14-18 Somme Chambres d'Hôtes

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France
Albert
14-18 Somme Chambres d'Hôtes

B&B in Beaucourt-sur-l'Ancre in the middle of the Somme Battlefields, situated in the beautiful Ancre Valley. Three course dinner service (by request).

www.14-18sommechambres.com
www.14-18sommetours.com
[email protected]

22/08/2026

Dunkirk;

In the late 10th century a fishing village under the counts of France, now grown to the third harbour in France and a subprefecture of fhe Nord department.

While it is known to most people as a ferry-port to cross The Channel, it's modern centre with it's 'places' -squares-.

In history Dunkirk has etched its place with names like the famous bukaneer pirate Jean Bart in the 17th century, and more recently 'Operation Dynamo' in 1940.

The latter concerned the evacuation of British and French troops from the harbour and beaches of Dunkirk. Around 330.000 troops were transported ovet The Channel in a matter of days, but almost totally destroying the city under the German Blitzkrieg.

Dunkirk is about a 2 hours drive from our B&B, and certainly worth visiting coming into our area, or departing, while underway to the ferries or channel-tunnel.

16/08/2026

Somewhere on the Somme, a wopping great hole appearing...

07/08/2026

The Grimsby chums (10th Lincolnshire Battalion) attacked the Lochnagar Crater at La Boisselle on the Somme, 1 July 1916. A small party gained a foothold into the German 3rd line of their front-line system... not being reinforced to consolidate, they had to give up their gains later in the day.

Many Grimsby men were killed and wounded. In total 1.500 men from Grimsby and Cleethorpes would fall during the Great War.

This map of the city of Grimsby, by the Grimsby Telegraph newspaper, indicates, with poppies the addresses of their fallen....

Quite sobering...
There were many many communities in the United Kingdom that had the same horrific history....

05/08/2026

Finally some rain, and beautifull skies

30/07/2026

Last night....

27/07/2026

Where it happened...

26/07/2026

One of many reasons to check out our B&B!!

15/07/2026

Today marks the 110th anniversay of the Battle of Delville Wood.

On the morning of 15 July the South African Brigade (3.153 men, of the 9th Scottish Division; 'the Bocks and the Jocks') entered the Wood from the west.

The wood was in effect a salient in the German lines, with them able to fire into it from three sides. After six days 143 South Africans managed to exit the wood (780 were present for roll call later), only for the next unit to take its place in the cauldron; the Suffolks and Berks of 3rd Division.

Over the course of the next weeks artillery saturated the wood with high explosive, shrapnel and gas, and it was effectively reduced to a mass of smoking roots and stumps in which soldiers of both sides were trying to survive.

The wood finally fell to the Allies, when the 14th Light Division managed to push the Germans out of the remains of the wood on the northeast corner, and consolidate the position.

Today the wood is the only one, of those in the so-called 'horseshoe' of woods open to the public. The rides in the wood in the same positions as the pre-1914 bridlepaths.
It is now the spot of remembrance of the sacrifice of the South Africans in the First- and Second World Wars. A splendid memorial to this nation as well as a museum to their efforts grace the grounds.

The South African unknown soldier and the first original South African to pass away in the conflict lying side by side in the museum's inner court.

The Oak trees planted as sentinels next to the lane leading up to the Memorial are Oak trees which are descendants of the first one brought into South Africa, by Dutch settlers in the 17th century.

Of the original wood only one Hornbeam tree remains, which is now a memorial as well...

14/07/2026

Echec...

14/07/2026

Developed by Newfoundland Cluny MacPherson, the 'Hypo Hood' was to withstand gas after the first use of it in April 1915 at Ypres.

Soaked in chemicals, tucked into the uniform, it was supposed to protect the wearer from chlorine gas.

The mica eye frame quickly dampened up, making visibillity vitually nil. The hood was very unsufficient protecting the wearer from the greenish-yellow clouds of gas....

I have been given this copy by Sapper Shand... which is going to be very usefull on my tours.

Adresse

Rue D'Hamel 5
Albert
80300

Site Web

http://14-18sommechambres.com/

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