Thursday 30 June 2016

Ex Reflect Somme

Exercise Reflect Somme focused on the commemoration of the Tyneside Brigades of the Tyneside Scottish and Tyneside Irish on the 1st of July 2016.

IJ and CG

30th June 2016

The exercise commenced with an overview of the First World War and life in the trenches by visiting the Passchendaele Museum in Zonnebeke, Ypres.

Passchendaele Museum Zonnebeke

Passchendaele Museum in Zonnebeke
Combatants Uniforms
Passchendaele Museum in Zonnebeke
Faces of World War One

1st July 2016

 At 07:30 on 1st July 2016, exactly 100 years after the men went over the top on the First Day of the Somme, we were there on the position of the British trenches at La Boisselle, now the location of the Tyneside Memorial.


La Boisselle 1st July 2016
Last Post being sounded

La Boisselle 1st July 2016
Northumbria ACF

La Boisselle 1st July 2016
Tyneside Scottish Branch RAA
Many of the casualties from the Tyneside Scottish and Tyneside Irish are buried in Olvillers Military Cemetery. The opportunity was taken to pay respects to the fallen.

Ovillers Military Cemetery
Cross of Sacrifice

Ovillers Military Cemetery

 The contribution of the Indian Army was remembered by a visit to the Indian Memorial at Neuve Chapelle.
Indian Memorial
Neuve Chapelle
 Next...Christmas Truce Footballers Memorial at Ploegstreet

Footballers Memorial
Ploegstreet

Footballers Memorial
Northumbria ACF



Back to Ypres to remember the Knott Brothers, in particular Major James Leadbitter Knott killed on the Somme 1st July 1916.

Knott Brother's Graves
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery
And to end the day... paraded at the Menin Gate.

Menin Gate
Ypres
Menin Gate On Parade

 2nd July 2016

In Flanders Fields Museum

In Flanders Fields Museum
In Flanders Fields Museum
 Followed by a small remembrance ceremony to remember the men of the Northumberland Fusiliers who were lost in the Ypres Salient from 1914 to 1918.

Tyne Cot
Cross of Sacrifice

Tyne Cot
Graves and Memorial Wall

Tyne Cot
Remembrance