In September of 1998 my wife, Jo, our baby, Ellie, and myself took a holiday
in France. Whilst there I use the opportunity to visit The Somme and Verdun.
 |
The picture on the left shows me beside the Lochnagar crater.Here a great mine was blown on 1st July 1916 to signal the start of the attack. The crater is now owned by an Englishman in order to perserve it. |
| The picture right is of Newfoundland Park near Beaumont Hamel Here the Newfoundlanders lost nearly 90% of their strength on the first day. Shellholes cover the field and the trenches can still be walked along. |  |
 |
Thiepval memorial to the missing - it lists over 70,000 names of British and Empire troops missing in the Somme region. Theipval ridge and wood saw some of the heavist fighting on the Somme. |
| The Great Great Granddaughter of a WW1 veteran in Peronne were I believe her ancestor was once stationed. |  |
 |
Jo sunning herself on the top of Fort Vaux - oh how she loves our holidays. Both battlefields give a good impression of the destruction and bitter fighting that took place in The Great War. |
| Part of the massive and sobering French graveyard at Verdun. |  |
