@flandersbtour
Battlefield Guide & Researcher | Western Front - The Great War | Daily Battlefield Tours & Tailored Personalised Pilgrimages. | We are all eternal students. | Not interested in political posts.
“As I lay in the trenches at Neuve Chapelle, Where the big guns barked like the hounds of hell, Sez I to mysel’, sez I to mysel’ - “Billy, my boy, here’s the end o’ you.”
Remembering the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, 10th - 13th March 1915.
Quote “This weekend DOVO Sedee in Meerdaal was called to a plane bomb that was found in the Kattenbos in Lommel.It was an American 500-pound bomb, which probably came from a crashed B-17 bomber.Because the bomb had not been dropped, the detonators were still intact & partially armed.”
📸DOVO Sedee
Strange and perplexing, wonder if the CWGC have got any further information. Be interesting to hear the outcome.
I think most experienced and knowledgeable guides will never have heard of that particular way of phrasing Sanctuary Wood as S. Forest. I’m not surprised tbh I haven’t ever until this last weekend.
Yes Tom, I have never myself heard it being referred to as Sanctuary Forest.
Neither have I, hence putting the question forward. Thank you for your response & affirmation Chris.
Battlefield Guides a Question: Has anyone ever heard of Sanctuary Wood being described as Sanctuary Forest?
On International Women's Day a simple genuine nod to all women that move through the world in their own giving and supporting way.
#IWD2026
Skylarks above Navarin Farm as we head through the Champagne battlefields of the First World War.
Too right…
Beautiful day for a visit to Clifford’s Tower - so impressed by the inside - and wonderful view from the roof
I once stood waving a German Egg Grenade yelling excitedly that I’d found one at Bullecourt. Andy, Bob & Jacques over the other side of the field yelling “put it down” 🙄🙄🙄
That moment when you’ve booked a bespoke pilgrimage thinking it’s for two soldiers the client sends the list with 8 soldiers requesting research 😱…I need a coffee ☕️
I imagine that was something akin to the bloke in Diksmuide last year that tried to dismantle a WW1 shell. Bruce Bairnsfather showing he’s quite clearly ahead of the times 😉😂
Quote: “In Wortegem-Petegem we have recovered around 350 shells over the past 3 days. It appears that this site was used as an ammunition depot during World War I. An impressive, but also confrontational reminder of our past.”
📸DOVO-Sedee
No mention of the soldiers name within the war diary list, though he was listed as wounded in the actions. Did well though starting off as a Corporal in 1914, earning a commission 28th March 1917.
Out today covering the Battle of Cambrai specifically the areas of Masnieres & Marcoing. The family believe their relative was awarded the M.C. for actions, however he was part of the Kings 1918 Birthday Honours. The awards listed for the Battle of Cambrai in the war diary also substantiate this.
Who knew...sent to me by one of our clients...Tubby Clayton of TOC H created a makeshift beach in 1933 in front of the Tower of London...👇
What foolery is this?…just been told by #BPost that they can’t post a birthday card I’m sending on account that it’s too small…
The blue sky on Saturday was a welcomed change from the grey that we’ve had so much of. When the sun shone down the warmth radiating from it was enjoyed by everyone even though the wind which had a chill factor of -4.
The frontage is completely different. Think I prefer the frontage on the original plans. Interesting cemetery with quite a few unknown South Africans. Saw a number of epitaphs differing to the ones I generally see being repeated.
Jacques & I are firm believers of being only as good as our last tour. Even now there are times we feel quite nervous & are on the tip of our toes!
Did a recce today for a bespoke pilgrimage, which we generally do, foreseeing any road closures ahead of the pilgrimage as we’re taking in battalion areas. Also the wrong row given online & in the cemetery register, found the correct row with relatives grave. Hem Farm Military Cemetery, Hem-Monacu.
What goes around comes around:
“Hi Genevra, I have just realised that we booked with you in 2020 and had to cancel our trip from Australia due to CoVid. You very kindly did so & were very nice about the cancellation unlike several others. Anyway, we are trying again & looking forward to your tour.”
It was estimated around 50 tons were dropped but suspect it would have been vastly lower than that. Character limits meant I had to cut my explanation short 🤷♀️
“Dropping about 50 tons.” That is what was reported. Character limits in doing posting 🤷♀️
October 1917 Zeppelin L49 dropped 50 tons of explosives over London killing 30 people & injuring circa 40 people.On the way back over France the zeppelin was hit & bullet riddled, the zeppelin eventually landed & the crew surrendered.The zeppelin was put on display in the Hôtel des Invalides, Paris.
Terrible, I can only imagine how painful & uncomfortable it would be. I read an account once where feet had swollen to the size of a football 🤢😱
Trench Foot Prevention (First World War)
The document provides the outline of procedures to be followed for the prevention of Trench Foot...👇
Brilliant, two men joining others on my generic battlefield tour on Saturday, their relative is listed on the Menin Gate Memorial. I'm accessing the war diary and rather nicely their relatives name is listed as one of the killed on 14th February 1915 in the actions at St Eloi.