Just got back from my hols in France and whilst there visited The Thiepval Memorial, also known as The Memorial for the Missing to pay my respects. Inscribed on it are the names of the British and Commonwealth soldiers that are registered as missing from the Battle of the Somme. In other words their bodies were never recovered or are in unmarked graves. 72,000 names, of which 90% were killed within a four month period at the start of the battle. What a humbling experience it was. If you're ever in the Pas de Calais region I'd recommend a visit, the size and scale of the memorial are incredible.
I went on a year 9 school trip. (That autumn a few years back when it was that windy all the ferries where stopped. Awesome.) We were sharing accommodation with some German kids doing the same trip (that must be a weird feeling for them...) They didnt like the "5-1" banter too much...
It's one of the few times I've been literally stunned into silence. It's hard not to get a lump in your throat when you take in the atmosphere, it really is that moving.
I went in 2000 as part of The Trench tv programme, we gave a port arms and laid a wreath in the uniform of the Hull Pals, 10th battalion East Yorks, with a royal guard bugler. I just about managed to keep it together for the service. Watching the sun set over the graves as the last post rang out it was one of the most emotional moments I have ever experienced. Went and did the same at Oppy Wood but I had been awake for 2 days and by the end was just a ball of snot and tears, didn't manage to hold it together for that one.
Had a drive around the Somme and Thiepval, the rolling countryside is remarkably like the East Yorkshire Wolds, it is very moving, after you've imagined the horrors of the bombardments, trench and underground fighting, and going over the top against the machine guns just remember the recent outrage about chemical weapons in Syria and consider these poor bastards in WW1 were also the first to suffer gas attacks with phosgene and mustard gas! 100 years next year since the start of WW1.
I also stopped at the British cemetery at Walencourt. Just over 3,500 buried there with more than half unknown. All it says on the headstone is; A soldier of the Great War. Known unto God. With a simple cross. I'm no hard man but I'm not an overly emotional type of bloke either. As I stood in the cemetery on a calm, windless afternoon with my son I was very close to tears. We were the only people in the place but by looking at the visitors register we were the 5 th set of Brits to visit that day. The place was kept in immaculate condition, the grass was like carpet. Again, it really was humbling to say the least.
Was quite a man. Had already won the MC and not many have won both the MC and VC. "On 3 May 1917 came the actions that led to his VC. Ordered, with the rest of his brigade, to attack a wood near Oppy, Pas-de-Calais, his platoon became pinned down by machine gun fire.[2] The citation for his VC describes events in more detail: T/2nd Lt. John Harrison, M.C., E. York. R. For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice in an attack. Owing to darkness and to smoke from the enemy barrage, and from our own, and to the fact that our objective was in a dark wood, it was impossible to see when our barrage had lifted off the enemy front line. Nevertheless, 2nd Lt. Harrison led his company against the enemy trench under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire, but was repulsed. Reorganising his command as best he could in No Man's Land, he again attacked in darkness under terrific fire, but with no success. Then, turning round, this gallant officer single-handed made a dash at the machine-gun, hoping to knock out the gun and so save the lives of many of his company. His self-sacrifice and absolute disregard of danger was an inspiring example to all. (he is reported missing, believed killed.) âLondon Gazette Harrison's body was never found. He is commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Arras Memorial." His son was a Captain in the West Riding Regiment and killed at Dunkirk. The cliche they don't make them like that anymore certainly applies to this man.
Went round there in the early seventies. I was only in my early twenties and was moved to tears by how many there had not even reached my fender years. Same with a WW2 memorial where pilots and gunners in aircraft were 20 and below. Nearly came to blows with a gobshite scouser on the coach who loudly told his wife he wasn't getting off to look at this boring s****. Only the thought of how disrespectful it would have been stopped him getting a smack. And not just from me.
I remember seeing that programme. Very good series. Wasn't the Hull Pals one of the biggest of the Pals Battallions? Went to the US cemmetary above Omaha Beach in Normandy. It's very moving.
I've not been to those mentioned above, but visited here in the Fifties. Very awe-inspiring: https://plus.google.com/111027930300836637137/photos?hl=en
Hull raised 4 battalions of pals which was one of the largest turnouts in the country. They were known as the Hull Commercials, Tradesmen, Sportsmen and T'Others or 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment respectively. Not long after we learnt that Pals Battalions were a really bad idea when whole streets or factories of men were wiped out in one go. I do like the idea of Hull T'Others though.
A big U.S. Air Force cemetery near Cambridge. WWII aircrew - the first time I saw gravestones with Star-of-David on top, in place of crosses. (I think I was 9 or 10).
