Saturday 27th May PM.
Lots more to see, up the road to the tank memorial. A a granite obelisk on a plinth with four models of tanks. The boundary fence consists of ten upright 6 pounder tank gun barrels with tank driving chains mounted across them.
Across the road was a memorial to the second Australian division. We then drove to Thiepval to see the memorial to the missing. It was unveiled in 1932 and designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens (who also designed the cenotaph in Whitehall) and commemorates more than 72,000 men from the British and South African forces who were reported missing in the Somme before 20 March 1918. Nearly 90% of the men commemorated on the memorial were killed during the Battle of the Somme; 12,000 were lost on the first day alone.
Next stop Ulster Tower Memorial and two ice creams in their cafe. The tower is a replica of a well known Ulster landmark, Helen’s Tower, in County Down, and is a lasting tribute to the men of Ulster who gave their lives during the First World War.
Next stop Newfoundland Memorial Park in the village of Beaumont Hamel. The the ground remains largely untouched and the park contains memorials and cemeteries as well as the preserved trench lines. The Newfoundland Regiment attacked here on the 1st of July 1916, and suffered appalling losses. Below can be seen the Newfoundland Caribou and the Memorial to the Missing and the 51st Division memorial. Many Newfoundland men lost their lives in the two world wars and Newfoundland became a province of Canada.
Across the road was a memorial to the second Australian division. We then drove to Thiepval to see the memorial to the missing. It was unveiled in 1932 and designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens (who also designed the cenotaph in Whitehall) and commemorates more than 72,000 men from the British and South African forces who were reported missing in the Somme before 20 March 1918. Nearly 90% of the men commemorated on the memorial were killed during the Battle of the Somme; 12,000 were lost on the first day alone.
Next stop Ulster Tower Memorial and two ice creams in their cafe. The tower is a replica of a well known Ulster landmark, Helen’s Tower, in County Down, and is a lasting tribute to the men of Ulster who gave their lives during the First World War.
Next stop Newfoundland Memorial Park in the village of Beaumont Hamel. The the ground remains largely untouched and the park contains memorials and cemeteries as well as the preserved trench lines. The Newfoundland Regiment attacked here on the 1st of July 1916, and suffered appalling losses. Below can be seen the Newfoundland Caribou and the Memorial to the Missing and the 51st Division memorial. Many Newfoundland men lost their lives in the two world wars and Newfoundland became a province of Canada.
We spent longer than we intended at the park and drove at haste to get to Arras for our tunnel visit. Despite being held up by villagers leaving a church service and sauntering up the road in front of us we just got to the museum in time. The tour took over an hour and told the story of how the tunnels provided shelter for the troops and also allowed them to get closer to the front line in safety.
When we had finished and left the museum I realised that I didn't have my wallet. The last place I remembered having it was at the Ulster tower cafe, but it could have been lost at Newfoundland park getting out of the car, bugger! They were nearly an hour away in the wrong direction. we decided to head on to our hotel at Lille where I would try and make enquiries.
Another nice hotel, some nice beer, nice food and a comfortable room. And Al very kindly paid!
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