100 years ago today the Battle of the Somme

[User33236]

We stopped at one of the British war cemeteries in the Somme valley, near Sailly Saillise, during our London to Paris ride just under two weeks ago. It didn't, at the time, register with me that we were so close to the 100th anniversary of the start of the battle.

What stuck me most was the contrast in information on the headstones with some having full information side by side with others simply stating 'a British soldier' or something similar.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

We stopped at one of the British war cemeteries in the Somme valley, near Sailly Saillise, during our London to Paris ride just under two weeks ago. It didn't, at the time, register with me that we were so close to the 100th anniversary of the start of the battle.

What stuck me most was the contrast in information on the headstones with some having full information side by side with others simply stating 'a British soldier' or something similar.

I went there in summer 1997, and although it was difficult to imagine what had happened, looking at the neatly manicured lawns and so on, what I remember was that it was terribly hot and I was more concerned by the fact that I needed a drink - The car we were going about in from place to place was like an oven too, even with the windows open.

Seriously though, what I really remember the most (in a dehydrated fug) was the Moose statue in the Royal Canadian memorial/cemetery (pictured on the BBC's coverage earlier).

All impressive, but, as I say, pretty difficult to imagine that anything ever happened there now.


I should go back when the weather is more agreeable.

 

[Dayvo]

I was brought up in a village called St Ives, near Cambridge, whilst not Somme specific there were battalions of cyclists many members of which lost their lives at the Somme

Some of the images, letters and entries are poignant

Is this them on Blackpool beach, swapping bikes for donkeys/Shetland ponies?

 

[ufkacbln]

These holidays and the fact they were paid was one of the recruiting tools

 

[User33236]

I went there in summer 1997, and although it was difficult to imagine what had happened, looking at the neatly manicured lawns and so on, what I remember was that it was terribly hot and I was more concerned by the fact that I needed a drink - The car we were going about in from place to place was like an oven too, even with the windows open.

Seriously though, what I really remember the most (in a dehydrated fug) was the Moose statue in the Royal Canadian memorial/cemetery (pictured on the BBC's coverage earlier).

All impressive, but, as I say, pretty difficult to imagine that anything ever happened there now.


I should go back when the weather is more agreeable.

The day I was there was very overcast with the threat of rain in the air which added a bit to the atmosphere. As you say it is incredibly well maintained which is the least they could do for those that have it as their final resting place.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

The day I was there was very overcast with the threat of rain in the air which added a bit to the atmosphere. As you say it is incredibly well maintained which is the least they could do for those that have it as their final resting place.

Yes, although, it made it so that, if you didn't know where you were, you wouldn't immediately have known where you were.

 

[User33236]

Yes, although, it made it so that, if you didn't know where you were, you wouldn't immediately have known where you were if that makes sense.

Yep, I get what you mean.

<off topic>It was like visiting Sachsenhausen then Auschwitz a few years later. Although a greater number lost their lives at the latter the treatment of the site left it feeling somewhat sterile which gave the former greater impact as it had been kept a bit more original.</off topic>

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Yep, I get what you mean.

<off topic>It was like visiting Sachsenhausen then Auschwitz a few years later. Although a greater number lost their lives at the latter the treatment of the site left it feeling somewhat sterile which gave the former greater impact as it had been kept a bit more original.</off topic>

When we went to Sachsenhausen c.2002. We were one of only a few visitors, but one of them was a German family who just let their kids run about the place whilst they stood back as if it was ordinary behaviour

Luckily it was easy to get away from them, and yes, it was a lot more interesting as, as you say, it was more original.

As for Auschwitz..... Well, when we went a few years back, there were so many people that I felt it would have been better to go in, say, the winter when it was a lot colder and grimmer, and you wouldn't be swamped by busloads of people.
I cannot say I thought it was very sterile, but then, as I say, the place was packed with people (ironic really), so it was hard to imagine it 'properly'.

 

[Garry A]

As for Auschwitz..... Well, when we went a few years back, there were so many people that I felt it would have been better to go in, say, the winter when it was a lot colder and grimmer, and you wouldn't be swamped by bussloads of people.
I cannot say I thought it was very sterile, but then, as I say, the place was packed with people (ironic really), so it was hard to imagine it 'properly'.

I went there in winter (jan 09) and the place was thick with snow. Not many people around. I think winter added something to the place, made it more soul less.

 

[Piemaster]

It's the small villages I've cycled through that get to me. There aren't many without a memorial. Even queuing at the local sorting office for a parcel theres one each for both wars on the wall.
I have thought about a tour of the thankful villages, and there is a depressingly small amount of them.

 

[ufkacbln]

St. Albans in Hertfordshire has street memorials seeing a list of ten names in a small street makes the loss more of a personal scale

 

[Freds Dad]

This happened yesterday around Britain.

https://becausewearehere.co.uk/we-are-here-gallery/