Berry-au-Bac, ICRC Options

[ex pat dk]

After a very long wait, i recieved a reply from the International Red Cross Committee concerning my Grandfather. He was with A Company, 8th Btn Machine Gun Corps, and he was taken POW on the 27th May 1918 at a place called Berry-au-Bac. Can anyone give me some more information about the place, maybe fill in a few holes etc ?.

[SteveMarsdin]

Good afternoon,

The French government official site gives some general information:

http://www.cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr/page/a...1&idLang=en

as does this "unofficial" site

http://www.webmatters.net/france/ww1_chemin_25.htm

however both are from a French perspective.

If you search the Forum I seem to recollect that "healdav" has posted threads relating to Berry-au-Bac and the cemetery at nearby Hermonville (which included references to the Machine Gun Corps). CWGC reference:

http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_detail...3405&mode=1

Hope this gives you a startuing point !

[Chris_Baker]

This is the battle concerned: http://www.1914-1918.net/bat24.htm. The British Official History covers it in depth.

[Stebie9173]

There is a very long topic (unfortunately with some pictures lost) on the Forum - search on "Chemin des Dames"


In fact, here it is: http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...showtopic=44335


Also, the 8th Division's history has a chapter and some very good maps on the events of 27-5-1918.


Steve.

[healdav]

It's not too far from Rheims and there must have been a ferry over the river there (bac means ferry) - there's a bridge now. It's a small villag with two or three restaurants of variable quality. The best is Cote 108. I haven't eaten there for two or three years now, but it has a very good reputation.

The nearest British cemetery that I know of is Hermonville which is about 8 km away. At Berry itself there is a French cemetery beside the main road (and nother on the Route Nationale towards Rheims about 10 km away. Hermonville is a good place to fill up with chamapgne and on the hill there are one or two other villages as well. You will also find the remains of the railway that used to run along the ridge of the hill.

[ex pat dk]

It's not too far from Rheims and there must have been a ferry over the river there (bac means ferry) - there's a bridge now. It's a small villag with two or three restaurants of variable quality. The best is Cote 108. I haven't eaten there for two or three years now, but it has a very good reputation.

The nearest British cemetery that I know of is Hermonville which is about 8 km away. At Berry itself there is a French cemetery beside the main road (and nother on the Route Nationale towards Rheims about 10 km away. Hermonville is a good place to fill up with chamapgne and on the hill there are one or two other villages as well. You will also find the remains of the railway that used to run along the ridge of the hill.

Hi Guys, thank you all for your help, experts all of you.
Dave