TheBigNote has reached a bit of a milestone today. When I unleashed this website on an unsuspecting public back in late 2010 I reckoned there might be a few people out there who would find it of interest. It certainly never crossed my mind that one day – today – we would reach a pretty impressive 400,000 views! Not bad for a little Great War website, if I say so myself, and all down to you lot, so I thank you all – those who choose to comment and those who don’t alike – hugely for your support. And also those who have fallen by the wayside on the journey. The above photo shows Hollandscheshur Farm, site of three of the nineteen mines exploded by the British in the early morning of 7th June 1917 as the Battle of Messines began, the picture taken from the German front line trenches, which pretty much followed the lines of ploughing in the foreground, curving round to the right of the farm, the British front line following the row of trees beyond the green field on the right. Imagine the view from here as three huge explosions shattered the crest of the nearby ridge no more than five hundred yards away. It must have seemed like Armageddon. Mont Kemmel rises in the centre of the picture, with the low-lying hills beyond just visible on the horizon to the right. These hills were the Germans’ objective in the spring of 1918, and are a bit of a clue as to where we are heading on our next tour.
Congratulations my friend, it is a phenomenal achievement! I hope you’ve been enjoying a glass of something special to celebrate.
Well done!
A fantastic achievement well earned as this is truly an excellent site which has inspired me to learn so much more about the Great War than I ever thought I would.
Onwards and upwards !
A fantastic achievement and well deserved as this is a truly outstanding site that has inspired me to learn so much more about the Great War than I ever thought I would.
Onwards and upwards !
So inspiring I appear to have posted twice ! Apologies.
Love your work…
I enjoyed every single post! Keep up the good work.
you are a SUPER star – I have learnt such a lot – thank you
Thanks all! Lovely comments – I don’t mind you posting them twice! – and much appreciated. And at the risk of embarrassing him, special thanks to Filip, who was the very first person to join this site way back when, and has thus viewed some 30,000 plus images over the years. There’s stamina for you!
First time in my life I was the first one anywhere. Good on me!
Ha ha ha!!! Brilliant. Good on you indeed.
Well done! Great achievement!
Most kind!
That’s quite an achievement M, the hours you have dedicated to research and writing these posts are unimaginable but of course there was also the pleasure if that’s the right word, of visiting so many of these wonderful places. You have brought them to a wider audience in the hope that it will sustain and continue the interest in ww1 and it does. Like others I have learned so much and for this I thank you.
Congratulations to Filip that’s quite an achievement you deserve a long service award.
Very well said, here here.
Most kind both!