THE SOMME

 Falling behind on the daily blog, took busy during the, back to hotel 7:30, out to find somewhere to eat, up again at 6am - it's relentless. Journey over the channel pretty good, Irish Ferries cheap duty free, 2 litres around £25. Hotel here in Mouscron nice, good room, good breakfast but seems not to have enough staff. The receptionist manages the desk answers the phone, attends the bar and cooks the snack foods! The coach is a huge 6 wheeler and to watch the driver manage the narrow streets in the old Belgian town is really something.

This is the Lochnagar Crater where the sappers dug under the German defences & exploded a massive charge. It didn't work, merely alerted the Germans of the impending attack. 60,000 allied troops killed, wounded or missing on the first day alone.

Somme memorial, Edward Lutyens design, built of Manchester brick.

Royal Newfoundland Infantry memorial. Disastrous first day for them as well over 50% killed, wounded or missing and failed to achieve their objectives. All volunteers, inexperienced and straight into battle. Newfoundland wasn't even part of Canada then. The memorial is manned by young Canadian volunteers who come from all over the country.

The Uster Tower memorial to the Irish contingent.

Three brothers commemorated at the crater.

They are still digging up tons of artefacts, some dangerous as well as coming across human remains. One of the British cemeteries has expanded by 2 acres to bury them

The equipment at the begining of the was very primitive and totally unsuited to trench warfare. The French quickly had to update theirs. The Germans had the most modern kit.

A