Showing posts with label Somme. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Somme. Show all posts

Sunday, 2 July 2023

Tyneside Irish Somme Commemoration 2023

Tyneside Irish Somme Commemoration at Tyneside Irish Centre Gallowgate.

Tyneside Irish Somme Commemoration
Tyneside Scottish

Tyneside Irish Somme Commemoration



Monday, 13 March 2023

Somme 2023 - NVAA Battlefield Tour

 

Somme 2023 IJ

Battle of the Somme 1916
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Somme 2023 River Somme

Somme 2023 Ibis Albert

Somme 2023 
Somme 2023

Somme 2023 Northumberland Fusiliers

Somme 2023 Devonshire Cemetery

Somme 2023 Thiepval

Somme 2023 Thiepval 18 DLI Memorial DR

Somme 2023 Tyneside Scottish Memorial La Boisselle

Somme 2023 Australian National Memorial
Villers-Bretonneux

Somme 2023 Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery

Somme 2023 Australian National Memorial
Villers-Bretonneux

Somme 2023 Albert

Somme 2023 Le Bistrot Restaurant 

Somme 2023 Le Corner Pub
Royal Artillery and Gloucester Yeomanry Veterans

Somme 2023 CWGC Beaurains

Somme 2023 CWGC Beaurains NVAA

Somme 2023 Gare de Lille Europe 






Sunday, 12 March 2023

Somme 2023 - Australian National Memorial Villers-Bretonneux

  

Australian National Memorial Villers-Bretonneux Cemetery

The Australian National Memorial located at Villers-Bretonneux commemorates all Australian soldiers who fought in France and Belgium during the First World War. It stands within the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery.

 Villers-Bretonneux was the point that the Germans reached during their 1918 German Spring Offensive on the Somme, Operation Michael, capturing the village on the 23rd April. The village was re-captured the following day by the Australian 4th and 5th Divisions. It was from  Villers-Bretonneux that the Australian 2nd and 5th divisions advanced at the start of the 100 Day Offensive leading to the ultimate defeat of Germany.

Australian National Memorial 

The memorial and the cemetery in which it stands was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Australian National Memorial
 Sir Edwin Lutyens Design

Approval for construction was obtained form the French government in 1929, however as a result of the Great Depression construction did not commence until 1936.

 It was unveiled on 22 July 1938 by King George VI and Queen Elizebeth. 

Australian National Memorial Unveiling 22-July-1938
King George VI and Queen Elizebeth

Australian National Memorial Unveiling 22-July-1938

The memorial consists of a tower surrounded by walls and panels on which the names of the missing are listed. 


Australian National Memorial Tower and Walls

Australian National Memorial Tower Entrance and Walls

Australian National Memorial 
Somme - Pozieres Wall

Australian National Memorial view from Tower
Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery

Australian National Memorial view from Tower IJ
Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
The Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery was made after the Armistice in 1918 as a concentration from burial grounds around the battlefields. 


The cemetery contains 2,146 casualties from World War One, of which 609 are unidentified. There are also two New Zealand airmen buried there who were lost during World War Two.

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Australian 
Casualties

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Unknown Duke Cornwall Light Infantry

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Unknown Soldiers

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Memorial Stone

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
North Plots

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
South Plots

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Guard Rooms

------o------

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Australian Infantry Casualties

Private Robert Charles Daly | CWGC

HE DIED AN AUSTRALIAN HERO THE GREATEST DEATH OF ALL


Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Lt Harold Sherrat Cunningham


Lieutenant Harold Sherrat Cunningham
47th Battalion Canadian Infantry
Attached Royal Airforce




Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
QM Sergeant JS Hay

Quartermaster Sergeant John Stuart Hay
D Battery 298 Brigade
Royal Field Artillery


Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Gunner CF St Clair

Gunner Christopher Fenwick St Clair
14 Brigade Australian Field Artillery



Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Gunner WG Reynolds

Driver William George Reynolds
14 Brigade Australian Field Artillery


Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Gunner MG Ball

Gunner Melville Gordon Ball
2nd Trench Mortar Battery
Canadian Field Artillery





Somme 2023 - Péronne,

 

Péronne River Somme IJ

Péronne lies on the River Somme and surrounding lakes. It was fortified during medieval times, when the town ramparts were built. 

Péronne Fortifications

It was the scene of conflict from Norman times thought to the Franco-Prussian war. 

Chateau de Péronne

In 1914 when the Germans invaded France, Péronne was occupied and used as a Headquarters.  

Péronne

During the Anglo-French offensive on the Somme, the town remained in under German occupation. 


During the German occupation the town hall bore a sign in German - “Nicht argern nur wundern!” - “don’t be angry only marvel!”

Péronne Town Hall under German Occupation
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Péronne Town Hall under German Occupation

Péronne - German Soldier
November 1916

The German evacuated Péronne in 1917 during during Operation Alberich which was a strategic withdrawal to shorten the German frontline by 40km (25 miles).


Péronne German Retreat 1917

The British moved into the area vacated by the Germans, which they had left devastated. Péronne would come under British control.

Péronne after German Retreat

Péronne would again fall into German hands when the Germans launched their spring offensive, Operation Micheal. 

Péronne would finally be re-taken in September 1918 by the Australians during the 100 Day Offensive. 


Péronne - Australian Soldiers 1918

Péronne - Tank

Péronne - Le Chateau Wartime damage

Péronne - Le Chateau post WW1

Péronne - Le Chateau March 2023

Péronne - Le Chateau March 2023 IJ