Next week my family and I will be in Poelcapelle to remember my great-uncle John Thomas Hopkins, 2nd R M Bn., R N Divn, on the 90th anniversary of his death on 26th October 1917 (and yes, we are staying at Varlet Farm!).
There is no known grave for my GU but Kyle Tallett has already been very helpful in telling me that quite a number of unknown marines are buried in Poelcapelle Cemetery, plus a couple in Tyne Cot. My GU's name is on the first panel at Tyne Cot..
What I don't know is whether there is any specific memorial for the RND anywhere in this area? I've seen them for quite a lot of different regiments on previous visits but haven't seen any reference to one for the Marines. If anyone knows, I would be very grateful as we would like to visit and pay our respects there if there is one.
Thanks in anticipation for any information!

Rosie55
I found no reference to any RND or Royal Marines memorial in 'Before Endeavours Fade' by Rose M. Coombs, but that is not to say one does not exist. Other Forum members may know better.
Daggers

Hi Rosie

There is a RND Memorial in France at Beaucourt.

Here is a link to a website showing the memorial, the reference is towards the bottom of the page.

Link to RND Memorial

kind regards

John

Rosie and John
Thanks to yours, John, I have found the memorial on p.85 of the book, indexed only under Beaucourt. I have amended my copy. There is a good photo of the obelisk.
Directions given in the book: [from the D163, which passes several British cemeteries, and fine views over the 1916 battlefield]. In Beaucourt rejoin the D50. A right turn into the village leads in 300 metres to the memorial to the 63rd Royal Naval Division on the left-hand side of the road.
Hope this helps more than my previous effort!
Daggers

Thank you very much to one and all for this information. If time permits we will try to get down this way and otherwise, may fit it in on a French trip sometime in the future.

What a helpful lot you are.

Rosie

From 26 October 2007 there will be an RND memorial plaque at Varlet Farm. It looks as though you will be there for the unveiling ceremony on that day.

What wonderful news, thank you so much. For those who are not familiar, Varlet Farm is the site of the action that day and the owner has, I gather, become something of an authority on what happened there. I knew that the local Belgian authorities have been mounting a series of special exhiibitions this year, have employed an archivist at Zonnebeke who has co-written a book about the men who died during the battle and marking the anniversary in various ways. I had booked our stay at Varlet Farm well over a year ago, so this really has put the icing on the cake for me. There is obviously going to be a great effort that day to pay due honour to my great-uncle and his colleagues.
If no-one else does so, I will post a photograph when I come back.
I am so thrilled that we will be in the right place at the right time as it sounds as though this could be very moving.

Rosie - there'll be a few Pals staying there toward the end of next week, including us - so look forward to meeting you...

Alan

Thank you, Alan.

Sounds as though this is going to be a very special day!

For anyone else who is interested, I have now been told by Captain Page of the Naval Historical Branch that "There are at least three RND Memorials: the main one is on Horse Guards Parade, and was rededicated there in 2003; another is at the village of Beaucourt , on the Somme in France ; also there is a memorial at Gavrelle, near Arras in France , put up in the last fifteen years."

He tells me that he put up the display at Varlet Farm for the anniversary and will also be at Varlet Farm next week!

Many thanks as ever to you all.

Rosie