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

Guide to World War I in France

Guide to World War I in Belgium

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The Windmill—Pozières France

The Windmill—Pozières, France is an area of the Somme important to Australians who sacrificed so many here in 1916 during the seven weeks Battle of the Somme.

Of the 23,000 Australian Imperial Force casualties, 6,700 died.

Here's a short video clip I took at The Windmill Cemetery and Memorial 21 October, 2018.

The Windmill Site is close to Pozières on road D929 to Bapaume.

See More of My World War I Travels

Guide to World War I in France

Guide to World War I in Belgium

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FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton

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Tank Corps Memorial Pozières France

Tank Memorial Pozieres/ G Sutton 21 Oct 2018

The Pozières Tank Memorial commemorates the tank corps. Tanks were first used in this area of the Somme in September 1916.

The memorial was officially unveiled by Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas L. N. Morland, July 1922.

Early tank models surround the obelisk. 







The Tank Corps Memorial is on road D929 from Albert to Bapaume. It is approximately 6 K northeast of Albert, France.


Here's a video clip I took of the memorial.

See More of My World War I Travels

Guide to World War I in France

Guide to World War I in Belgium

Connections

My Page    www.suttong.com

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FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton

TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton

LinkedIN Geoffrey Sutton  PhD

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HYDE PARK CORNER CEMETERY & MEMORIAL BELGIUM

The Hyde Park Corner (Royal Berks) Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in the Hainaut Region of Belgium. It is close to Ploegsteert Wood. 
The cemetery was first used in 1915. 

Nearby is an extension and the Ploegsteert Memorial honoring 11,000 World War I commonwealth servicemen who died in this area.




























My photos are from 21 October, 2018

See More of My World War I Travels

Guide to World War I in France

Guide to World War I in Belgium

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)

     

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NIEUWPOORT BELGIUM and The Western Front

After crossing the English Channel from Dover to Calais as my grandfather did in 1914, I headed north to De Panne, Belgium, a town in the Flemish Province of West Flanders—part of Flanders, one of three Belgian regions.  The next morning we went a short distance to the North Sea port, Nieuwpoort. Here we stood on the beaches, close to the northern point on the western front of World War I.

Following the German attack on Belgium, 4 August 1914, Nieuwpoort was part of the area still under Belgian control after the October Battle of the Yser. The German “Race to the Sea” had been thwarted by the allies. The Battle of the Yser is part of the defense of Flanders and the Battles at Ypres (called “Wipers” by the British).  Nearby is the first available Demarcation Stone. These small stones mark the battle line of the Western Front from Belgium to Pfetterhouse on the French-Swiss border. Each of these 119 monuments are one metre high and topped with a laurel wreath and a soldier’s helmet. The helmets represent the troops—Belgian, French, or British.

A memorial to King Albert, near the Yser river, recalls national pride in the Belgian resistance. The King had opened the sluices allowing the land to be flooded and ending the German advance. 

Nearby is a memorial remembering the British Expeditionary Force, which landed later in August.

Before leaving the Nieuwpoort area, we stopped at the Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery. Here, 841 Commonwealth soldiers are buried or remembered: UK 830, Canada 2, Australia 8, South Africa 1.

See More of My World War I Travels

Guide to World War I in France

Guide to World War I in Belgium

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)