After a few years of excavations in Flanders Fields in Belgium, where a proposed housing estate is to be built, they have found over 170 WW1 British & German soldiers buried, and thousands of artefacts, many personal, such as a Teddy Bear and items from home.
As an ex soldier, I am so pleased and proud of the men and women that have pain stakingly excavated this site sympathetically, and provided these men with a propoer grave and full Military Honours after 100 years in the cold!
RIP
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Last edited by Gil Boyd; 07-13-2018 at 04:17 AM.
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
John,
Just 170 of the missing 250,000 still out there sadly, but nevertheless a great result, and good start.
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
Jim,
They know where many are, and have for many years stopped the main motorway continuing by the French Government until they are all exhumed. The Belgium Government have always been sympathetic to these planning consents especially where they know many men are still buried. Some were quick and mass graves because the line was won back and fought for so many times and there was nothing that could be done in the barages that fell to move the dead to the rear and identified. Sadly, it was that very same barage that buried them all from view and that includes the Germans.
I know only too well what fractions of that very same French Government did without consultation with Pegasus Bridge..............another day, another war, but nevertheless, THEY sometimes forget the cost to the Commonwealth in so many young lives in both wars in the main on their behalf in recovering their continent. Pegasus Bridge would have been on the scrap heap had our eagle eyed Paratroopers not spotted what they were doing in 1993.
In the end the French backed down and did not cut it up for scrap and sold the bridge to the British Government for 1 Franc and it now sits in its entirety in the Pegasus museum grounds on the opposie bank of the new bridge which was replaced in 1994.
Last edited by Gil Boyd; 07-15-2018 at 02:46 PM.
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
Well, I own my name to the older brother of my Grandpa, who died on the Piave on July 20 1918 during a counterattack to regain some positions after the big battle in June.
His death was witnessed by his best friend, who was commanding another platoon in the same company. When he came back to recover his body, he found a big crater and nothing from my Uncle.
My Grandpa, at that time 18 and serving too, has always loved me in a special manner because of the name I carried.
Unfortunately I'll not be here next week, but I'll make good as soon as I'll be back and go to the place he fell. I have always felt that I had some kind of obligation towards that poor guy. All my life...
It sounds and feels so strange, but writing this I got tears in my eyes.
I hope his sacrifice has been for something.
RIP to all soldiers of any age.
Ovidio,
You are justly proud of his sacrifice and service, as he made a difference no matter how big or small to the ending of that war.
Family First and Always!
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
Next year when you look at Google earth for hill 80 only a housing project will show. The men are all gone, the hill is forever covered...just memories. Glad I had a chance to see it before it went, probably the most comprehensive tour in 100 years. There's one hook quillon that can't be argued for authenticity...finally guaranteed real.