the Newfoundland Regiment was almost annihilated at Beaumont-Hamel on July 1, 1916. Of the 778 men that went into battle that morning only 68 answered the roll call that afternoon - 324 were killed or missing, 386 were wounded. 
As you walk in and among the trenches and bomb craters that still mark the battleground over 100 years later, you gain a sense of what the troops had endured. To the right of the picture above/left is the Danger tree. That is as far as the troops had advanced and is a mere 100 yards away from the main trench. 
For it's valour the Newfoundland Regiment earned the right to add Royal to their name.
Check out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaumont-Hamel_Newfoundland_Memorial

 The site also contains the following:
  • 29th British Division Memorial
  • Y Ravine Cemetery
  • 51 Highlanders Memorial
    • "Ladies from Hell"
  • Hunters Cemetery
  • Hawthorne Ridge Cemetery

Sunken Road Cemetery 

Sunken Road 2nd Canadian Cemetery

Corcellette Memorial

Corcellette Cemetery




 From the "Look What I Found!" Pages... 

 All those hours watching for bottles and cans in the ditches while bobbing down back roads to fishing lakes with my Gramps finally paid off!

 While heading to the cemetery I spotted something on the edge of the newly plowed field, I had Bill stop so I could check it out. And yes I had found an unexploded artillery shell! 

 Unfortunately I don't think the airlines would allow that in the checked baggage so we left it there for the CWGC (Commonwealth War Graves Commission people to tend to.


Adanac Military Cemetery

Canadian Bourlon Wood Memorial

Bourlon Wood Cemetery

Photos may not be used for commercial purposes without permission.

Comments

  1. M Magee30 August 2017 at 16:44

    Wouldn't it be kool if you got it back after they deemed it to be safe. A real keep sake.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jake Visser31 August 2017 at 07:36

    it could be a chemical shell. be careful out there.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Unknown3 September 2017 at 11:31

    only day 2 and already a lifetime of memories. looking forward the photos

    ReplyDelete

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