The Somme

But we ran out of fuel before we got too far from camp!




The Somme
After we left Etreham on Monday 8 June, we travelled to Amiens and then Villers Bretonneux in the Valley of the Somme France, the scene of the battles between the Allieds’ and the Germans during WWI. We visited many War Cemeteries and Memorials, too numerous to mention and saw the site where the Red Baron was shot down. The most moving was seeing Villers Bretonneux, the site of the main Australian War Cemetery and Memorial in France and where the ANZAC Day dawn service is broadcast from. A plaque at the top of the tower indicated Canberra was 10400 odd miles away facing east and 14300 odd miles facing west.

Then we went to Albert and drove through the remaining Somme area to Ypres and Beullieul. Unfortunately during the entire time, the rain kept coming down.

Menin Gate
We arrived at Ypres in Belgium to go see the lost post played at the Menin Gate at 1700 hrs, only to find out it is at 2000 hrs. After looking around the gift shops and buying some books we had a meal while waiting. At 1930 we headed back to Menin Gate, what a magnificent building, mush larger then you would believe it to be. Around the inside of it are the names of over 53,000 unknown soldiers killed in the First World War from all allied nations. Then came the ceremony, and a very moving one it was. Three buglers played the Last Post followed by the Ode from a WW2 veteran, then a minutes’ silence. Two visiting buglers from Lancashire Regiment then played Reveille with a group of their soldiers, about 50, stood on parade during all this. Wreaths were then laid. This was the most moving moment of the whole trip, Fiona and I both had tears in our eyes.



From Ypres and the Menin Gate area, we travelled to Antwerp in Belgium to a caravan park. Because it had been raining so much over the last few days, everyone was having damp issues with their canvas tops and tents. The evening meal was at the caravan park restaurant, as it turned out it was the best park meal we had had on the trip. That night it was the most spectacular light and sound show after we went to bed. Before dark, we were attempting to sort out our gear and repack, somewhat of an impossibility in the rain and lack of shelter.

The next morning dawned with clear skies and sun shine. A hasty pack up ready to get to the loading yard for the arduous cleaning process to ensure all traces of mud and grass were removed so our wonderful Quarantine people could not fault our return. The vehicles were reloaded into containers ready to be sent home and we left the yard with many tearful goodbyes to some of the travelling group.

After that we travelled from Antwerp to Brussels to spend a couple of nights before heading to Paris by a very fast train for a fear days with our friend Henri before we go to London for 3 nights staying at a B & B.

Brussels is an absolutely beautiful city dating back to the 10th century with many ornate buildings in one square in the centre of the city. Of course photos will follow when we have a chance to work them out.

Farming
We were still seeing very lush crops and some dairy farming. A lot of Australian farmers would I’m sure love to have the rich land and rain that is abundant here.