Today's tour is over the ground of the Fromelles and Ypres campaigns.
We began by visiting a German war cemetery. These are quite different from the Commonwealth ones. The land for Allied war cemeteries was given by a grateful France however the Germans were required to pay rent which they didn't so were required to consolidate the many smaller ones into larger cemeteries. The crosses are made out of aluminium and have four names on each. Germans prefer a woodland setting rather than the rose garden setting of the allies. The circle indicates a mass grave. The German government does not maintain the cemetery that is carried out by a charity.
This cemetery is in Belgium on the road to Calais, in WWII the Germans passed it on their third invasion of that country in 70 years. Usually statues in war cemeteries do not show aggression, this one looking up the road to Germany is an exception. Another exception destroyed by the Germans was an Australian bronze statue of a digger bayoneting an eagle with a claw around his foot.
Mining (digging under the enemy's trenches and strong holds placing explosives then blowing just before an infantry attack) was used by both sides. Australian forces used it very effectively. The explosions were heard in London and felt as far as Ireland
This is hill 60 dosnt look much because a lot of the hill was excavated from a railway cutting.
We found a lead ball from an overhead shell burst our guide said that it would be fatal if it hit the head or an artery
Pop up pill box these were constructed at night in a couple of days without the enemy's knowledge.
There are 6 memorials to each Australian division they occupy high ground on the battlefields they were constructed by the diggers before they went home so their mates would have lasting memorials.
The last cementary visited was the largest with commonwealth forces
The memorial is built over a German bunker
This view is over the battle field in the background Distance
In most battles there were more "missing" than identifiable remains those in the trenches were often showered with pulverised rotting remains of their comrades killed in no mans land.
At this point the guide discussed the insane tatics of modern warfare -the thirds rule in an attack one third will be killed, one third injured or captured and one third will complete the mission and capture the target. Often the ground is captured only to be relinquished the object being to degrade the enemies forces. In this process the German forces became weaker and the Commonwealth stronger.
The Menin gate and the last post ceremony was the last stop of the day.
The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing is a war memorial in Ypres, Belgium, dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the Ypres Salient of World War I and whose graves are unknown. The memorial is located at the eastern exit of the town and marks the starting point for one of the main roads out of the town that led Allied soldiers to the front line. Designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and built and maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the Menin Gate Memorial was unveiled on 24 July 1927.[1]
Most of those taking part in the ceremony were children as were the congregation. They were very respectful and patient as they waited for he ceremony to begin some were there for an hour.
The last post was sounded by some of the towns firemen a promise made 100 years ago and fulfilled proudly since.
It was very moving, however history has judged the governments and military leaders involved in the conflict the men and women who marched through this gate believed their cause was just, stood by their mates sacrificeing their lives for their country.
Back in Arras the lights shone on a rebuilt square.
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