Coming up in 2019

A sneak preview of what’s coming up next year.  Along with the usual one-off posts, much of 2019 will be spent following the course of the war in the area to the south west of Ypres, along with one major tour in northern France. 

Later in the year we shall not only see the Kemmelberg…

…from all angles,…

…but at long last we shall visit the French ossuary up on the hill, and tell the story of the grim days of 1918 to which the cemeteries that surround the hill so amply testify.

But first, the New Year will see us back in French Flanders, as we follow the course of the River Lys south west out of Armentières, visiting British cemeteries,…

…German cemeteries,…

..and more British cemeteries, on the way to our destination, Laventie.  Our route will run roughly parallel to, and a few miles behind, the front lines as they were for much of the war, as we pass through Sailly-sur-la-Lys, Estaires and La Gorgue, across land held by the Allies until the Germans swept all before them in April 1918.

There’ll be other stuff too, of course; the Voormezeele cemeteries, St.Eloi, at long last a proper tour of Hooge Crater Cemetery (above), and even a return, after far too long, to Ramparts Cemetery.  We shall even, once and for all, debunk the myth of the ‘Chateaux Generals’ – oh yes we will – so it should be an interesting year.

It’s all a moveable feast, of course, but I do hope you’re planning on joining Baldrick and me for the ride, wherever we end up.

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10 Responses to Coming up in 2019

  1. Nigel Shuttleworth says:

    Can’t wait for the Kemmelberg instalments !

  2. Mark says:

    Looking forward to it already. Particularly the Kemmelburg as my grandpa’s uncle served there briefly. Just back from Belgium this week but have a long a long list of sites to visit. Happy New year.

  3. Jason McG says:

    Looking forward to it all! Thanks for so much great content and the work you have put into it. I’ve been following this site since around the time it started and it’s invaluable for inspiration for my own battlefield trips. My next visit is in April and starting at Verdun, going to the Armistice Glade, then travelling through the Somme and Messines and onto Ieper. My primary interest is the Irish who served there and you cover lots of their story brilliantly too. Many Thanks and Happy New Year

  4. Nick kilner says:

    Fantastic! Can’t wait! Sounds like an amazing journey. Look forward to being with you ever step of the way

  5. Morag Sutherland says:

    Well I have a few local.men buried in some of these cemeteries…..will I send you the names?

  6. margaret draycott says:

    Sounds like an interesting journey and I look forward to sharing it with you. Happy new year M.

  7. Sid from Down Under says:

    Ditto to above anticipations – and adding one you missed – I look forward to your visiting Woodman Point WW1 cemetery so you can cross it off your bucket list – just a direct 15 hours flight and I’ll pick you up at the airport.

    You could do “home-to-home” over one weekend but better you stay a few days and we’ll go north to Geraldton CWGC cemetery and HMAS Sydney II Memorial then drive 840km south to Albany and the magnificent National ANZAC Centre topped off with a visit to Perth War Cemetery and a chat with Peta before you catch your return direct flight to Heathrow.

    Stay a bit longer and we could nip down to Augusta at the southwest tip of Australia and I’ll show you my father’s name on the WW1 War memorial there.

    There, I’ve arranged your itinerary, so “See you in 2019”

  8. Joe says:

    Can’t wait.

    Looking forward to the journey.

    Joe

  9. Magicfingers says:

    Well thanks all! I am very pleased to hear that I shan’t be on my own! And Jason, thanks for your comment and for sticking with us over the years. Good to hear that the site has been useful for you. Morag – send me those names – although the photos have already been taken, of course, but you never know.

    • Morag Sutherland says:

      good afternoon – 3 names along with the information I have on file have been sent – winging their way to you…abbreviation NT is for our local newspaper Northern Times which is not yet digitised so I spent a lot of time on the microfiche- better get on with the Hogmanay meal now

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