24 replies to this topic

[trenchtrotter]

I was today looking through my "old fashioned" print photos of my trip to the Somme in 1987. Amongst the collection was an image of a small bunker in Gommecourt Village itself. If one approached from Fonquevillers it was on the right hand side almost as one entered Gommecourt.

Sadly it is long gone and the small plot of land on which it stood never had any new build etc.

I ask...

1. Anyone else remember it? What was its history etc?
2. Why was it removed?

I will try to scam an image but the quality wont be great.

Regards

TT

[Paul Reed]

I'm pretty sure it is still there, now deep in undergrowth. Can't see any reason to remove it, considering the cost?

To my knowledge it was an entrance to the German dugouts in this area.

[trenchtrotter]

Paul you may be right but I am sure we checked the spot this March and it was clear of growth etc. Will scan photo and then see if we are talking about the same structure.

Thanks for reply and I hope you are right and I am wrong!

Regards

TT

[Paul Reed]

I know the one you mean. Somewhere I have a photo of it, but not digital. It was very similar to the bunker entrances at Guillemont.

[Mick D]

look forward to the picture !

Mick

[Mick D]

Any update on the photo gents ?

Mick

[trenchtrotter]

Will scan the image and post.

I think I know where it is in my box of photos.

Regards

TT

[Roger H]

Come on TT - you are just teasing us now!  

Roger

[Mick D]

any update ?

Mick

[Steelback]

There is a photo of a bunker on Google Earth taken in 2008. http://www.panoramio...r=kh.google.com

[trenchtrotter]

Steelback,

The 1918 bunker you have linked to is on the road from Fonquevillers to Hebuterne and overlook Gommecourt Park. It is no where near the village of Gommecourt itself and is not the one I refer to. The one I am on about is on the edge of the village as you enter on the road from Fonquevillers. I had forgotton about this post so wiull dig out the image if I can find it. I have also searched in vain for similar bunkers to your link which exist on the road to Souastre? Anyone help?

TT

[Mick D]

Trenchtrotter,

Can you show on a map or describe where to find it ?

I tried using google street view and cannot find anything, I did find an overgrown patch of land on the left as you exit north from Gommecourt at the junction of Rue de la Chapelle with Rue de la Linchaux is this it ?

Also, do you know if it is possible to walk around the perimeter of Gommecourt Park ( old German front line) ?


Mick

[mebu]

TT, the one on the road to Souastre, same pattern as at Hebuterene, which was on the right with a sunken bunker close by, was demolished about 2 years ago. I've got some photos somewhere There are another half a dozen of this pattern left today within a few miles.

Peter

[Steelback]

I have found this one on flickr by someone called 'shipscompass' taken in 2010

[viking_raid]

Would love to see these bunkers first hand.  Never been to the Western Front, but I will have to do the pilgrimage some day soon.  

VR

[seadog]

You appear to have posted the same comment 5 times for some reason. Thats new how did you manage this?


PS That is my photo thanks for posting it. Although dated 2010 that is the upload date the actual photo is much earlier.

Norman

[Keith Roberts]

I have removed the multiple posts. they can happen when either a connection is slow, or the forum is slow - sometimes the case when the database is having its daily backup.  I have done it myself - repeatedly clicking on post, while waiting for something to happen

Keith

[Steelback]

You have some great images on Flickr  

seadog, on 06 March 2012 - 08:07 AM, said:

You appear to have posted the same comment 5 times for some reason. Thats new how did you manage this?


PS That is my photo thanks for posting it. Although dated 2010 that is the upload date the actual photo is much earlier.

Norman

[trenchtrotter]

Mick,

If you are brave you can walk the perimeter but do get "snookered" every now and again and have to brave barbed wire and duck into woods. If worried about this you can do 70% ok and worth it as cracking trenches remain to be seen in wood especially German front line!!!!

TT

[trenchtrotter]

Here is long promised image!!!

TT

Attached Files

•  IMG (Small).jpg   82.34K   5 downloads

[Roger H]

Better (very) late than never!

Roger

[seadog]

Thanks for the kind comment in Post 18 here is a link to my photosets.

Flickr Photosets

Regards
Norman

[Mick D]

TT,
Thanks very much for that, I'll look for it at the end of this month to see if it is still there .

Mick

[Mick D]

Well I tried to find the bunker remains but couldn't find a thing, a few hours with a strimmer might have found something though!

Mick

[trenchtrotter]

Alas it is gone. When I was there in March all that was at the site was a macadam floor.

TT