Rather like the area around Ypres, there are many graveyards, typically along little, muddy roads. My first planned destination was the Hawthorn Crater. This is one of the mines that was detonated below the German lines at the outset of the Battle of the Somme in 1916. The explosion was caught on film and is often shown in documentaries about the Battle of the Somme. After driving around the area for some time, I found the Newfoundland Park Memorial & Visitors Centre and pulled over to take 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 locate the Hawthorn Crater and so it transpired I had gone right past it. It wasn't long before I was back and found the access point along a reasonably muddy field. At first I was hesitant but decided it was part and parcel of the experience. I got on the side of the crater but it was very over grown so I didn't go too far and I was soon heading to my next point of interest, Ulster Tower. It's a memorial to the Ulster Regiments who conducted themselves so well on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Near by is the Thiepval Commemorative that is the largest Brit War Commemorative on earth. Each 1st July, an enormous rite is held here to honour the dead. The tower is tangible from quite a distance and addititionally there is a fascinating visitors centre with info about the battles fought here.
Some distance away is the South African Memorial at Delville Wood. The memorial was devoted to all South African conflicts, not only those in The First World War. As with all the commemoratives, Delville Wood is holy ground but I found this place in particular to be exceedingly serene and appropriate. I'm really not sure what made Delville Wood stand out to me but for me, there had been truly something a lttle bit special 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 locate the Hawthorn Crater and so it transpired I had gone right past it. It wasn't long before I was back and found the access point along a reasonably muddy field. At first I was hesitant but decided it was part and parcel of the experience. I got on the side of the crater but it was very over grown so I didn't go too far and I was soon heading to my next point of interest, Ulster Tower. It's a memorial to the Ulster Regiments who conducted themselves so well on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Near by is the Thiepval Commemorative that is the largest Brit War Commemorative on earth. Each 1st July, an enormous rite is held here to honour the dead. The tower is tangible from quite a distance and addititionally there is a fascinating visitors centre with info about the battles fought here.
Some distance away is the South African Memorial at Delville Wood. The memorial was devoted to all South African conflicts, not only those in The First World War. As with all the commemoratives, Delville Wood is holy ground but I found this place in particular to be exceedingly serene and appropriate. I'm really not sure what made Delville Wood stand out to me but for me, there had been truly something a lttle bit special 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 happened. Today, there are a bunch of graveyards and commemoratives like theThiepval Memorial honoring those who died here.
