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Hi Members

Thought you may like to see the progress that the Somme Association and NML have made with the trenches in Thiepval Wood.

Carol

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More pictures

Carol

great pics anymore to follow ?
bruce

Thanks for sharing. Fasinating.
Ann

Echo above .. also like to hear more.
Thanks

Des

I presume these trenches are based on the remains of excavated trenches. If so of what vintage are they ?

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Thanks for comments. More pictures as requested. Trenches are British approx.1916 but the wood was used throughout the Great War by French, British and Germans.

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Front line trench on right of Thiepval Wood facing Schwaben Redoubt. Fire step on left of picture.

Marvellous photos.

For the uninformed could you tell me if prior to 1914 the wood would have been similar in appearance to that of today.

During 1916 I suppose most of the trees would have been levelled??

The ground looks as if it's been blown up and resettled a few times. Would that be the case?
If so how was the line of the trench found?

BTW, you are all doing a great job over there.

Hi Neutrino




Over the last couple of years The Somme Association along with a team from the No Mans Land group, and a number of volunteers from Northern Ireland, both qualified archaeologists and Friends of the Somme Association have carried out a number of digs to identify, research, (logging any artefacts found), the trench systems.

See link below for an earlier thread on the previous digs

As a result of this work the trench lines have been cleaned, sand bagged, and paths laid.

As Carol (Somme Association) has said they were able to identify early French trench systems, but the majority were British from the 1916 period and later.

May I just add my thanks to all involved, my great uncle (see below) was with the MGC attached to the 36th and attacked from the wood. Being able to walk in the trench, just yards from his grave will mean so much to me, and many like me.



http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...l=thiepval+wood

This link will take you to a report made by Carol (Somme Association) who has been responsible for organising the various dig

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...e=post&id=14966

As one of the No Man's Land archaeologists can I say how much I enjoy working with the Somme Association on what is a real community archaeology project.

What I think we are doing is moving research forward and presenting archaeology/the Great War to the public. It's also particularly satisfying to work alongside folk who feel a real affinity to this site and aspects of its past.

So much archaeology these days is done ahead of development and the results disappear under the supermarket, or wherever so it's nice here to be able to see a direct educational and commemorational benefit from the project.

Crikey, did we move all that dirt?

Martin

Are the treches located in the wood behind the Connaught cemetery???

Excellent work done and thanks for posting the pictures.


Cheers

Paul

Are there any plans to enable any sort of access in time for 1st July ? I am sure there are many who would like to view these trenches - but I suppose "there's the rub" in itself ?

This pic taken in Thiepval wood just prior to 1st July. This in reply to Neutrino who wanted a 'feel' picture for the wood in 1916 period. I have the name of this guy somewhere. He was snapped by a guy in the 14th Royal Irish Rifles (YCVs)

Found it ...

1. Medal card of Ewing, J
Corps Regiment No Rank
Royal Irish Rifles 14/14540 Serjeant

2. Medal card of Ewing, John Adams
Corps: Royal Irish Rifles
Regiment No: 14/ 14540
Rank: Corporal...
Medal card of Ewing, John Adams
Royal Irish Rifles 14/ 14540 Corporal
18th Royal Irish Rifles 14/ 14540 Warrant Officer Class 2
London Regiment 14/14540 Warrant Officer Class 2

Desmond
Thank you so much for posting the image. Interesting to see the trenches in use and to see that our reconstructions appear about right!

Great pics -well done to all involved

Really impressive the work done by all. well done. Are there any plans to allow access, perhaps even on a limited pre booked basis for groups eg WFA. Also have any interesting artifacts been found?

Fantastic work and a credit to all those involved in this time consuming work, dedication is the word that comes to mind. Thankyou for the photos and i look forward to the time when i can visit this wonderful work.

These new pics look great and I personally think the Somme Association is doing a great job with what is a really important site - not just for people in Northern Ireland but further afield too. The development there looks to be very much in sympathy with the fact that this is a wood as well as a former battlefield area and I hope the finished area gets the praise it deserves. I look forward to visiting it at some stage in the (I hope) not too distant future!
Swizz

I certainly Echo those sentiments Swizz.
Jerry

Hi All,

Wow, work has really progressed. i was there last OCtober and spend a couple of evening with Teddy looking at the current dig and proposed areas of interest. I would gladly give my left arm to be more involved in this admirable project (I will need my right arm for digging, then again there is always clay kiciking style ala the tunnelers).

Congratulations and thanks to all involved in this project, cant wait to see it in June and October next.

Ross Glennon

My first post - been reading so much!

Great photos, I hope I can get back to see it all again sometime soon.

Excellent work, well done to all involved in this project. The whole idea of excavating and sharing these trenches with everyone is a wonderful thing. To be able to see what was at some point filled in, partially destroyed or overgrown is something that many many people can get to appreciate now, and in the future. A truely worthwhile project that I hope will continue.
It would be great to see artifacts found on site and walk by the trenches to get a real feel for trench life...well as real as it can be without of course bullets whizzing past your ears, shell fire, bad weather, hunger, blood and death all around to name but a few. You get what I mean though.
Great pics, thanks for sharing them.

Chris

I saw the trenches at the beginning of April and was throughly impressed by the efforts of The Somme Association. They are doing a superb job and their research into these trenches is really excellent.

However I was told that people have been appearing at the sight to dig things up (strangely enough I commented on this earlier today) and Teddy from the Ulster Tower did not seem all that optimistic about the trenches lasting very long. This is a terrible shame. Does anybody have any information about the status of the excavated trenches now.
JGM

Hi JGM

Please see thread "Thiepval Wood Trenches"


http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...c=54951&hl=

Has anyone availed themselves of the opportunity to obtain a post excavation report on the Thiepval Wood trenches as previously offered on the forum by the Somme Association?

I wrote to them some months ago now, but have heard nothing.

Were they over-subscribed by forum members?

Did the photocopier spontaneously combust?

Was it aliens what done it?

Carol,

I will be doing a tour of the Somme, which will inevitably include Thiepval and it's environs, on 30th August. I have engaged a colleague to act as Guide, as he is now resident in the area. I'm not sure as yet what itinerary he plans to follow, but are the excavated trenches available to view, presumably by appointment?

Regards
Steve

Hi Steve

Tours of Thiepval Wood can be pre-booked in advance for larger groups at either sommeassociation@dnet.co.uk or teddy.ulstertower@tiscali.fr. We are trying a system at the moment that we run tours from the Ulster Tower at 11.00hrs and 15.00hrs except Mondays when the Tower is closed.

I hope this helps

Carol

Carol

Do small groups or individuals just turn up?

Martin

Carol,

Thanks for the reply. It will be me, two 9-year olds and my Tour Guide. I will have to check with him what he has planned and see if it is possible to fit this in.

Regards
Steve

Hi Carol,

I have been away from my desk for a couple of weeks, so apologies if you have already replied to another e-mail address.

I wrote to you some time ago requesting a copy of the post-excavation report you very kindly offered on the forum. If you did not get my letter (and SAE) I will re-send it.

If it is no longer available please let me know.

Many thannks.

Hi Martin

Anyone at 11.00hrs and 15.00hrs

Carol

Hi Steve

I did not receive your letter but I did get your email so I sent the report as attachment a week ago.

Carol

Hi Steve

I hope you can make it to Thiepval Wood and if you do let me know what you think.

Carol

Many thanks Carol, much appreciated!

Carol,

I'm not long back from the Somme, and was treated to a tour round the wood, led by Paddy. We were all mightily impressed with the work done in the wood, and the knowledge and enthusiasm of all at the Ulster Tower. I cannot recommend it too highly. I would also point out that the archeological works were filmed and a DVD is available to buy at the Ulster Tower. It is excellent and well worth the 15 Euro cost.

Regards
Steve

Hi Steve

Glad to hear you found Teddy's tour of Thiepval Wood informative and that you enjoyed the DVD that you purchased.

Carol

Gulp - the shame! My apologies to Teddy for getting his name wrong - I had such a lot to take in that day.

Steve

Don't worry Steve. He's used to being called lots of different names although that's mostly by his wife, Phoebe.

Carol

Hi Carol just to let you know in November last year Teddy took myself and seven other firefighters from London on a guide through the woods, and we found it fascinating,he certainly knows hes stuff does our Ted,and of course we shared a few tales as Teddy was a firefighter himself .The progress that has been made to the trenches is amazing and the boys loved every minute of it.After the tour we presented a plaque from the London fire brigade that is now displayed along with all the others in the tower itself.here are some of the pictures of the trenches.

more

and lastly

In spite of numerous visits to the Somme since the opportunity first arose to visit the excavations I only took Teddy's tour for the first time last week. I hadn't expected to see such an extensive project, nor did I anticipate the informative and entertaining guided tour to help interpret what we saw.

We were on the same tour as a coachload of 16yr old boy soldiers on week 4 of their basic training. Classic quote from two of the lads as we walked back from the wood: "They won't have us digging trenches will they?" Response from clued-up youth: "Give over you muppet, it's all stealth and camo these days!" I wonder if they've spent the night in their very own, self-dug 'ole yet.

Many thanks to Teddy for an excellent visit. And I got to be "tail-end Charlie"

A couple of pics:

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And finally: