Fromelles

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Word-of-Day-Challenge-Wood

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an area of land, smaller than a forest,
that is covered with growing trees.
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Pheasant Wood, at Fromelles in France is the site

of several mass graves…

 

…of Australian and Allied soldiers from World War I.

MGW’s uncle was buried in one of those graves

and his remains only identified just before

my 2017 visit.

Don Carlin dfcphotography.net

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FOWChallenge-Article

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article

a piece of writing included with others
in a newspaper, magazine,
or other publication.
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Nearly 5 years ago this article

appeared in the Geelong Advertiser.

Justin Breguet (19) was related to MGW’s

Maternal Grandmother who was also a Breguet.

Justin’s remains are now buried in the

Fromelles Military Cemetery

along with my other soldiers who

were also buried in the

Fromelles Mass Graves

at Pheasant Wood.

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Fandango’s One Word Challenge:…Article

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Word-of-Day-Challenge-Emotional

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emotional

relating to a person’s emotions.

 

Although my only connection to

this cemetery is via MGW’s cousin…

Fromelles Military Cemetery

…it did not matter if it was Fromelles Cemetery

or any other Western Front War Cemetery,

it was impossible not to become

a little emotional when thinking of all

the dead, missing, injured and the age

of those lying in these graves.

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Word of the Day Challenge:  Emotional

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Word-of-Day-Challenge-Verdant

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Canola crops… 

all sport a verdant green undergrowth.


One of the shrubs in our garden.

On a more sombre note, on the far side of this field,

just before Pheasant Woods

was the site of mass grave in which

nearly 200 Australian soldiers were buried

after the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916. 

It was indeed difficult to believe that

these Bullecourt fields were the sight of…

some bloody battles during World War I. 

If my memory serves me well it is this field

where Australian/allied soldiers were ordered to advance

from the right, the lower ground,

to the German Army on the left, the higher ground. 

They were ordered to walk ‘bolt up right’

into the might of the German military,

and not take any precautions for their own safety. 

It was not until many waves of soldiers had been killed

that the British Officers said it would be okay for

soldiers to advance and try to protect their own lives as well. 

It still brings tears to my eyes when I look at these scenes

and think about what happened there so long ago.

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Word of the Day Challenge: Verdant

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Wordless Wednesday18_0418

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As we approach ANZAC Day I thought of some

of the memorials and cemeteries visited last year. 

Toronto Avenue Cemetery.

Prowse Point Cemetery, Belgium

A cemetery dedicated to the soldiers

of the German Army, near Bullecourt.

An American Cemetery…

also in the Bullecourt region.

 

 

 Polygon Woods Cemetery.

Merricourt Cemetery.

 

 

 Fromelles Military  Cemetery.

Polygon Woods Cemetery.

Australian Memorial Villers Bretonneux.

Lest We Forget.

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Hope you enjoyed. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~