They Called It Passchendaele

Posted on July 18, 2020 by

17 Comments

What does Passchendaele mean to us, more than a century later? In this episode we walk an iconic battlefield of the Great War, the ground where the final phase of the Third Battle of Ypres occurred. Our walk takes us through the valley where the final attack by the Canadians took place in October 1917, seeing the memorials at Crest Farm and in Passchendaele church.

Below are some books relating to the Battle of Passchendaele. Click on an image to be taken to the Amazon Page for that book. Buy the book via this link helps and supports The Old Front Line. Thank you!

Podcast Extras: Images of Passchendaele

All images from the National Archives of Canada.

Podcast Extras: The Battlefield Today

Category: Podcast Episode

17 Comments on “They Called It Passchendaele”

  1. To me Passchendaele is 31st July 1917, the day my Dads eldest brother was KIA at Pilkem Ridge serving with 1/5th KLR.

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    • My Great Uncle was also killed in action at Pilkem Ridge on the same day. He was in the Hertfordshire Regiment. His body was never found, but his name is on The Men in Gate.

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  2. Another great podcast very interesting. Look forward to listening to all of your podcasts . Brings back good memories when I visited the Passendale battlefield. Very moving adds to my knowledge of the the great war and would love to walk the battlefields at some point .looking forward to your next podcast .

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  3. Hi Paul the Manchester/East Lancashire connection to Passchendaele church is amazing. Seeing the Manchester coat of Arms in that beautiful stain glass window brought a tear to my eye .My relative from a Scottish regiment rests nearby. I remember a pub off Chester rd the Manchester regiment where veterans went its no longer there but I wish I could chat to them. Thanks for the podcast it’s 1st class.

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  4. Paul. Before she went to Canada with her father Princess Patricia and her mother came here to Elie in Fife for several (4) summer holidays and stayed in the Marine Hotel. She and her mother were very keen golfers and weather permitting they played a round in the morning and again in the afternoon, accompanied by a local professional AH Scott and one of their travelling companions They traveled to and from Elie by train.
    Lots in a local newspaper.

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  6. Excellent walk and talk…glad to see you mention the 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division…..keep up the good work!

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  7. “…an affecting battlefield…” An affecting podcast as usual. It makes you stop and think again, just like the time as a child when I saw my first war cemetery whilst on holiday. Years later when I drove my own son past a cemetery and stopped to walk around and take in the atmosphere, he refused to get out of the car. Some years later he bought me Martin Middlebrook’s book on the First Day of the Somme and I could not believe what I was reading and in response to the gift, I remarked on his refusal at that time. He said, ” Yes it’s all very upsetting but you were such a miserable old *%$# afterwards, it spoilt the holiday, and I dreaded every time we drove through France that you would want to stop at a cemetery.” Your podcasts transport us back in time most effectively. Thank you.

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  9. A great account of a battle described by a German General as “worse than Verdun, the greatest martyrdom of the great war”. Although I was aware of the story behind the “cover photo”, hearing in visceral detail Reginald Le Brunn’s account was especially moving .

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