Forthcoming visit to the Somme Battlefield. Advice please.

[Treetotal]

If you have the time, I strongly advise that you visit the Somme Museum in Albert...you won't regret it...it is an underground tunnel recreating the sounds of the battlefields.
I  took a 1917 penny to place on my relative's headstone, I would buy any poppies or a poppy cross and take them with you as they are cheaper than in France and that way you support the RBL. The tourist information in Albert was also very helpful.

https://www.visit-somme.com/musee-somme-1916-albert/albert/pcupic080fs0001p


https://www.ww1cemeteries.com/fra-newfoundland-memorial-park-beaumont-hamel.html


and this:



Carol

[BumbleB]

Another venue for you, if you are able to visit, is the Thiepval Memorial to 72,337  who fell and have no known graves - my grandfather was one of them.

However, I have to say that the one thing that stands out, for me, in visiting these memorials and cemeteries is the care and attention that they receive from CWGC staff, all are immaculate. 

[onefortheroad]

Wow, MaxD. That's brilliant. So, he was initially buried in the brown field to the right of the Rue de Poziere? Would there be a marker? And the green field to the left of the road with the white marks: are they the site of initial burials too? Soory to hound you, Max but this is remarkable.
By the way, the numbers 6 & 8: is that 6 west and 8 north?

[onefortheroad]

Treetotal. Thanks, we have the Somme Museum on our 'to do' list.
On our way south to Folkestone on the Sunday, I'd like to make a short stop in Earsham, S.Norfolk, his home village, and collect a small amount of soil to place at the foot of his headstone. A bit of a detour but little effort in comparison.
David

[onefortheroad]

BumbleB. Yes, looking on the map, Thiepval isn't far from Pozieres and if we have time we'd like to go.
I have a feeling time will run out on us before we've done everything we'd like.

[BumbleB]

I know what you mean - we all think we have left sufficient time to do everything - WRONG!!!

[MaxD]

The attachment (courtesy tmapper and NLS maps) zooms in on the field in question, marked by a yellow circle.

There will be no marker and the white marks on the image are farm things.  If you look at the 18 E Lancs men buried in Pozieres with the same date of death
 https://www.cwgc.org/find/find-war-dead/results?regiment=East%2BLancashire%2BRegiment&cemetery=Pozieres%2BBritish%2BCemetery%252c%2BOvillers-La%2BBoisselle&war=1&exactDate=15-07-1916

you will find they are all 8 Battalion and all (I think, I didn't count them all) have a concentration sheet entry showing an initial burial site in the same general area suggesting they were hastily buried by their comrades essentially where they fell and rested there until the Grave Registration Units came along In 1919.  There are a number of men who could not be identified, even as to regiment, among whom may be other E Lancs.

MaxD

In square X 10, starting at the bottom left corner of the right bottom quadrant, measure 6 tenths east and 8 tenths north.  You cursor should be just about on the little trees that run up the track at the north west edge of the field.  On the image you should be in the field.  Note that the reference is not a pin point but the bottom left of a 100x100 yard box.



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[onefortheroad]

Many thanks indeed, MaxD. You've been a huge help.
Regards, David.

[Viktoria]

Hello, back home so here is the info I promised:-
The book ,Major and MrsHolt’s Battlefield Guide to the Somme.
To order 01226734555
Pen and Sword  Books Ltd.
Church St
Barnsley.
South Yorkshire.
S70 2 AS.

The map :- Major and Mrs. Holt’s Battle map of The Somme is also available from the above.

It is a long time since we bought our copies but they are so good I don’t think they will be out of print.but just in case the ISBN number of the book and map is :-
0-85052-414-8
9 780850 524147.
I do recommend  them,they will make it all easier and you will do more in the time you are there.
If you can try to get a copy of John Harris’  “Covenant  with Death”.
The story of a group of young men ,very similar to the Accrington Pals but I think The Sheffield Pals really.
Based around Beaumont Hammel,on the little river Ancre  close to where the Thiepval Memorial  is .
A gruelling read but so exact it really does bring the events of the first day of the Somme to life .
No number for it though.
I hope you enjoy your visit, you will feel very moved , but we must keep those men in our minds.It is all we can do.
Let me know if I can be of any more help.
Viktoria.