SOMBER SOMME

We have been blessed with such great weather but experienced a brief but massive thunder storm with hail near our accommodation, maybe an omen for what was to come.

We spent today looking around some of the Somme area, which is immense, and so peaceful and rural some 98 years after WW1. We wanted to pay our respects especially to Anne's Great-Uncles, Herbert and Frederick Campbell and also William Francis, Roger's. They had all returned safely from WW1, but some were in better shape than others - poor Herbert went into a Military Institution and he never left it. Very sad. It is nice to be here, where they were fighting such a long time ago and appreciate the ghastly situation they must have faced.


Our first visit was to Bullecourt, quite close to us here and where there is a commemorative statue to the Aussie "Diggers".

There are so many cemeteries all around here, mostly to the British. We did of course, go to Poziers, the site of the first Australian engagement in the Somme where they fought so bravely and lost so many young men.

We went also to Villers-Bretonneux, where "Uncle Billy" sent this card to his "Dearest Mother" (Roger's 'Auntie') for Xmas 1918. 

The church ruins

The same 'restorated' church today.

It is also where the Australian National Memorial stands. We have seen it so many times in dawn services on Anzac Day, it was lovely to climb up the tower to where the bugler plays the 'Last Post'.

Bugler's view, the cemetery and the flat 

battlegrounds beyond.

We then went to Harbonnieres, where Amy and Tim's great-great uncle Joseph lies, and we took photo's of his grave for Maurny.

The Heath cemetery at Harbonnieres

Joseph Lawson Presho's headstone.

Tomorrow we head north to Vimy, Fromelles, Lille, Ypres and hopefully, be at the Menen Gate where EVERY DAY, they shut the gate at 8pm and play the Last Post.