The first place to start is where do you want to visit. The British and Commonwealth Armies fought in a massive area, coming down from the Channel Coast in Belgium, to the River Somme, in France and beyond. This area encompassed cities and towns such as Ypres, Armentieres, Loos, Arras and Albert, among others. Each area is worth visiting and offers a variety of places to stay, excellent Cafe's and restaurant's, Museum's and shopping for the wife. Within easy reach of the main visiting areas such as Ypres, Arras and Albert are such Cities as Bruges, Lille, Cambrai, Amiens and Paris-even EuroDisney and the easier going Parc Asterix! So why not make the journey-it will be more interesting and moving than you ever imagined.
The above map shows the Western front in 1916.The Front was a continuous line of trenches spreading from the Belgian Coast in the North, to the Swiss border in the South. Millions of men were needed by both sides to maintain adequate defensive positions on the Western front.
Below are some photos of visits to France & Belgium, that I have made with my family. When in Belgium, we usually stay in 'The Shell Hole'. It is a unique Hotel, owned by John Woolsgrove and his partner Christine. John is a former Paratrooper, who also runs a Military Book and Medal Shop from the Hotel. We always have a great welcome from them both, and the kids love staying with them.
John and Christine, of The Shell Hole Hotel, with my children, in the Hotel Bar.
Sophie, David and Annette leaving Dover on the early morning ferry.
Our destination, Ypres. This is the centre of Ypres, and it's magnificent Cloth Hall.
The Hall was totally destroyed during the Great War, due to Ypres being the centre of a Salient, jutting out into the German lines. This allowed the Germans to concentrate artillery fire onto Ypres from three sides. The Cloth Hall houses the 'In Flanders Fields' Museum and Tourist Centre, and is a recommended stop. The square itself is surrounded by Bars and Resteraunts, all of which can be recommended for the quality of their food, and friendly service. Most of the inhabitants of Ypres seem to have a good grasp of the English language, making this a very nice place to stay with the family. Ypres is central to many ideal places to visit. For those interested in the Great War, there are the nearby Museums of Hooge Crater, Hill 60 and Hill 62. There is also an impressive display at nearby Zonnebeke, in the newly opened Streek Museum, which incorporated a reconstruced British Dugout, complete with displays and sounds, that can be walked through. Below are a few photos of some of these places.
Sophie and David, by a preserved British Bunker on the top of Hill 60.
David and Myself by the preserved Essex Farm Dressing Station, where the Canadian Doctor, John McRae wrote his famous poem 'In Flanders Fields'. Below is the same view in 1917, and beneath that the grave of John McCrae, at Wimereux Communal Cemetery Extension.
Sophie and David with two of the Last Post Bugler's, inside the Menin Gate.
Annette and Myself, standing at the edge of the village of Passendale, the infamous objective of the murderous Battle of Passchendaele in the Autumn of 1917.
We move on now to the Somme area. Over the last couple of years, we have stayed at Auchonvillers, with Avril Williams, in her fantastic B&B, which has an authentic First World War Advanced Dressing Station in the cellar, and have rented Gites in Mailly Maillet, and Flers. Is visiting the Somme, be prepared to travel a few miles, as it can be used as a base for visiting the area from Vimy Ridge across to Cambrai, down to St. Quentin, Peronne, to Albert and Amiens. There is plenty to see, and we have only just scratched the surface in our visits. Below are some of our snaps.
Annette and the children, outside the Warden's Cabin at Vimy Ridge, with the preserved front line trenches and mine craters behind. To the left is the Visitor's entrance to the Grange Tunnel Complex.
Sophie and Annette in the grounds of the South African Memorial at Delville Wood (David is in a mood as he somehow thought he was off to Disneyland!)
Annette and the children again, this time stood by the fantastic Memorial to the 38th Welsh Division at Mametz Wood.
The memorial was made by St. Clears man, David Peterson, and stands at the point where the Welsh Division began their attack on the formidable German positions inside the Woods. Thousands of men died or were wounded here, including several from Laugharne, Whitland, St. Clears and Llanddowror.
This photograph shows myself at the site of the old windmill, at the North East edge of Pozieres village.
The Windmill was a German strongpoint which was one of the objectives for the First Australian Division's attack on the village, of which my Great Grandfather David Thomas John took part. Thousands of Australian's died in the struggle for Pozieres. Just take a look at the photograph below to get an idea of the destruction. The shell is bursting on the site of the windmill, where I am sat, and the village has been completely destroyed.
Just to show that I don't drag the family around war cemeteries all day, here they are in Park Asterix. We found this theme park to be a joy, it was a lot quieter than Disney, and only just over an hours drive from the Somme, on the main road to Paris.
Below is something to dispel the myth that the French don't like the British. We got ourselves lost near Albert, trying to find Grove Town Cemetery at Meaulte, after I got lost due to the new road layout. These two friendly Gendarmes were laughing at us going back and for down a new piece of road, so they flagged us down, and spent over an hour driving around, one in front, one behind our car, trying to get us to our destination. It wouldn't happen in this Country!
