...... and all for nothing!

Very much changed from when I first went there in 1981, barbed wire and craters full of debris. Still a must-visit site.

My great uncle died in Martinpuich and was never recovered. Sadly. I'm literally on my way there now to pay my respects and visit Thiepval, where he is remembered.

Excellent and facinating, thank you for saving this history, I was at Bourlin Wood today

My british great grandfather what injured at gallipoli and died at lemnos, is buried in the cemetary there. Any information / podcast for this support island that greece gave, the hospital etc available?

Just come across this podcast. Fascinating and great to hear so much detail about Henry Williamson, such a decent and erudite man who deserves so much more recognition for his work concerning the Great War. Really informative and helpful with my reading list! All the best.

Thanks Paul Lest we Forget

Yes I know what you mean about the changing season. I have been to Noel Chavasse grave a few times now. But by far the most lovely ( if I can used such a word) was last December on a cold a frosty morning. Lest we forget.

Thank you.

I went last year and discovered a family member in a cemetery in Vermelles. Can you tell me a bit more about the memorial plaques you mentioned? Thanks

Thank you for remembering them. I will always remember..,

I was there 4 days ago

Hi Paul, first a massive thank you to you and to Victoria for her poetry. I wanted to share with you if I may the subject of our remembrance at Ypres, it's the Great Grandfather of my wife Pte 2030 Richard Evans of 1/6th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters who was killed along with his brothers in arms as they returned from a trench detail at Sanctuary Wood on the night of 4th July 1915. It must have been a sizeable explosion as it killed 9 and injured 30 to 40. He lies in Bedford House Cemetery and when we visit him, we talk, we tell him about lives of today and in your livestream you talked of how old children of the fallen would have to be as we enter the 114th anniversary of the beginning of the war. It got me thinking of that last year when we visited his grave, because one day we would become too old or ill to visit and who would come stand by his grave and mourn his memory, I always read him a poem and this time I found the words of Thomas Hardy appropriate as Richard faces what is termed as the 2nd death, to fade from memory, I'd like to share it with you regards James and Tracy Search The To-be-forgotten By Thomas Hardy I I heard a small sad sound, And stood awhile among the tombs around: "Wherefore, old friends," said I, "are you distrest, Now, screened from life's unrest?" II -"O not at being here; But that our future second death is near; When, with the living, memory of us numbs, And blank oblivion comes! III "These, our sped ancestry, Lie here embraced by deeper death than we; Nor shape nor thought of theirs can you descry With keenest backward eye. IV "They count as quite forgot; They are as men who have existed not; Theirs is a loss past loss of fitful breath; It is the second death. V "We here, as yet, each day Are blest with dear recall; as yet, can say We hold in some soul loved continuance Of shape and voice and glance. VI "But what has been will be - First memory, then oblivion's swallowing sea; Like men foregone, shall we merge into those Whose story no one knows. VII "For which of us could hope To show in life that world-awakening scope Granted the few whose memory none lets die, But all men magnify? VIII "We were but Fortune's sport; Things true, things lovely, things of good report We neither shunned nor sought ... We see our bourne, And seeing it we mourn." "lest we forget"

Hi, thanks for that. I was there in Sept 1 2018, saw Last Post, tears streaming thinking of not only my Grandad, but the other poor guys. My Grandad was Royal Field Artillery, Driver; fought Flanders twice! Got gassed 2nd time and sent home, hence my dad; then sadly sent back to war KIA 1 Sept 1918 Richard George Green; he's buried at Achiet-le-Grand Communal Extension, Pas de Calais, France. My youngest Andrew George Green (Now a US Army Paratrooper, age 21 come Sept 15) was with me, we stood with Grandad 100 years to the day. My Dad Also Richard Green was called up 1 Sept 1939. A Desert Rat, captured 21 July 1942 sent to Italy then Dresden! Escaped Aril 45 got home June 16 1945. became a famous British Race Car mechanic at Aston Martin & MG, later ran Rover/BL service in western USA. My Oldest son Richard M Green is SSgt, US MARINE, Tank Comm, Retired. Me? I raced motorcycles! MY Mums family from Feltham, was in WWI as well, lost both her Uncles (one at the Gate you're at today! the other is in Scotland where he died of his wounds Nov 1918). Mums Grandad got home. I heard stories she would tell of the little towns nearby that had no children because all the men were sent and lost in the Great War. She grew up during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz... recently passed away at 91 in California where they came in 1956. God Save The King all those that fought. Almost forgot; My dad found his dads grave on the way home from LeMans 1954 driving the Aston Martin transporter on the old Caliais Road. Then took Mum there in the 1990s

Thank you both for a very interesting and informative look at the Menin Gate Memorial. Victoria’s poetry was lovely read and also the point she made about not being able to see the names at the top of the panels, also agree with maybe adding a marker of some kind when someone has a burial instead of removing the name. ….got to say tho seeing you both leaning over trying to read the msgs was hilarious 😂 nice T shirt by the way 👍

i am visiting here on Monday 26th:)

I think I have found the tank Fray Bentos. I have marked it on google maps. 50*52’57.7”N2*57’16.3”E

I really enjoy myself following your videos. But in this episode you failed to tell many things. There are the remnants of a mine explosion directly behind the monument. And when you study the spot on google earth you can see even the outlines of the trenches.

I remember when I was a child. On Remembrance Day they had a programme about “ woodbine Willie” I was very moved and have never forgotten him. And we very moved that at his funeral some veterans through woodbines on to his coffin. It moved me then it moves me now. He actually died in Liverpool my home town. Lest we forget.

Lest We Forget.

The war did not end in 1918, it ended until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles with Germany on 28 June 1919. IN 1918 the germans singed a armistice of 11 November 1918.

I met a father & son on the outskirts of Ypres. They were tracing the footsteps of WH Downing from his memoire "To The Last Ridge". It's rare this book is touched upon - at least in the UK. The prose, however, is exeptional; and an outstanding elitaph to his fallen comrades. The record of stoicism on those pages just leaves you in awe and I find myself thinking: when the most valiant in society have their lives cut short, does a country ever really recover from that loss.

This was like listening to a biography of my own experience with Charley's war. The first issue I came across was when Charlie was in hospital after the Somme. The Somme thus become etched in my consciousness, and in desperation to source and read the back issues, I wrote to Joe Colquhoun. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to acquire those previous issues, however, I did get a beautifully handwritten letter from Joe, which I've kept all these years.

Apparently, the series was never repeated on BBC. If true, that's odd: maybe the BBC accepted that the series was deeply politicised and profoundly misleading.

His 15 book "A chronicle of ancient sunlight" was superb

Such a Sombre place 😢

media.tenor.com/u0RvURguLfUAAAAM/%C3%A1ld%C3%A1s-cross.gif

A song about the Sonne. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZDNhmN7oM2fd7Msi=RPUuMnvcUNFrBeew&t=10

tthe most sincere honor of my life perhaps was being the 1st and only person that 2 ww2 veterans told me their storied experiences i humbley listened to every word and i promised them that as long as i drew breath on this earth their deeds and sacrifices would not die we must never forget the ww1 and ww2 generations lest we be doomed to repeat them

to me the standard bearer of all war documentaries is the thames series "world at war"

My grandfather had his left arm 'shreaded by shrapnel', in the Autumn/winter of 1917. He was in the West Yorkshire regiment...

Just watched game of ghosts. Great watch.

Thank you for this great episode. I've just read Jon Cooksey's book on the Barnsley Pals - I've been helping a friend work out his family tree, and discovered that one of his great great uncles was in the 2nd Barnsley Pals - George Henry Hawcroft. George survived and came home to his wife and children, though not unscathed. Your episode has helped me to place where the Pals were during the attack on Serre, and I'll forward the details to my friend.

Always enjoyed ww1 history since being a very young many years ago watching that brilliant documentary series the great war. I find your very informative and easy to follow with fantastic descriptions. But I've been looking for information regarding the clearing up process after the wars end eg body retrevel who did it materials tanks guns ect who dit that how long did it take ect . Can't seem to find anything in detail about the matter.

Paul,did you ever see the play. “ Observe the sons of Ulster marching to the Somme”

Was brought up right next to lord derbys estate in Liverpool/knowsley. Well in between the estates of the Stanley and derby families. As oblivious to the history in regards to the pals battalions until my interest in the Great War grew. Used to go pouching on the grounds when I was a kid. Was reading that some of the pals trained on the estate before departing to other depos around the country. Sort of struck home how close I was to a piece of history so close to my home. And from there my interest in the Great War grew. Recently come across this channel paul and it’s amazing, thank you the time and effort. I listen you and the western front association lectures on a daily basis. So thank you.

A podcast that made me cry and laugh at the same time. Great stuff Paul.Lest we forget.

Pronounced -Hawge not Hoog

Paul have visited the Zulu war fields ( Isandlwana,Rorkes drift,Holbane,,Ulundi, etc.) and found many Martini Henry cartridge cases,and would be interested to know what was the last year these would have been used in battle.

Goodness I remember the old St Paul’s eye hospital. What a terrible shame his name is lost to us as a city. Thank you Paul. Lest we forget.

I never walk passed the unknowns. I stop say a word leave a poppy or a flag. Just for the reason that no one knows them. Lest we forget.

And now our government is hell bent on world war three. Who will remember them that are going to die in nuclear war. It’s all madness from incompetent politicians who can speak only in sound-bites.

I remember reading eons ago of an account of a British general moments before plunging the detonator down stating; "Gentlemen, while we may not make history today we will certainly be making geography!" (or words to that effect..)

I know it’s a few years late but I really enjoyed this one. I so love Sam’s enthusiasem.

Congratulations on the200th podcast keep up the good work 👏👏thanks

Great informative piece.

Respect to my Greatgrandfather , Pvt Henry Baines , 8th Batt.York’s + Lancs Reg. , From Sheffield , who went ‘over the top’ , at ‘The Nab’ , 1st July 1916 . He was one of the 68 survivors off the Batt. At evening roll call . Received GSW. Back , 2 July 1916. Recovered, returned to duty , retrained as a ‘Bomber’ , served throughout rest of war , wounded again in leg , returned to duty , fought at 3rd Battle of Ypres , where awarded Military Medal , then transferred to Italian front at end of 1917, served there until end of war in Nov 1918 . Returned to England , and demobbed , Feb 1919 , in Pontefract . Fun fact = His daughter , my Grandmother was born just after 7am , 1st July1916 !

People should never forget just brutal and horrific this war was and its far reaching implications with the rise of Hitler.

Do you know how common officers using rifles was? I read accounts of officers of the Connaught Rangers using rifle and bayonet during an attack at gallipoli. Was it common practice?

Some strong lads. Them old newfoundland boys had been raised fighters. My grandfather and grandmother had been raised around them its a hard like