Old Front Line
WW1 Podcast with Paul Reed
Questions and Answers Episode 31
Our listeners have a few intriguing questions: Is there still live ordnance in the moat at the Ypres Ramparts? What exactly was the role of Inland Waterways Transport during the First World War? How would the French portrayal of the Last Hundred Days differ from the traditional British narrative? And finally, if you could take any piece of modern military technology back to the Great War, what would it be, and why?
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10 Comments on “Questions and Answers Episode 31”
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Hey Paul. Again interesting questions indeed.
Regarding ordonnance in the ‘vesten’ of Ieper: early 2022 some 500m was dredged, both sides of the menin gate. 12000m³ sludge was recovered and only 30 projectiles were found, as well as 2 british and one german helmet, which was suprisingly little, as it was the first clearing since the great war. Also one stone canonball dating from 1600 was found.
800 m still needs to be cleared, towards the lille gate.
It must be safe, as each year the swimming of the triatlon of Ieper happens in these waters.
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Hey Paul. Again interesting questions indeed.
Regarding ordonnance in the ‘vesten’ of Ieper: early 2022 some 500m was dredged, both sides of the menin gate. 12000m³ sludge was recovered and only 30 projectiles were found, as well as 2 british and one german helmet, which was suprisingly little, as it was the first clearing since the great war. Also one stone canonball dating from 1600 was found.
800 m still needs to be cleared, towards the lille gate.
It must be safe, as each year the swimming of the triatlon of Ieper happens in these waters.
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Thanks – that’s really interesting and also surprising in many ways! But good it’s safe for public use!
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Thanks Paul for some interesting questions and answers, especially the one on the French and the 100 Days. Are there any books (in English) about this period that you can recommend?
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Not on just the French side unfortunately. A few individual battle accounts but not one main account to my knowledge?
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Thanks Paul, I thought as much. A few weeks ago I was at WFA meeting at Lancaster and one of the prizes in the raffle was Paul Greenwood’s book on the 2nd Battle of the Marne. Unfortunately I didn’t win but having seen the book I googled some more and this led me to Michael Nieberg’s book on the same battle. While just outside the 100 Days, I think that these would be as good a place as any to start. I do have Hubert Essame’s “Battle for Europe”, as yet unread, so I should really get cracking on that first!
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Hi Paul – thanks for a very interesting podcast, particularly regarding the IWT. You mentioned Colonel Holland who led the unit from its conception until his death in 1917. Before WW1 he was Marine Superintendent at Holyhead and is buried here alongside his wife. We told his story and that of his association with the IWT on the museum’s blog – https://holyheadstoriesofaport.com/2021/01/27/brigadier-general-gerald-edward-holland-cb-cmg-cie-dso-royal-engineers-1860-1917/
Barry Hillier, Trustee, Holyhead Maritime Museum
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Thanks so much for this Barry – great to have that additional information on him!
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Regarding the last question, if I could take one piece of kit back to the Great War it would be personal comms equipment, IMHO the lack of instantaneous comms was often one of the main reasons for great loss of life during battles.
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Good choice, Iain!
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