WW1 Trip to Ypres and the Somme

[lynck49]

Excellent right up and pics. . Captured the essence of visiting these sites and all the memories held by so many people. Do you have any route details for loading onto a Garmin that you could share? I'll be visiting some of these areas this summer but unfortunately on 4 wheels - but next year....

Thanks for a great report. K.

 

[Twotter]

Excellent right up and pics. . Captured the essence of visiting these sites and all the memories held by so many people. Do you have any route details for loading onto a Garmin that you could share? I'll be visiting some of these areas this summer but unfortunately on 4 wheels - but next year....

Thanks for a great report. K.

Cheers

I uploaded our daily routes in Slimbo's thread, post #9 here

The GPS was a Quest 2 using CN8, if that makes any difference.

 

[Invicta Moto]

Great trip and good pics.

Love to spend more than a day across having a look to see where my Grandad's cousins were killed.

Was over this weekend (http://forum.bmw-club.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=864) to see my 3rd cousin William's grave in Corbié on the Ancre and Somme rivers.

 

[Micky]

Great piccies and write up Twotter, thanks for sharing them with us. Visited the area many times, my grandad was lucky to live through the Somme, I have his medals. Found out a couple of weeks ago that my great grandfather and his son were killed over there. Private Frank Taylor died aged 20 year, and is buried at Bernafay Wood Cemetery, his dad Frank Taylor died aged 43 and is buried at Menin Road South Cemetery.

I'm there in three weeks...

Hi Twotter

I made the appointment, and found my great grandad at Menin Road South Cemetery... just returned.

Originally buried at Menin Road North with 56 others, Menin Road North was later destroyed by shell fire... those remains that could be found were moved to Menin Road South. My grandad Frank Taylor rests next to the central commemorative stone.

Thanks for a great thread...

 

[Micky]

Thanks grandad....

 

[Invicta Moto]

Certainly sobering to see the rows and rows of stones and then find the row and plot the CWGC gave you...... or in my case gave my Granddad who never made it across.

Sadly the grave is under trees and the writing doesn't show up too well... thanks to the Royal British Legion for supplying at short notice the crosses and silk poppies....

http://uk.geocities.com/pauldevall/Dscn0353_small.jpg

 

[Twotter]

Glad to hear it chaps

 

[paddy]

WW1

Twotter

Just a quick note of appreciation for your blog/Thread.
Just got back from a near identical route of the Ypres/Somme Battlefields and found your notes very helpful.
Anybody else thinking of doing it be aware that Albert is not a place to spend a night only found 1 hotel open, (Euros 180 x2 for 1 night) and very poor for a 'bite to eat'.

Many Thanks
Paddy

 

[teejay]

Got back from Ypres last weekend, my 3rd time there this time and took another couple with me and the wife.

They were suitably impressed.

I just think it is a great place for a weekend trip anyway, even if it spent sitting in the town watching the world go by with a drink in hand and as it is only an hour and a bit off the tunnel.

Still makes you think though when you see the numbers involved and one comment my mate passed when we went round the various sites was how little ground was actually taken over the conflict with such losses.


Teejay

 

[Micky]

Got to see Frank Taylor (junior) at Bernafay Wood last month... he was 20 when he was killed. Now been to pay respects to him and his dad at Menin Road South. My grandad Wheeler survived, as said before, and lived to a ripe old age... he never spoke of the war. In the second world war he was on reserved occupation... driving steam trains with his son... my dad

My grandmother never spoke of her father and brother (the Frank Taylor's) having been killed... never!

Respect indeed...

Frank Taylor (junior) at Bernafay Wood... I had been carrying a Remembrance Day poppy in my tank bag for a couple of years, I knew it would come in handy one day... it's now with Frank

 

[Trippy]

Nice report and photos.
Its somewhere I'm going to take my lad next year, we where going next week but he got selected for a Somerset schools sports thing.

 

[Alex Poole]

Twotter
Ive done a couple of trips like this with friends if you fancy doing a bit more with like minded folk try this site

www.rblr.co.uk