Trench Chat: Hawthorn Mine Crater

Join us on the Somme battlefields as we explore the remarkable story of Hawthorn Ridge Crater, one of the most iconic and historically significant sites of the First World War. In this episode of The Old Front Line, we are joined by Terry Berry and Rick Smith of the Hawthorn Ridge Crater Association, the dedicated team working to preserve, research and interpret this extraordinary piece of the battlefield.

The conversation looks back at the dramatic events of 1 July 1916, when the massive mine beneath the German positions at Hawthorn Ridge was detonated in the opening moments of the Battle of the Somme. The resulting crater remains one of the most recognisable features of the battlefield, but its history extends far beyond that single moment.

Terry and Rick explain how they became custodians of the site, the work involved in protecting it for future generations and the importance of building relationships with the local French population. We discuss what archaeological investigation and historical research have revealed about the crater and the surrounding battlefield, including fascinating new discoveries emerging from research into German military archives. These findings are helping to shed fresh light on the German experience of the battle and the events surrounding the mine explosion.

We also look ahead to the future of the project, including ambitious plans for a new Study Centre in Beaumont-Hamel, which will provide an important resource for researchers, battlefield visitors and anyone interested in understanding the history of the Somme.

You can join the Association here: Hawthorn Ridge Crater Association.

Main Image: Hawthorn Crater taken in 2016 (Old Front Line archives)

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