211 replies to this topic

[Havrincourt]

Hello

After the superb contributions from the Forum on the "Then & Now"  thread, I shall post articles/comparisons of the Somme battlefields here, I hope that you continue to help and share your comparisons with others

The first contribution comes from Sir Cliff with photographs taken during last weeks trip.....many thanks Sir Cliff

A comparison of Pozieres..........Todays Le Tommy Cafe!

Andy


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[Havrincourt]

Another one from Sir Cliff............a nice view of Combles Station

Andy


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[Fred van Woerkom]

Excellent photo, Sir Cliff !

I remember asking a garagiste where the station was. It is now at a campsite with a few dilapidated caravans.
We (the Dutch 'Gang of Four') had great difficulty finding out which was which: where did train passengers buy their tickets surely not in the coin-in-the-slot showers or on the ping-pong table at the back. We decided that where Sir Cliff, who is an enthusiastic photographer to say the least (he will photograph anything that moves or does not move), took this shot resembled the original picture most

I am sure more photos will follow. The THEN AND NOW series and the tasks Andy set us, gave us all the idea that we were doing some historical detective work.

All the best,
Fred

[ian turner]

Andy

Just registereing on this thread so I get my e-mail alerts for new postings (it is not to be missed....)

Ian

[Havrincourt]

Yes Fred Sir Cliifs photographs are superb I will add more comparisons on the thread, I think it is a credit to the forum that you are making the effort to share here

Thank you Ian, the Somme region has many old and new photographs to offer

Andy

[Desmond7]

Pozieres struck me .. I walked up the other side of the street in July 2006 on my way to Courcelette. Stopped in for a beer at what my French teacher called a Cafe Tabac.
Keep up the good work.

[Fred van Woerkom]

Andy,

Yes, Sir Cliff is a very talented photographer. This is all the more remarkable since he hadn't touched a camera until some six years ago. It is the influence of his charming wife that he made him take up this new hobby and take up he did, with a vengeance.

I remember him taking many more "now' pictures. All will be shown here in good time , I hope.

All the best,
Fred

[Bob G]

Top photo from 'Twenty Years After' shows Treux facing east. This village features in the battles of 1918 and is south
of the Amiens/Bapaume road and west of Albert. So we have 1938/2008, sixty years..........
Bob Grundy

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[Havrincourt]

Bob , thank you for showing Treux after 60 years, I wonder if the chaps that took the 'Twenty Years After' photographs were veterans and had a choice of where they took the pictures having maybe fought in the area. Would these photographs be held at the IWM?

Yes, Fred some fabulous photographs from Sir Cliff, I like this one......here is a comparison of the street toward Combles train station

Combles

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[Sir Cliff]

At the moment I am with my charming wife in Tallinn, Estland or Estonia.
The picture of the Rue de la Gare is not looking towards the Station but
the Station was at my backside.

And Fred not too many compliments.

S.C.

[Havrincourt]

Have a great time Sir Cliff, I hope that you have that camera at the ready

Here is a view of Albert taken the week before last.......the Rue Gambetta, thank you to Chris for taking the time and effort for the comparison, nice work

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[roel22]

Andy

Just registereing on this thread so I get my e-mail alerts for new postings (it is not to be missed....)

Ian

Good idea!

Roel

[Havrincourt]

Morning Roel

Here is another good contribution from Sir Cliff.........Peronne Chateau now the Museum towers, rebuilt without its windows

Andy


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[roel22]

Appears to have been rebuilt from the ground...

[Havrincourt]

Hi Roel, yes it looks that way and rebuilt to its original style.......

Just having a little trouble with the PC , but will be back soon to post more

Andy

[nadam12]

A view South along the East side of Marrett Wood, (just south of Treux). In 1918 and in 2005.
My Mum and Dad are standing in the road. Her father was in the Australian 37th at the time the photo was taken. He was just 17 years old.

It was very rewarding for us all to take them to see the places both of their father's fought.

[ian turner]

Super comparison shot, with identical location. Once again it is interesting to note how the perspective of the older lenses makes the original scene look somehow 'bigger' than today's image. (Or vice-versa of course!)

[Peter Woodger]

Hi

I reproduce one of Steve Morse's shots and then fo;;ow it with a now of the Railway and road taken from the path on the Beaucourt side of Ancre British Cemetery

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[Peter Woodger]

next

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[Connor]

Peter,

Thank you for that last here and now.  The Beaumont-Hamel/Ancre area holds a particular interest for me.

cheers,

peter

[Tony Ring]

next

Peter

Thank you for the photographs.

I look forward to seeing more.

Tony

[Tony Ring]

Morning Roel

Here is another good contribution from Sir Cliff.........Peronne Chateau now the Museum towers, rebuilt without its windows

Andy


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Andy

Thank you.

Are there more coming ?

Tony

[Desmond7]

Let's hope so - this remains a superb thread.

Peter W .... do you have any pics of the pathway which 'roughly' follows the trench line of the German 'railway sap'?

Des

[Havrincourt]

Many thanks to all some great additions to the thread

The PC is still in bits, but more photographs will be coming......logging on via a friends at the moment

Thanks

Andy

[Havrincourt]

Hello again

Well let me just tell you that being unable to contribute to the forum has been torture!

.......am back with more Somme comparisons

Phew!

Here is Connaught Cemetery


Andy


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