Past Events

 

21st.  Day 1.     We all mustered at the Brighowgate Bus station Grimsby for 15:45 Hrs.

                  The coach departed at 16:00 Hrs and arrived at Hull docks at 17:00 and embarked the Pride of York

                   for a 19:00 Hrs sailing for Zeebrugge.

22nd.  Day 2.     After a reasonable crossing and a hearty breakfast we

                    left the boat at 09:30 Hrs and made our way southwards to 

                    t he area of the Atlantic wall defences at Raversijde where 

                    we had an early food break and were allowed to enter the

                    complex at 13:15 Hrs. (This  area is a preserved area which

                    was once owned by the Belgian Royal family and after the

                    end of World War two the King instructed that it be

                    preserved and kept as good a likeness as possible) all the

                    buildings and artefacts on display were in very good

                    condition and as we opted to follow the yellow route around

                    this took nearly 2 hours. We then proceeded to Newport

                    to view the two memorials that were constructed, one to the

                    British troops who

Atlantic wall defences at “Raversijde"

died in World War two defending the Antwerp and the surrounding areas and the other to the Belgian troops who died In World War one, We then proceeded to Aidenkirke for a stop at the tax free shops, some of us walked to the nearest  BWG Cemetery where we found a few Lincoln graves. Then it was on to our hotel in Lo for an evening meal and Sustenance

Atlantic wall defences at “Raversijde"

23rd.  Day 3.     After a good breakfast we left the hotel shortly

                  after 09:00 and proceeded south into France and our

                  first stop was Pozeres were we stopped at the famous

                  café bar called Tommy’s Bar after drinks we visited the

                  trench system and artefacts in and around the grounds,

                  these are actual trenches with dummies in uniform to

                  show what it was supposed to be like at the time, you

                  could buy any form of souvenir from a rifle cartridge

                  case to a rusting rifle or machine gun.

Tommy’s Bar  “Pozeres”

We then paid a short visit to the Lochnagar crater and the

memorial and inspected the seat dedicated to the men of the

10th Lincolns who were almost annihilated on the 1st of July 1916 at this very spot so many years ago.

Grimsby Chums seat at Lochnagar

Lochnagar Crater Memorial

Then is was on to the Theipval Memorial where a

wreath was laid, unfortunately  the reception centre

was closed so we tried the café at the Ulster Tower

Memorial but this was closed also so we went on to

Auchonvillers and stopped at the Ocean villa tea

rooms for lunch, this also has it’s own authentic

trench system at the rear of the property where many

artefacts were found on display, the trenches still

have the original brick side walls and flooring which

came from the original cottages which were on the

site and destroyed by the Germans

Theipval Memorial

We then made our way to  Newfoundland Park which is

dedicated to the Canadian highland divisions who fought

and died here in July 1916 onwards. The museum was

well worth the visit and the trench system was impressive

If somewhat unlike any other we had seen, much of the area

Is still out of bounds due to the amount of unexploded

Munitions still in the ground around the area. Then it was

then back to the hotel again after a long day.

24th.   Day 4.    Everyone except John Robinson and Sid Elmes left on the coach at 09:00

                          for a day of leisure  and shopping in Brugges. John and Sid had hired a

                         car and made an 08:00 start to go into France and race the route to and

                         around the area for the next days parade and march past at Loos En-

                         Gohelle and Hainsnes a neighbouring town, unfortunately  they got lost

                         and could only attend the Loose area, after a short break they took part

                         with the other guests in the march to the battle site area, where piper

                         Laidlaw won his “Victoria Cross” and his great grandson himself an

                         accomplished piper in his own right along with two piper from the

                        Cameron Highlanders re-enacted the event to the delight of the crowds

                         assembled. The only anti climax was the fact that many of the senior

                        World War two Veterans found the steep hill march too much and had to

                        drop out and do the ascent at their own pace causing several of them to

                         miss the event. We all then met up at the Menin Gate for the evening

                        ceremony starting at 20:00Hrs. This was preceded by a display by two

                        pipe and drum bands who gave a musical display in the square close to the

                       Cloth Hall. They then proceeded to the gate where, before the two minute

                       silence and the wreath laying they counter marched up and  down the

                       cobbled roadway under the arches. There were also 12 standards on parade

                       including our own association colours and the legion standard. This was by

                       far the most Memorable ceremony attended so far. After a long day it was

                      onward  again to the hotel.

25th.   Day 5.         After a very early breakfast all but three left for Loos. We arrived on time and assembled as directed and

                   after a wait we where marched in column to the assembly area along with contingents of regular soldiers and

                   territorial units and the pipe and drum bands of the London Scottish and London Irish paraded

with buglers from the Durham Light Infantry. A service of

Remembrance and a drum head service was conducted

and after all the speeches we marched off and reassembled on

the roadway, we then marched through the town and on to

the French Memorial, then along to the sports hall

for refreshments. We then re-bussed and went to

Auchy-Le-Mine’s where we once again we repeated the

ceremony  in the market square adjacent to their memorial

Sid and Bernard laid wreaths respectively at the two events.

 

The two towns are important to us as these were the sites and

towns liberated in the first major gains of World War one

on the 25th of September 1915 where the Lincolns played a

major part and suffered so tragically for it. It was then back to

Belgium  and the hotel in Lo.

Loos Memorial

Loos Memorial

26th.  Day 6.       We departed from the hotel and headed for the town of Zonnebeke, we visited the museum at the Chateau

                  dedicated to the men who fought in the battle of Paschendaelle, then it was on to Polygone Wood for lunch and the

                  cemetery and memorials to the Australians and New Zealanders  who fought in this area, an interesting point at this

                  cemetery is that all the headstones face the centre towards the plinth instead of facing one way. We then  departed

                  for the ferry and sailed at 19:00 Hrs for Hull.

 

27th.  Day 7.    Arrived in Hull 08:00 Hrs, disembarked by 08:30 and back home in Grimsby by 09:39 Hrs

 

                                                                                                                                                                                  Cid Elmes.

 

 

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Newfoundland Park

Auchy-Le-Mine’s