Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

I haven't posted since OFF changed sites. I've been too busy setting up a website about my uncle's wartime career with Bomber Command.

 

I've just been invited to participate in a dig at the WW1 battle site at Ploegsteert in Belgium in August. So I'm now organising another trip to the UK. I haven't been to any of the battle sites in Europe before only to Gallipoli back in 1980. I'm looking forward to the experience of helping to uncover 90 year old history. After studying maps of the area there are a lot of familiar battle sites in the area to visit if I get any time off. I'll give a report on the trip when I get back.

 

Kerry

Posted

A golden opportunity to throw back the shroud of time!

Where will the dig be - what are they hoping to find? Is this the Diggers, or another group?

Tell us more!

shredward

Posted

Sounds fascinating. I've always been interested in battlefield archaelogy (don't have any academic training as an archaelogist), but sadly have never visited any WW1 battlefield of the Western front. But I've been to the old East Prussian battlefields where Russian armies were wiped out in the fall of 1914. There used to be some Nazi-built memorials there (and all that pompous Speer architecture of huge stone blocks they loved), but not anymore.

Posted

That brings a memory from the holiday trips back, my girlfriend and I made in the eighties.

We found an open field way in the Normandy, were the fishermen drove down to the beach.

So we did that too, and our car stood on the beach, with it's German number plates.

 

I saw several smaller bunkers in the dunes, some of them had already fallen half over.

When I studied one closer, a French fisherman came towards me. He sais:

"When will you come back here, to clear our dunes, and remove your concrete stuff, hm?"

 

Although I hadn't even been born, when they were built there - I felt ashamed somehow...

Posted

Hasse Wind

The only qualifications I needed were a willingness to put in 5 days hard labour and a relative who fought in WW1. Knowing someone on the inside helped too. The dig is run by a couple of MOD historians.

 

The area that is being worked on is where Australians fought and last years dig recovered one Digger and a range of artifacts. I don't know if he's been identified yet but at least he now has a formal grave in a cemetry.

Kerry

Posted

Hi Kerry,

Australian battleground - sounds like your dig may be tied to the Battle of Messines? Is the group you are heading out with the one known as 'The Diggers'?

Please keep us posted :salute:

shredward

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue..