Remembrance Day

[Burnerman]

Do you go on organised trips or just stay in a hotel and hire a car? I suspect some of the organised tours might be a rip off but its difficult to tell the difference sometimes.

Five out of the six visits have been by motorbike, staying in hotels in Ypres and Albert. I ferry from Hull or Newcastle.
I’ve got enough info now to make my own way......books such as Before Endeavours Fade and Major and Mrs. Holts battlefield tours guides - great for Normandy beaches too.
I’ll post a photo if I can work out how!
John

 

[Old Salt]

I agree about the Holts battlefield guide. You really just need a bit of background to where the various CWWG are and an understanding of the geography. Get off the main roads and you will be passing a corner of a foreign field that will forever be a part of our history.

My own involvement stemmed from my mum who was trying to find out about her uncle. Unfortunately his name was spelt incorrectly in the official records so tracing him was impossible. Fast forward a few years and the internet gave opportunity to “find” him and discover what happened. Unfortunately she died before we had the opportunity to trace him but I have finished the task on her behalf. The publishing of battalion war diaries, chasing CWWG and visiting the various battlefields that he trod meant that I was able to get the official records corrected and have his inscription at Arras put right.

If you pick out your county regiment and download the war diary you can literally follow in their footsteps. Albert, Pozieres, (Ypres & Tyne Cot in Belgium), Thiepval, Peronne all have a story and you just need to get underneath it to discover more.

 

[Burnerman]

Thiepval has its own research library and facility with operators very keen to help you.
It’s amazing what can be discovered and is on record somewhere.
John

 

[fillyboy]

I agree about the Holts battlefield guide. You really just need a bit of background to where the various CWWG are and an understanding of the geography. Get off the main roads and you will be passing a corner of a foreign field that will forever be a part of our history.

My own involvement stemmed from my mum who was trying to find out about her uncle. Unfortunately his name was spelt incorrectly in the official records so tracing him was impossible. Fast forward a few years and the internet gave opportunity to “find” him and discover what happened. Unfortunately she died before we had the opportunity to trace him but I have finished the task on her behalf. The publishing of battalion war diaries, chasing CWWG and visiting the various battlefields that he trod meant that I was able to get the official records corrected and have his inscription at Arras put right.

If you pick out your county regiment and download the war diary you can literally follow in their footsteps. Albert, Pozieres, (Ypres & Tyne Cot in Belgium), Thiepval, Peronne all have a story and you just need to get underneath it to discover more.

I like that you finished your mums work on her behalf, that's very poignant.