on my last sad visit to ypre i went for a walk to gather my thoughts and walking down from essex farm on the same side as macraes bunker some work to clear a culvert was taking place and in the banking i saw this just shows how much of the ground has been made up in 90 years as this is a company sign above a door of a bunker

..what a nice little find tafski...nice bit of lichen going on there..looks like something big has hit it at some time...be interesting to find out which unit it belonged to,
cheers, Jon

jon as its carved believe to be royal engineers field company
tafski

Forgive my ignorance, but what is it?

katie its the remains of a bunker set in the banks of the yser canal just below the famous advanced field dressing station where macrae wrote in flanders fields
tafski

I think I probably meant which Field Company of the RE

soz fella i will do some research
tafski

Not much of an input but just a wee message to say that is an interesting find indeed!

Lynz

Surely it would have been occupied by several field companies as they took over the sector and then moved out again?

John

I would agree, as the divisions changed so different Field Companies used the accommodation. It may not have been constructed by a Field Company: 177 Tunnelling Company dug a lot of the canal bank dugouts, or it could have been built by an RE Army Troops Company. Beneath Flanders Fields by Peter Barton et al is very good on this.
Thanks for the pic, tafski.
S

I thought these might be of interest. Believed to be built by 55th Divisions RE Field Company. In the Festubert area.

some more bunker shots from the banks of the yser canal just down from macraes bunker

same bunker from the inside

the back wall of the bunker and the remains of the corrugated iron roof

Nice pics Bruce. Cheers for posting them.

Dave

no probs dave glad ye liked em have some of first aid post at letenburg near kemmel may post if they an intrest but no doubt ye have been there
tafski

..can we see them...pleasssse
cheers, Jon

here you are then[attachment=67406:DSC_0028__Small_.JPG

Click to view attachmentthe pool of peace

Click to view attachment plummers hq ypres

thank you will

heres mine jon

Is this definately Plummer's HQ? I was told it wasn't.
Thanks



I have been taking my tours to this spot for a few years.
I see the crack is getting larger, in fact very recently!

funny that first time i have seen this due to the work being carried out you a full time guide in ypres
tafski

I'm not a full time guide, not even a guide, I do it as a hobby. I have been going to that spot for years. Its not uncommon as there is information boards there. I know a few people who have also been going there for years.

Thanks for the pics Tafski and Willy...do you know how deep into the bank the aid posts go?

cheers, Jon

the names not marc by any chance

Eh? No its not. Why do you ask?
Unless marc has become a female name, then your way off the 'marc'!

I've been there a few weeks ago, they only go into the hill a few meters maximum.
I don't know if there ever has been a cave in; my parents once talked to a local who claimed to have walked tunnels shortly after the war which were quite lenghty.

Roel

Thanks for that Roel. I imagine that they have been filled in for safety reasons, I can't see the point of them being only a few metres deep,

cheers, Jon

HI Jon
sorry for not replying earlier here is a picture from the inside looking out of the first aid post at letenburg believe this would be the size of the bunkers at yser as they are similar in size to macraes bunkers


cheers
bruce

[quote name='Yasman' date='Sep 1 2007, 08:49 PM' post='754656']
Is this definately Plummer's HQ? I was told it wasn't.



Well i believe the bunker was part of Gen H Plummers hq, if anyone knows different i stand corrected.

Now, I have to be very careful on this one, as I'm doing a lot of research around the area. I have spent the last 2 days trying to research these bunkers and have come up with this information.
This was a moated farm, same as Mousetrap, and was used primarily by the Artillery, also the infantry. Here at Lankhof Battery, the 36th Battery of Royal Field Artillery provided the barrage for the 23rd Div at Hill 60 in April 1917. The same battery also provided the initial bombardment prior to the Battle of Messines on the 7th June 1917.
At the end of 3rd Ypres (Nov 1917) the 153rd Company of the Royal Engineers started the shell-proof bunkers and then were finished by the Australian Engineers in January 1918.
The Germans then took the bunkers after Kaiserschlacht, forcing the Leicesters out (they came up to reinforce it). Many attempts were made to try and recapture them, but wasn't achieved until later on.
The demarcation stone over the road marks the German furthest advance on Ypres at this point.
At no stage can I find any ref. to this being Plummers HQ.
I know it was part of the build up to the battle of Messines, but can you please provide me with the info on this.
I'm not doing this to spite anyone, I just need the information for my research, so need some indication it was Plummer's HQ.
Just need for someone to point me in the right direction on this being his HQ.
Thank you.

How far from Ypres are all these finds. I can't believe me and Barrie were out there and missed the lot, ah well another day another time lol

Kevin

kev, Lankhof farm bunkers are about 1/2 ml from Ypres, The Yser bunkers are about the same, and the Letenberg bunkers about 5ml, so next time open your eyes lol

Hi all,
here is an interesting sketch of Essex Farm





Len

Hi again,
here are some pictures of the Lankhof position.







Hope they are of some interest.

Len

great pics len thanks for posting
tafski

Brilliant pictures

I thought i would like to share these bunker pictures i took in aug in and around ypres with you all






Zandvoorde, german command bunker








Bunkers visible along the railway embankment near Hollebeke






Bunker at the rear of Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery

more



Langemarck



Bunkers visible along the railway embankment near Hollebeke



The Lankhof

hoodge



Bunker seen from the road between St. Eloi and Oosttaverne

hill 60



Zandvoorde, german command bunker

Hi Hudsonswhistle,

Interesting pictures.
Is there any chance of listing where they are.
I recognise Hill 60, Langemarck and Hooge, but not the others.

Regards,

Martin

I have done it for you martin sorry about that