Man is not always the one destroying pieces of our WW1 heritage. In some cases, nature is the one to blame as well. In July 2005, heavy rains caused a landslide just in front of the craters at the Bluff, Ieper. Earth was washed down the slope of the canal bank. This was noticed by a British visitor, Kerry Hutchinson, who reported it to the museum authorities of the city of Ypres, who in their turn reported it to the Flemish goverment archaeological services. This was exactly the spot of the German front line in WW1. This trench, still intact underneath the soil, and re-used as a drainage ditch, was washed down. However, this caused a situation interesting for archaeologists. The start point of the landslide forms an almost perfect vertical 'cut', and one can clearly see the profile of the German trench, only partly filled up to act as a drainage ditch. In the side slope of teh landslide, a collapsed tunnel is to be seen, going from the German front line towards the British lines.

Archaeologists measured the site, and drew everything in. pictures are here:

http://www.wo1.be/ned/evenementen/erbij/20...r0202/body1.htm

The profile of the trench is not to be seen on the pics, but one can easily go down there to have a look, it is just next to the grassfield between the Palingbeek tavern and The Bluff craters.

regards,

Bert

Do you know if they are going to do a complete archeological dig at the site.

John

John,

No, I don't think so. The finds they did in the little canyon caused by the landslide will be on display in the visitor center of the Palingbeek.

regards,

Bert

Bruce,

Not much: pieces of wood (including A-frames), ammunition and barbed wire.

greets,

Bert

Nice to see a section - relates it to before, during and after.

dear pals were is the bluff.thanks tom

near Hill 60 on the Comines canal from the top of my head. A hot spot for the 6th Dorsets Tom

thanks bill did you get my email .tom .it was not me who pushed your snowman over honest .

No I never got an email. Snowmen never die, they just fade away. Very chilly here in the Limousin for August.

I thought they just melted away.

John