Last year I paid a second, brief, visit to Pozières British Cemetery, where 2,760 British, Australian & Canadian Great War casualties are buried, surrounded by walls on which the names of a further 14,000 British & South Africans who have no known grave are inscribed. Continue reading
For a number of years now I have wanted to show you two particular photographs, and, now that both are in the public domain, I can do just that. Not that there is anything unusual or particularly special about them as photographs, but there is a story attached to the second one of which, it seems, most people are unaware. Both were taken by controversial Australian photographer Frank Hurley near Birr Cross Roads on the Menin Road (although I should point out that there is nothing contentious about these photos) in September 1917, the above picture showing British walking wounded and German prisoners as they trudge away from the battlefield, passing stretcher cases awaiting evacuation as they go. The ditched vehicle that looks remarkably like a camper van (it does!),… Continue reading
It’s been a good few years now. Continue reading
Another communal cemetery, this time with a CWGC sign for all to see. Continue reading
Less than a mile south west of Estaires, and now just south, once more, of the River Lys, our penultimate stop on the first part of this tour finds us at the war memorial in the centre of La Gorgue. Continue reading
A brief diversion from our current French Flanders tour, dictated entirely by today’s date. This is Rancourt Military Cemetery, on the Somme. Continue reading
Estaires war memorial is not only quite unusual, and I think quite beautiful, but damned tricky to photograph, even if it doesn’t look it. Continue reading
