Wars and Conflicts

I have just returned from visiting Beaumont Hamel battlefield. I thought I may share a few of my thoughts.

This is the most intact and preserved trench site from WW1. There is something strangely ethereal about being there on your own in the early morning in the trench, looking across to the other lines with the intact barbed wire posts and shell holes. The place has a certain aura about it for sure.

And then the history: For 2 years the Newfoundland Regiment were together and were positioned ready for the Somme offensive. On the first day of the Somme, 801 canadians attack at 07:30 from their 3rd trench. Within 20 minutes the attack stalls with a 91% casualty rate without them reaching their own front line. The front line some weeks later manages to advance 30 km, but the german re-offensive means in 1918 they are back in the same trenches.

In the cemetaries lay numerous graves marked 'an unknown soldier' not actually 'unknown' or 'unrecognisable' but just plain 'gone.' 800 men, all together for 2 years, shipped across from Canada and buried in a grave without anyone being able to recognise your remains.

And the final reminder of the reality was driving away past the 'iron harvest' of unexploded shells thrown by the side of the farmer's fields after being dug up by the plough.

(and by the way if you are the parents of Connor who had to keep shouting at him to 'stop running,' 'get away from that' or 'cum ere' for the last 15 minutes of my time there then you should be ashamed. If i'd have had a rifle then there would be a further 3 to add to the death toll for the place.)

I know what you mean curiousdigger. I had a very humbling experience when aged 18. I was in a rather noisy and high-spirited (!) rugby club. The club decided we should have a tour to Poland as a bit of a PR exercise and we arranged a tour around Warsaw with a guide. Listening to him standing in the middle of the site of the ghetto, the tales of watching his family being killed and then his time in one of the camps (i cannot alas remember which one) reduced 40 young blokes to total awe. I remember having a beer after this and every player was quiet. (it didn't unfortunately last though.........)

To return to the original concept of this thread i.e. "Where have you visited that is mind-blowing" may I offer the CWGC at Cassino, South of Rome?

I paid a visit there in May 2005 and wrote about it on my return: www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peo...

I shall never forget the sheer impact of seeing, once again, the monastery "staring" down at me from immediately overhead.

If you are ever in Rome do not miss out on visiting this cemetery in its magnificent and thought provoking setting.

Hi Andrew

And it's good to be back !

I'm so glad that I don't still have to chase you about the search facilities on the BBC WW2 People's War Archives. This now works perfectly and I am forever recommending the site to WW2 Researchers.

You might be interested to know that I recently paid a return visit to the Messina Straits and re-created the crossing I made to Italy that I did 66 years ago. As we cannot post images on this forum, I have posted my memories to: www.ww2talk.com/foru...

Regards

Ron

Yes, Greedybear, the WW1 cemetaries are never forgotten when you've been there. My military history specialism is the C19th and in answer to your original question, I'd name three battlefields/historical sites that have left me stunned.

1. The field of Balaklava. To walk to route of the Light Brigade charge is to understand it as no amount of reading will allow. You appreciate the astonishing discipline of having to remain at a brisk trot for most of the distance under withering fire, in order that the horses would not be blown.

2. The Cawnpore Well. The "holy of holies" of British India. It is really sad that this site has been allowed to decay as it should be an important historical site. The well and its story brought me to tears. The fact that the surrounding park has been renamed after the perpetrator of the massacre just made me angry!

3. The Battlefield of Isandhlwana. One of those places that really does have an air of doom hanging over it, despite the beautiful scenery.

For me it would have to be the beaches at Dunkirk and La panne, and the war graves cemeteries nearby. The lack of cover is absolutely clear. It must have been heel for the troops waiting for evacuation. As far as i recall only the Cathedral and the Twon Hall remain of the original Dunkirk, and they are scarred by by shot and shell. Very moving.

cd,

While it isn't Auschwitz, the Holocaust Museum in Washington does a great job of evoking the mood and atmosphere, the claustrophobia and oppression of the concentration and extermination camps, beginning with the El-Al-type security check at the front door . They even have cans of Prussic Acid, safely sealed in airtight bombproof transparent cases.

greedybear,
yes the trenches at Newfoundland park are well preserved and awe inspiring ,but they do not come top of my list as I feel that these trenches -along with others are artificially preserved,
This applies to the trenches at Hill 62 Sanctuary wood nr Ieper-but they give you a good insight to the trench system.
Also the recently discovered and conserved trench at Boesinger-yorkshire trench.
I find a lot of the ww1 sites very touching and awe-inspiring-particularly the one where my husbands grandad is buried -it's really small and in the middle of a field and not much visited except by us and the gardeners.
It is a beautiful and peaceful spot today and is situated right on the battle field only yards from the German trench that they were attacking.
Most of those in there were from the 18th Manchester regt and were killed on 23/04/1917.
It is an awe inspiring place where you can sit and collect your thoughts in todays peace but I never cease to wonder at the death and suffering in the place.
I agree with the poster re Monte Casino I was overwhelmed there at the destruction and the eventual rebuild which I am told followed the original plans .And I was able to see the tombs of St. Benedict and his twin sister St Scholastica.
Suda Bay in Crete is another site that touched me.and the elderly Greek gentleman who greeted us there and assists with the upkeep.
The Trafalgar cem on Gibraltar is among my favourites -such a powerful feel of history there.
There are many touching and thought provoking places in Normandy-just being stood on the landing beaches was a priveledge.
As was Pegasus bridge and the Merville battery.
I stood also in the coastal bunker looking out over the channel which was exactly like the one on Longest Day.That was shivery!
The Bayeux monument besides being an elegant structure really gave a cynical smile -the inscription for all to see-
NOS A GUILIEMO VICTI VICTORIS PATRIUM LIBERAVIMUS.
or-
WE ONCE CONQUERED BY WILLIAM.HAVE NOW SET FREE THE CONQUERERS NATIVE LAND-(one in the eye from him from Harold)