Just like the region around Ypres, there are a good number of cemeteries, normally along tiny, muddy roads. My first planned destination was the Hawthorn Crater. This is among the mines that was detonated below the German lines at the outset of the Battle of the Somme in 1916. The explosion was captured on film and is frequently shown in documentaries about the Battle of the Somme. After driving round the area for a bit, I found the Newfoundland Park Commemorative & Visitors Centre and pulled over to have a look.
It is a part of the British and Canadian Ditches on 1st July 1916 when the Battle of the Somme began. A number of the ditches are very well maintained and looking out from the Caribou Monument, you're able to get a good knowledge of the terrain as well as the direction of attack. It is also frighteningly apparent the distance the soldiers were expected to advance over open ground facing of cannon and machine guns.
At Newfoundland Park, I was given directions to help me find the Hawthorn Crater and so it transpired I had gone right past it. It was not long before I was back and found the access point along a fairly muddy field. Initially I was hesitant but decided it was part of the experience. I got to the side of the crater although it was terribly over grown therefore I did not go too far and I was shortly heading to my next point of interest, Ulster Tower. It is a commemorative to the Ulster Regiments who conducted themselves so well on the 1st day of the Battle of the Somme.
Near by is the Thiepval Commemorative that is the largest UK War Commemorative on earth. Each 1st July, a huge rite is held here to honour the dead. The tower is visible from a significant distance and addititionally there is an interesting visitors centre with information about the battles fought here.
Some distance away is the South African Commemorative at Delville Wood. The commemorative was dedicated to all South African conflicts, not only those in The 1st World War. As with all of the memorials, Delville Wood is sacred ground but I found this place particularly to be very tranquil and suitable. I'm really not sure what made Delville Wood stand out to me but for me, there was really something a lttle bit distinctive about this location.
My last stop of the day was a short one at the place to the east of Amiens where the Red Baron was shot down. There's not really much to see excepting a little notice board by the side of the road. It is located by a local factory with an outstanding chimney. The history of the Red Baron is certainly one of the 1st I heard about concerning World War I therefore although there wasn't much to see, it was something that I wanted to do. The Red Baron was a German air ace called Baron Manfred von Richthofen. From 1916 - 1918, he shot down has a grand total of 80 Associated planes and was eventually shot down but ground fire from an Australian unit on 21 April 1918.
It is a part of the British and Canadian Ditches on 1st July 1916 when the Battle of the Somme began. A number of the ditches are very well maintained and looking out from the Caribou Monument, you're able to get a good knowledge of the terrain as well as the direction of attack. It is also frighteningly apparent the distance the soldiers were expected to advance over open ground facing of cannon and machine guns.
At Newfoundland Park, I was given directions to help me find the Hawthorn Crater and so it transpired I had gone right past it. It was not long before I was back and found the access point along a fairly muddy field. Initially I was hesitant but decided it was part of the experience. I got to the side of the crater although it was terribly over grown therefore I did not go too far and I was shortly heading to my next point of interest, Ulster Tower. It is a commemorative to the Ulster Regiments who conducted themselves so well on the 1st day of the Battle of the Somme.
Near by is the Thiepval Commemorative that is the largest UK War Commemorative on earth. Each 1st July, a huge rite is held here to honour the dead. The tower is visible from a significant distance and addititionally there is an interesting visitors centre with information about the battles fought here.
Some distance away is the South African Commemorative at Delville Wood. The commemorative was dedicated to all South African conflicts, not only those in The 1st World War. As with all of the memorials, Delville Wood is sacred ground but I found this place particularly to be very tranquil and suitable. I'm really not sure what made Delville Wood stand out to me but for me, there was really something a lttle bit distinctive about this location.
My last stop of the day was a short one at the place to the east of Amiens where the Red Baron was shot down. There's not really much to see excepting a little notice board by the side of the road. It is located by a local factory with an outstanding chimney. The history of the Red Baron is certainly one of the 1st I heard about concerning World War I therefore although there wasn't much to see, it was something that I wanted to do. The Red Baron was a German air ace called Baron Manfred von Richthofen. From 1916 - 1918, he shot down has a grand total of 80 Associated planes and was eventually shot down but ground fire from an Australian unit on 21 April 1918.
About the Author:
The Somme battlefields are widely known as the place where some of the most heavy fighting of World War I occurred. Today, there are a considerable number of graveyards and commemoratives like theThiepval Memorial commemorating those that died here.
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