Old Front Line
WW1 Podcast with Paul Reed
Return to the Somme
As the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme approaches, we walk part of the battlefield across the iconic Mash Valley, visit Ovillers Military Cemetery and walk through Ovillers village to the far end of the valley facing the Pozières Ridge.
Alf Razzell discusses the burial of the dead at Ovillers: A Game of Ghosts.
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BATTLEFIELD MAP:
Ovillers Military Cemetery:
12 Comments on “Return to the Somme”
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Old Front Line 
A very nice episode, listening together with the Google Map in my lap. I will visit this area now on Tuesday, where I will spend two days in the area, to visit the Swedish born soldiers buried in different cemeteries. 🙏 Thank you, Paul.
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Thanks, Jocke. Have a great trip!
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Hi Paul
Another fantastic episode, which brought back an evocative memory walking in high summer four years ago following the route in your ‘Walking The Somme’. Well done as ever! Mike
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Thank you, Mike!
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Hi Paul, If you want to read more re Lauder’s ‘shot by his own men’ myth have a look at this book ‘Tales from the Western Front’ by Ed Dixon published by Extremis Publishing. It’s available from Amazon. You may notice my avatar is the 1/8th A&SH memorial.
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I’ll have to search that one out, thanks.
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An excellent episode, there’s just something about the Somme that resonates with people especially if you listen to the veterans talking about their experiences of the first day, may they all rest in peace.
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Absolutely, something that will always draw us back.
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Nice one…I see in your aerial shot of Ovillers Cemetery on the RHS about half way done a number of gaps in the rows……are these the original burials?
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Yes that’s it, Niall. Well spotted.
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Thanks for a great episode Paul. Always sad to hear about Lt Col Sandy’s. The hotel where he ended his life, the Cavendish, was demolished in the 60s, although a new hotel was built on the same site.
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Thanks, Stephen.
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