Belgium seems to start every day dull, cold and windy. Today was no exception. We had a relatively late start, however I decided to get out early to get some pictures in the morning light. I should have saved myself the early start. The light was crap
Today we were to explore the Ypres salient, a tongue of Allied territory that stuck out into the German lines and the battles in 1917 to try and straighten the line ie bring the teriitory either side of that tongue, held by the Germans, into line with the tip.
The tip of the tongue was the city of Ypres.
Why this area, well it was the area the Anzac forces worked together to attack and achieve their objectives.
Firstly though, we walked over some German entrenchments that have been excavated and then reproduced, to get an idea of what the Australian forces were facing, at Bayernwald.
It was then on to Messines Ridge the place of the Australian assault that successfully took the ridge in early July 1917. It was here that my great uncle was killed, either by machine gun fire or a sniper, independent reports differ, and died instantly with a shot through the head.
The ridge in our terms is really just an undulation, however pushing up it laden with a gun, ammunition, hand grenades and other gear, over barbed wire and shell holes etc would have been pretty hard.
On the left of the Australians were the NZers who had a steeper part of the ridge to attack. The NZers have a memorial there overlooking the slope up which they attacked.
Our visit was heralded by rain and thunder.
Both units achieved their objectives.
The attack was heralded by the detonating of a number of mines under the German Line of which Hill 60 is perhaps the most famous.
It was then time to head back to Iepers, for a short town walk.
Like many of the Western Front towns Iepers is very old and looks it, yet all the building have been rebuilt post WW1 as close as possible to original. They have done an impressive job.
The 8.00PM Last Post ceremony lacks the band or choir, however we get in there place The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Brendon Nelson, Ambassador for somewhere and Bob Such, South Australian politician. Not a fair swap. Looks like we will get them at Villers Bretonneux.
Believe me the hole is very large, with many shell holes scattered around.
My companions are Walter, my room mate , an 83 year old ex 40 year army man, who lives a little in the past. He is quite deaf, yet very fit.
There is Steve the historian, from the UK, who is very knowledgeable, however lacks a little in presentation. He is better one on one, rather than on the buses PA.
Ian and Marcia are from Broken Hill, now in death alley at Victor Harbor. They have travelled a lot, mostly so Ian can play golf.
Paula and Brian are from Albury. He was a high school principal and she was a physio, I think. They also seem to have travelled a lot. She collects artillery shell cases.
Jacqui and Dallas, the youngsters are from Melbourne. Dallas is in the army with the artillery. Not sure what Jacqui does. They have no children.
Finally there is Alan and Neil, friends, whose wives know each other. Alan is a mental health nurse, involved in care of the disabled. Neil was an ambo, not sure what he does now.
They seem to have settled down a bit and seem to have stopped their initial right wing posturing.
Picasa album pictures
Today we were to explore the Ypres salient, a tongue of Allied territory that stuck out into the German lines and the battles in 1917 to try and straighten the line ie bring the teriitory either side of that tongue, held by the Germans, into line with the tip.
The tip of the tongue was the city of Ypres.
Why this area, well it was the area the Anzac forces worked together to attack and achieve their objectives.
Firstly though, we walked over some German entrenchments that have been excavated and then reproduced, to get an idea of what the Australian forces were facing, at Bayernwald.
It was then on to Messines Ridge the place of the Australian assault that successfully took the ridge in early July 1917. It was here that my great uncle was killed, either by machine gun fire or a sniper, independent reports differ, and died instantly with a shot through the head.
The ridge in our terms is really just an undulation, however pushing up it laden with a gun, ammunition, hand grenades and other gear, over barbed wire and shell holes etc would have been pretty hard.
On the left of the Australians were the NZers who had a steeper part of the ridge to attack. The NZers have a memorial there overlooking the slope up which they attacked.
Our visit was heralded by rain and thunder.
Both units achieved their objectives.
The attack was heralded by the detonating of a number of mines under the German Line of which Hill 60 is perhaps the most famous.
It was then time to head back to Iepers, for a short town walk.
Like many of the Western Front towns Iepers is very old and looks it, yet all the building have been rebuilt post WW1 as close as possible to original. They have done an impressive job.
The 8.00PM Last Post ceremony lacks the band or choir, however we get in there place The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Brendon Nelson, Ambassador for somewhere and Bob Such, South Australian politician. Not a fair swap. Looks like we will get them at Villers Bretonneux.
Believe me the hole is very large, with many shell holes scattered around.
My companions are Walter, my room mate , an 83 year old ex 40 year army man, who lives a little in the past. He is quite deaf, yet very fit.
There is Steve the historian, from the UK, who is very knowledgeable, however lacks a little in presentation. He is better one on one, rather than on the buses PA.
Ian and Marcia are from Broken Hill, now in death alley at Victor Harbor. They have travelled a lot, mostly so Ian can play golf.
Paula and Brian are from Albury. He was a high school principal and she was a physio, I think. They also seem to have travelled a lot. She collects artillery shell cases.
Jacqui and Dallas, the youngsters are from Melbourne. Dallas is in the army with the artillery. Not sure what Jacqui does. They have no children.
Finally there is Alan and Neil, friends, whose wives know each other. Alan is a mental health nurse, involved in care of the disabled. Neil was an ambo, not sure what he does now.
They seem to have settled down a bit and seem to have stopped their initial right wing posturing.
Picasa album pictures
No comments:
Post a Comment