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Any more for: MAMETZ THIEPVAL DELVILLE WOOD HEDAUVILLE BÉCOURT

could you please look up BILLINGSLEY, SAMUEL (The King's, Liverpool) Service No: 27305 Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 1 D 8 B and 8 C. Cemetery: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

Louise - I have added your details to my list. George - thanks for your support. Helen

Helen If I am not too late to ask could you also add my G Granfather to your list at THIEPVAL Thank you Name- STATTERS Goerge York and Lancaster Rgiment 10th bn Date of death - 16/11/1916 Memorail ref - Pier and face 14A and 14B Many Thanks Jan

No problem Jan, still time yet. It is a couple of weeks before we go. Helen

Thanks for letting me know Sue H

Helen, just wanted to say, you're in for a very moving and fascinating time. We visited Thiepval 6 years ago and its a wonderfully moving place. My great uncles name is on the memorial...there are some graves there, but its mainly a memorial to the missing. Take a pair of binoculars...obviously some of the names are quite high up. My son is going on a school trip to Flanders at the weekend, so I've been reading up on it...makes me cry every time I think about it. regards, Louise

Would appreciate a photo of my great uncle's bit. Details: John Denham WYNN, Private #14590, killed 1st July, 1916, Sherwood Foresters, at Thiepval on Pier & Face 10, C 10 D and 11 A. Thanks very much. Denise, in cloudy Vancouver

What a very kind offer. I know mine is not in one of the cemetaries you are visiting this time, but you did mention a future visit to the Pas de Calais cemetaries, my Great Uncle is buried at Avesnes-le-Comte which I believe is one of these so perhaps you could keep me in mind for a future visit when I could let you have the details. Many thanks Michele

Helen This is a very kind offer. If you have the time whilst visiting the THIEPVAL memorial I would appreciate a photograph showing rifleman GEORGE NELSON PALLISTER, C/12168. He served with the 21st Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps and died on 17 September 1916. (Thiepval Memoril Pier and Face 13A and 13B) Many thanks. Hope you have a good day. Janet.

Hoping you have a friutful safe journey Helen, best wishes Joan (Oliver Rimmer - Theipval)

We had a wonderful but very moving and emotional day in the Somme yesterday with lovely clear and sunny weather. It was a tiring day through - we left home before 6am and didn't get back until after 9pm. There were two very hungry cats awaiting our return! The Thiepval memorial is visible for miles and quite dominates the surrounding area. I was really surprised by how big it was, but then when you think that it has the names of over 72,000 men inscribed on it then I suppose it has got to be big. It is almost impossible to believe that none of these people's bodies were ever found or identified and so sad. A few miles from the Thiepval memorial we had lunch at a quaint little café at a place called Gare Beaucourt. The café is in a disused railway station and owned by a really frienly French couple. They told us that the station had been deserted for over 20 years and is sited right where the German front line was during WW1. They have spent the last year renovating and had only been open a couple of weeks. As well as a café, they are trying to give the place a bit of WW1 atmosphere with various exhibits, including some very interesting 3D photographs and some aerial photographs of some of the cemeteries. They are clearly aiming for British custom, as they offer tea - in a teapot and with milk - and a choice of Tetley, Yorkshire or PG tips no less! They also do fish & chips, completed with Sarsons malt vinegar!!! You can tell we have not lived in England for a while. The largest cemetery we visited was Delville Wood at Longueval, which also puts into perspective just how many young men gave their lives. Most were only in their early twenties, so they really hadn't had much of a life. Also nothing could have prepared us for just how many cemeteries there are in the Somme. Personally I preferred the smaller cemeteries. We found my great uncle Albert (my dad was named after him 10 years later) at Mametz. This is a very small cemetery with just 163 graves - all men of the Devonshire regiment. I found it quite comforting to know that Albert is buried amongst his friends and comrades. Hédauville was also quite special. There is a narrow footpath with the war graves cemetery on the right and the French village graveyard on the left. All of the cemeteries we visited were extremely well tended. The grass was mown and edged and all of the graves had plants at their feet, although we were of course a little late in the year to see things at their best. Every cemetery had a register containing details of the servicemen buried there and there was also a visitors book at each cemetery. The CWGC does a sterling job keeping so many cemeteries in such good condition befitting of those who gave their lives for us. Helen

Mhairi - my apologies. We ran out of time and didn't manage to get to Dud Corner. I will keep your details though as I will probably go back for another visit next year. Helen

Helen, I am so pleased to hear that you had a 'good' day all round. Your offer was a very special one ... and you deserve to have found YOUR Ancestors final resting place. Your a special lady, who offered a special 'lookup'. Thank You x Elaine :-)

What a lovely offer you made Helen, I hope you managed to find everyone. Do you know where OVILLERS MILITARY CEMETERY is in relation to where you visited? My great Grandfather died in the Battle of the Somme and is buried there, I would love to go one day Sam

Sam, What a pity you only added to my thread after we went. Ovillers is right in the area we were visiting and we actually drove through the village about three times looking for one of the cemeteries! Sorry I couldn't help you this time, but I am sure we will visit again sometime next year. Helen

Helen, wonderful gesture and priceless images, thank you again, Joan x

Oh Helen, I could kick myself! I don't know how I missed your thread, but I'll certainly take you up on your offer if you go again. Regards Sam

Dear Helen, Received the fantastic photo of my Grandfathers last resting place for which I am truly indebted to you. Indeed it must have been a truly memorable and moving experience for you. Thank you so much. Cheers Dolly.