Somme Walks: Hawthorn Ridge to the Sunken Lane

Posted on May 20, 2023 by

28 Comments

In another episode recorded on the battlefields, we walk the crest of the Hawthorn Ridge near Beaumont-Hamel on the Somme, visiting Hawthorn No 1 Cemetery, across to the Hawthorn Mine Crater, and down to the famous Sunken Lane and Beaumont-Hamel British Cemetery.

The Hawthorn Ridge Crater Association: Hawthorn Ridge Crater Website.

RECOMMENDED READING:

BATTLEFIELD MAP:

PODCAST EXTRAS:

Category: Podcast Episode, Somme, WW1 Cemeteries, WW1 History

28 Comments on “Somme Walks: Hawthorn Ridge to the Sunken Lane”

  1. Thanks Paul, that brings back so many memories of my visit last October. Interestingly, while we were taking photos close to the spot where Mallins had filmed the mine going up, a curious French family pulled up and asked us what we were photographing. They weren’t from that particular part of France and had no idea about the mine crater, or much about the battle to be honest. We showed them a YouTube video of the mine exploding and they were like “wow!”. They parked up and went and had a look at the crater. It did make me wonder about how, as a nation, the French view the British battlefields compared with the local people who live on or around the old front line. Do many French people from elsewhere in France visit the Somme?

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    • Hi,
      I would have thought that French visitors to the Somme would mainly visit the southern end of the battlefield because that is where they fought and their Great War museum is located in Peronne, also in the southern end of the battlefield.
      Stuart.

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  4. As ever, another great podcast which was the perfect reminder of my own walk round there in early February. I started at Sheffield Memorial Park, then down the Redan Ridge where I picked up the sunken road. As you say history reaches out and almost touches you here. As a Lancastrian I find it a very profound place.After that, the crater, which I last visited with Gary on a anniversary tourc in 2019. As far as I recall there was no Crater Association then. After this I walked through Beaumont Hamel, then on the Beacourt, where I paid my respects to the RN Division memorial (I am ex RN myself). I stayed on the east bank of the Ancre and eventually passed Ulster Tower, unfortunately the tearoom was closed. At the Theipval museum, Vincent was his usual charming self and I had the only refreshment of the day, a coke and a kitkat (the coffee machine was broken!). After this a walk through Authuille, then to a fork in the round where there was a funny wayside calvary, I took the rough track back in to Albert. By this time it was dusk and the atmosphere very evocative. I had your Walking the Somme book with me at all times, so cheers Paul!

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      • It was Paul. I did quite a lot of walking that week. Rue Ernst Junger in Guillemont back to Albert and Mailly Wood cemetery back to Albert. I was dropped off by Jon Haskell of Blighty Tours (who I think you know). I also walked from my hotel (De La Paix) in Albert to the Butte de Warlancourt and back. Very footsore at the end!

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      • It was Paul. I did quite a lot of walking that week. Rue Ernst Junger in Guillemont back to Albert and Mailly Wood cemetery back to Albert. I was dropped off by Jon Haskell of Blighty Tours (who I think you know). I also walked from my hotel (De La Paix) in Albert to the Butte de Warlancourt and back. Very footsore at the end! Also the anniversary tour with Gary was 2016 and not 2019 as I stated previously.

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  5. Hi Paul,
    When I’m not there, or we as the Hawthorn Ridge Crater Association, I often think of the area, so lovely to have this reminder.
    Just a small point, the tunnel into the Sunken Lane was an extension of a sap, Sap 7, from the British front line near White City. This extended tunnel/trench was actually dug by the divisional pioneer Battalion, the 2nd Monmouthshire, on the evening previous to the 1st July. I believe the original sap was dug by 252 TC.
    Thanks again for your mention and support of HRCA.
    Rick

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  6. Another great podcast! I really enjoy your on-site podcast. Such great stories to go along with your descriptions of the landscape.

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  7. FRom the early 90’s i used to stay at Les Galets so this walk is very familiar. YOur presentation bought back many good memories. Me and a friend found a dugout because my friend fell into it in front of the sunken lane, ground opened up and down he went, not hurt, but had a picture done by Mike Renshaw for his BGE Redan ridge. Enjoyed this episode alot.

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  8. The sight of the mine going up must have been one of the last things my great grandfather saw before going over the top.Sadly he is still out on the battlefield and his name etched into the Thiepval memorial.
    Look forward to the podcasts great work Paul.

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      • All I know really he was in the area with the 1st RDF’s so I can only guess he saw it or definitely heard it.
        He was sent out in 1915 with the 2nd RDF’s and was wounded my grandmother remembered him in hospital blue.A neighbour who was a nurse tended his wounds.
        I have no photos of him sadly.

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  9. Hi Paul I am reading Colin Campbell’s book on 51st Highland division in the Great War and 19 year old 2nd Lieutenant Norman Collins from 1/6th Seaforths was in charge of a burial party who had to Bury the dead from Beaumont in November as well as the men who fell on the 1st of July. How those men ever got over those scenes god only knows. Another great podcast Paul

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  10. Good to listen to this episode again after recently Walking The Somme with Tim Thurlow and Mark Allen. Visiting the Sunken Lane was a real highlight. I just need to watch Mallins film again.

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  11. Hi Paul,

    Loving the Podcast’s and the YouTube content, Me & my wife have been visiting the Western front areas for the last 3 years mainly due to our Family History Research.

    We have now become regular visitor’s to the Somme Battlefield area we have been 3 times in 3 years and we are returning in weeks time for a Xmas visit experience staying at Haig’s Somme Offensive HQ – Chateau Valvion.

    Your podcast has given us many ideas of places to visit and we have researched a lot of the individual graves we are going to visit in the cemeteries this time and pay our respects to the fallen.

    I’ve even dipped my toe into producing some of our very own videos on You Tube starting a dedicated channel for the Western Front of the Great War.

    In 2025 we will be making 2 visits so far the Somme in June & Belgium (Ypres) then down via Reims to Verdun which we are really looking forward to seeing, and how the French memorials and battlefields compare, Keep up the great work been a fan for many years and will continue to get inspiration from your work.

    All the Best & Merry Christmas

    Simon & Heidi.

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      • Hi Paul,

        Here is the link for our Channel Tommy Atkins Front Line 14 -18

        @TommyAtkinsFrontLine14-18

        Still quite New to this video vlogging but have found so many of the Channels you have recommended helpful big fans of JD & History in your Hand ,Stories of the Great War ,Vlogging through History etc these inspired me to visit certain areas of the Great War and other sites of Historical importance WW2 etc.

        Thank you for your reply .

        Hope to get some more good footage and pictures on this Christmas visit as I use my Drone, Action camera and phone to capture the feel of the Battlefields and cemeteries.

        Merry Christmas to you and all the other subscribers to your site.

        Simon & Heidi

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