Showing posts with label Battle of the Somme. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Battle of the Somme. Show all posts

27 December 2018

Thiepval Memorial Visitor Centre and Museum France



The Thiepval Memorial commemorates over 72,000 British and South African men reported missing in the Somme. The memorial is the largest Commonwealth war memorial in the world and stands 45 metres high. The names of the missing are engraved on the wall.

The first day of the battle was the worst day in British military history with some 20,000 killed by German machine guns within a few hours.




The nearby Thiepval Visitor Centre (2004) and museum tell the story of the Battle of the Somme which began 1 July 1916 following six days of artillery bombardment of the German positions. The British sufferred enormous losses in the Somme battle which continued until November. The French troops had moved to defend against a German attack at Verdun.

The new museum was opened 2 June 2016 and is adjacent to the Visitor Centre.






Artefacts offer glimpses of life and death on the battlefield. We look down on these exhibits as we walk through the museum.





At the end of the exhibits is a full size replica of Guynemer's figher plane of August 1916.




In addition to a history of World War I with a focus on the Somme, the museum contains a cafeteria and store.


There is no charge for the Visitor Centre but there is a fee for the museum. Access to the memorial is free. There is a picnic area nearby.

Learn more Websites: Thiepval  Great War UK Somme  Thiepval Memorial

See More of My World War I Travels





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13 December 2018

Lochnagar Crater Battle of the Somme World War I



The Lochnagar Crater resulted when the British detonated a mine underneath German lines at 7.28 am on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916.

Tunnellers had dug beneath the German positions to place the mine. After seven days of British artillery fire, the mine was detonated. Then, eight successive waves of the 34th Division climbed out of their trenches and headed for the German lines. This day was the bloodiest day in British military history. Read more and see 1916 photos at lochnagarcrater.org.


My photos and video are from 22 October 2018.


A cross marks the memorial site. Many poppies here and around the site remind us the soldiers are not forgotten.

 


















The grey skies helped create a somber moment whilst walking about the crater.

 Storyboards help tell the story of those connected with that fateful day.

































There are places to rest and reflect on war and peace.












Here is a video overview of the Lochnagar Crater site.



See More of My World War I Travels





Connections

My Page    www.suttong.com

My Books  
 AMAZON     GOOGLE PLAY STORE

FACEBOOK  
 Geoff W. Sutton

TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton

LinkedIN Geoffrey Sutton  PhD

Publications (many free downloads)
     
  Academia   Geoff W Sutton   (PhD)
     
  ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton   (PhD)