War graves.

VickyA_2

Merlin139 wrote:

I would recommend visiting war graves at least once to get some idea of where all the fighting took place and to spend time reflecting on all the sacrifices that were made by all those people so many years ago.

I went with my school when I was 16. It really was very chilling. Just reading this thread has reminded me about it. I think we were ALL very moved. It's one of those things that is so incredible and see those rows and rows of graves and names of all those people who sacrificed their lives in World Wars.

Before you go, I suggest that you visit the WWI exhibition at the Imperial War Museum (free entry). It gives you the whole background etc and there's a mock-up of a trench, complete with smells, sights and sounds. Made me feel ill. Very effective.

iwanttosave_2

We went to normandy, france for a holiday a few years ago, and not only was it a stunning place to be but the amount of war history there is is amazing. We visisted te main Normandy american cematary and memorial, as well as that there is the point de hoc, where you can go into the gunners bunkers along the shore line, ond on omah beach you can still see some of the wreckages along the coast. Also somewhere near there is a 360 degree cinema which moved me to tears.

I cant wait to go back one day, I hope you enjoy it.

trisontana

The Flanders Field museum also gives an idea of what it was like in the trenches. You enter a room where you will experience flashes, bangs, smoke, and the cries of wounded men. Also dotted around the museum are loudspeakers where you can hear first hand accounts from men who fought in the trenches.

Here is the museum's web-site. There is an English soundtrack and it's best viewed if you have broadband

http://www.inflandersfields.be/default2.htm

stellagypsy

Quote from Merlin -

young man had died in 1917 and his inital and surname matched mine. The day he died was 70 years to the day before my daughter was born and then the most freaky part.

His 6 digit Army Number was 291950.

My Army Number was 24591950

I looked on the war graves site when i returned to check it out, and one day will try to find out if we are related.

-- end of quote

Wow, Merlin, that is truly amazing - you must look in to any possiblelink to you / your family.

Stella

Boohbah

spender wrote:

They are kept beautifully the graves, unfortunately if they were in this country there would be graffiti and broken graves.

Your right there Spender: http://www.cwgc.org/news.asp?newsid=27&menuname=%20%20Press%20Releases&menu=sub&view=yes&id=13&menuid=3&s_month=&m_name==

Thanks Trisontana, I think thats pretty much how we'll do it. Driving to Ipres and starting out from there.

Thanks VickyA, we did visit the Imperial War museum a couple of months back.

And thanks everyone, some really good tips there. I did visit there some years ago, but that was by coach. I found it all a bit of a rush, so by going the diy route I hope to spend more time at any one place.

I did find some links that may be of interests to those of you planing a visit.

Hello Tommy, provides suggested tour routs guides maps places to stay,and a whole lot more, and its all free: http://www.hellotommy.co.uk/Home/home.html

Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). Free stuff and information for visitors http://www.cwgc.org/default.asp

MrSmartprice

You should certainly try and get to Ypres (Ieper) and the Menin Gate. Vimy Ridge is also well worth a visit. It is manned by Canadian volunteers who will take you on a tour of the battlefield and the tunnels beneath.

Arras is a good area to base yourself, as it is a lovely town, and there are also tunnels under the Town Hall dating back 1000 years which were used by the Allies in WW1 as a communications HQ.

You will pass war cemeteries in many places. We always stop and go in, and look at the books there. Always a poignant location and time for quiet reflection.

melancholly

i recommend vimy ridge - i went with my parents years ago but the image of the trip there will stay for a very long time.