On Monday I was passing the little cafe / museum at Beaucourt sur l'Ancre Station (near Beaumont Hamel) and called in for coffee. The owner sadly reported that he had been burgled in January and most of his collection stolen including a shell damaged helmet, that to him, summed up the emotions of the war.

Just another incident regrarding crime related to WW1 artifacts.

This man is struggling to start a business. He is very friendly and makes huge efforts for his mainly British visitors. Such a same that his work is hit by people (locals?) who only care about money.

Gunner Bailey

This is very sad. He is a great guy trying to make a go of his place. I hope some of you pals will call in and have a drink etc to show support. Iyt is good to put something back into the French community.
tony

Will call in next week.

Thanks everyone. He is also digging out a piece of the original German trench system at the side of the cafe. So well worth a visit and a chat. The coffee is good too.

Gunner Bailey

And the Yorkshire tea is fantastic!
also try the poppy flavoured biscuits They only lasted 5 mins in our house.
tony

Gunner and Kirky,
thanks for the heads-up on the cafe as its on our must see list for July now


Peter

Well, poppies don't last for long once they're picked.

mmm...poppy flavoured biscuits? are you sure they were the right poppies? could take some explaining at customs, although i suppose it would take there mind off the fuses.

Mick

"mmm...poppy flavoured biscuits? are you sure they were the right poppies? could take some explaining at customs, although i suppose it would take there mind off the fuses."

They were very hard to light!
tony

Sad to hear of this theft, I would like to pop in sometime to show my support to a local, any pal's happen to know if he is open in the evenings for meals plese?

Cheers,
Scottie.

i'm surprised no one has corrected me....fuse! i meant fuze. as i was once told a fuse can be used to brighten your life a fuze darkens it.

Mick

Opening hours are 11.30am - 7pm ....Dawn

Dawn,

thank you for the times, sadly not open in the evenings so I better pop in there for lunch and stick with my favourite restaurant in Authille for the evening.

regards,
Scottie.

Which restaurant do you go to in Authille Scottie?

The 'Auberge de la Vallee d Ancre' please don't tell me its closed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First went there on a very rainy day in 1986 on my first visit to the Somme, it was just a cafe then, before it went a bit upmarket! Always like to dine there, however not been back there for two years at least

My French is diabolical, and on the first visit I thought that I had ordered bread and cheese, however the most wonderful omelette arrived, not had one quite as good since.

Do you know the 'gaff?'

Scottie.

The Auberge is still open and very popular with both the british and the french.
Beaucourt Station doesn't serve the same kind of food as the Auberge...
they do snacks, mainly the plastic wrapped and reheated kind.

Thanks for letting me know, food doesn't sound that promising, however i will pop in for a drink at Beaucourt, hope to be there sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Hello Gunner.

Sadly this is endemic, I find it abhorrent that people steal, buy, sell or dig up, remove, items they find on the Battlefields then sell them on. Do they care, understand, appreciate the sacrifice those lads paid for the freedoms they/ we enjoy? As you rightly say, all they care about is money.

Terry. W.

Hi Terry

It is sad, but what some people consider junk others deem precious historical items. The Beaucourt cafe is more about selling coffee and food than WW1 items. The owner finds many of them in the grounds as he is clearing land and digging out the German trench. I do think collectors owning many of the items will preserve them for posterity.

There was so much made of iron in WW1 that in 100 years time it will just be a brown stain in the soil. At least collectors will preserve them for their childen and grandchildren, thereby making history real. I recently showed a friend's 12 year old son some of my collection of grenades and other artefacts, and I told him about the war, and how they were used. I also told him about the casualties. It captured his thoughts and imagination more than anything else had done before. This lad will now have better understanding of history and will seek out more information.


Gunner Bailey

With you Gunner on this one!
I have shown the relics I have picked up to many young kids who have been fascinated having read about such things as 18lbs but could never imagine what one looks like. I have been in to a local school and same again.
Tony

Hi Tony,

Very much in agreement with you. I think we should share our knowledge and and our collections. A few years ago I volunteered to take a large part of my WW2 collection into our local junior school. I told them the story of the blitz, and the kids were able to handle real steel helmets (ARP and Ambulance), two types of gas masks, a gas rattle, German incendiary bombs, shrapnal, original APR leaflets and posters, AA shell cases and bits of shot down aircraft. The kids loved it. I did all the classes in the same year and the teachers said the work the children did that year was their best ever. It was also fun.

There is no point in collecting for collecting sake. We gain knowledge, we should share it when we can.

Gunner Bailey

Hope he keeps going. Smashing location and friendly service. Well worth a visit.

Agree, the Auberge in Authuille is excellent, but so too is La Salle au Couchon. Great, great food in both spots.

Chris

Called in again on 11/11. had an excellent lunch at very good value prices, and Phillipe as friendly as ever. Now being assisted by two ladies who were friendly and cheerful. They even understood my French first time!

Selling good range of Somme 1916 tea shirts and vests now.

Gunner Bailey

This is now our favourite stop off point on our Somme trips, so friendly even calls me by my forum name! You must try the poppy biscuits and honey.
Tony

The only Western country where poppie bisquits are legal is in the Netherlands

A friend has just told me about an experiment where someone ate two bagals with poppy seeds and the subsequent blood test showed they had been on opium!!! Wow. No wonder New Yorks a cheerful place! .


Gunner Bailey

Gunner Bailey;

Recently in Israel (I read the Israeli press every day, it is better than a soap opera!) nine male and female soldiers were arrested for drug use after urine tests; after investigation it was discovered that they had been eating poppy-flavored bagels, and the charges were dropped.

Bob Lembke

When I was in the prison service, within the prison were large numbers of very large poppies, of course there were fears from the staff that they would be used by prisoners to experiment with but we were told they weren't opium poppies so posed no risk. but strangely when squeezed over a drug test kit they tested positive to opiates. (the poppies that is not the prisoners).

Mick

glad I had a cup of tea with the biscuits and not
coke!!

My wife knows everything. This is particularily true about things vegetable; her mother's family have been farmers in New England for 372 years, and now have about 5000 acres up there, including a 3500 acre working dairy farm. Additionally, she grows most of her own food in the center of a city of 1.5 million people. She is quite a scientific farmer/gardener; takes notes on every tomato she harvests.

She says that all poppies have some level of opiates, but, not surprisingly, opium poppies have a great deal more. Likewise, it is most likely that the poppies used to provide poppy seeds for baking are not opium poppies, but the seeds do contain measurable amounts of opiates.

All sorts of testing kits and testing techniques have become extremely sensitive, and sometimes this has caused a variety of practical problems in various situations, like enviromental concerns.

Bob Lembke

'My wife knows everything'.

Bob - Funny that - mine too!

Gunner Bailey

I completely agree. I have have worked with a professor here in Canada who gives a lecture on every November 11 focussed on remembering those who were killed in botrh the WW1 and WW2. The power of this lecture comes not only from his extensive knowledge and lecturing skills, but also his use of artefacts and photography. I have seen students leave the lecture hall in tears.

In my own case, I was lucky enough to be selected to participate in the Canadian Battlefields Foundation's 2006 Tour of France. Not only did I learn a heck of a lot, I also took photographs that will be excellent teaching tools.

Taiha

Thanks for your encouraging response. the power of photos and artefacts always amazes me.

Gunner Bailey

Maybe it is just a blessing for us Forum members....to be married to such knowledgable women!

Bruce

Hi Pals,

I have been visiting the station for a couple of years now and this guy always makes you more than welcome,We now use the station for a "mid-day livener" and a bite to eat, He will always take the time with you to talk local gossip regarding the Somme and his english is very good too, Can't say i've tried the poppy biscuits yet but i will give them a go in a couple of weeks.
Come on Pals lets give this guy a bit of support and see if we can really make a difference.

Ian.

Totally agree about the owner and his wife he even sent me an email wishing me Happy Christmas!!
Just finished last pack of poppy biscuits even stored for 6 months they are still great, I feel another visit coming on!
tony

i think the problem is that most visitors tend to go where they are directed so will visit the familiar. and lets face it its not the most inviting place for tea.

Mick

Do not agree that its not inviting, not KFC but what do you want in this area, to just get a warm drink and something easy to eat during the day! Tommies is not welcoming anymore and too big and cold, where else is there for a muddy field walker to go?
Tony

actually i didnt mean that to sound as negative as i did. what i meant was that generally people with an itinerary or have made plans will go to where they are advised. I agree in French terms its more inviting than most but if a passer by compares it to a pseudo english tea room which might be available locally then maybe they won't visit.

I will shut up now before i dig a bigger hole

Mick

Hmmmm..... Thought I hadn't seen you there, Mick

don't need to, i sip earl grey and chew on battenburg and cucumber sarnies in the comfort of my own little piece of england

I've never tried battenburg and cucumber sarnies - doesn't the cucumber make the cake soggy?

thats nothing....it took my wife years to get me out of the habit of dipping my toast in my tea!

So when you said sipping Earl Grey, I suppose you really meant slurping?

obviously out of the saucer. Going back to the original reason for this post I admire anyone that works for themselves and is able to make a go of a business espeically when the majority of his custom is British.

Mick

Tony,

I will be there next week....I will save you some (possibly). Ian.

Ian , have a great time and best regards to Phillipe!
Tony

Tony,

If You think You cant go "cold turkey" until your next visit drop me a line and I will pick some up and mail to you on my return.....Not too far to Wolverhampton from here.

All the best, Ian.