Walking the Somme: Behind the Lines, with Mat McLachlan

[@VSdrummer010]

This channel is CRIMINALLY UNDERAPPRECIATED. Absolutely gripping content, and Mat is a PHENOMENAL host.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Cheers!

[@javasrevenge7121]

Agreed

[@alefin4832]

Some the best WW1 info I've seen. There's no substitute for being there in person, while also being so professional and having such depth of knowledge & insight. This is proper archive-quality research.

[@nignisjdhffhg]

Strongly agree

[@dozz87]

Agreed - amazing channel

[@Bruce-1956]

Really interesting material, thanks Matt.

[@fredarcher7264]

Thank you so much for this fresh material and your excellent knowledge and presentation.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

So nice of you

[@javasrevenge7121]

You deserve much much more views, greetings from a dutchy living in Prague.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thank you!

[@deano6912]

Mat these presentations are first class! Thank-you

[@notsure1198]

Beautiful. Poignant. Ethereal. These are a few words that describe the human experience of immersing oneself in these documentaries. By far, the most informative, well constructed historical videos that give intimate insight into life in WW1 delivered in most respectful manner that preserves the legacy and honor these men and women deserve. Brilliant.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thank you Nicole!

[@Fr3thc]

these series you're doing are Great Mat! Keep it up, love from Sweden!

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thank you!

[@ricksoutter4119]

Thanks mate for Bringing back the history an the life of those men . Looking forward to going back next year. Cheers 🍻

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Cheers Rick.

[@hovanti]

I just discovered this series, and find these fascinating! Seeing modern video of historical sites, with old pictures added bring it all together so well. I very much want to visit some of these places someday.

[@jomason2867]

Your voice is so soothing and relaxing to me. I could listen to you talk all day x

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks!

[@derekstocker6661]

Mat, just found your channel and what a fabulous source of information it is, the fantastic information you tell us and also show to us and the atmosphere (especially this one today with the mist) you impart into these accounts is so great. The museum of the photographs is absolutely unique surely, and hopefully the signatures and details of soldiers written on the walls of the cave can be photographed and possibly made into a totally unique book about the area, and a lasting testament to what these brave people suffered for the good of all. Thank you, amazing channel.

[@Nickhilton90]

Great video, not enough content on youtube like this. fantastic job all round

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks Nick!

[@joshuagoering2048]

You deserve more views. Quality work.

[@ronreddish]

truly amazing. GB Australia

[@alefin4832]

This whole series from the WW1 towns & battlefields, is so involving. I takes me to the places my Grandfather and Great Uncles fought, and for one, died. Thank you.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks for the comments!

[@TonyBongo869]

This would have been the route my grandfather took back to blighty, after being wounded in the leg on September 26, 1916. 7th Battalion CEF

[@Adam-dv2je]

Those caves are absolutely incredible.

[@terrynixon2758]

Your videos are so well made, and very interesting. I don't understand your lack of views and subscribers

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks Terry!

[@johnjames2057]

Just looked up T O Urquhart of the 14th Bn AIF was from Camberwell and survived the war. He had a brother that was killed.

[@nignisjdhffhg]

I’m binge watching all of these episodes. Great presentation and delivery

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thank you!

[@pauld9561]

I can't help but to be mesmerized at the abundance of wealth in so few to have a chateaux.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Sure is an impressive building. Expensive to maintain these days.

[@tiger832]

You are a pleasure to listen to.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thank you!

[@markmorgan6179]

Very interesting to hear about behind the front line. Thank you

[@simonkerr1899]

Absolutely fascinating and very well put together. You have a new subscriber here 🇬🇧

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks Simon.

[@alexbigg7398]

13:25 H.F.C Baker from South Australia (Horace Frank Charles Baker) was K.I.A 22 August 1916.

[@midlandgeordie]

Great research and detail 👍

[@AdventureParis]

History buff here. Thank you for the series I love it!!

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

My pleasure!

[@davewilson9738]

Another amazing episode Mat, big channels are missing your style.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks Dave. 👍🏼

[@bday8242]

Another outstanding lecture, Professor

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thank you.

[@robbrike4619]

Very interesting video; I am happy to have learned two new sites certainly worth a visit, the photo-museum at Vignacourt and the caves of Naours. One of the first names that Mat showed us is the one of Charles FITZHENRY (9th Bn). He died of his wounds on 21 August 1918 and is buried at Mont Huon Military Cemetery, near the sea, at Mers-les-Bains. The half destroyed castle of Hénencourt is also a very impressive witness of its violent past!

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Cheers Rob.

[@robbrike4619]

@@MatMcLachlanHistory Cheers, Mat!

[@shafur3]

Thank you for sharing such a touching vidio.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Cheers. 👍🏼

[@arnoroorda3201]

Great video! Been to the Somme battle fields a couple of times going there again september 5th for a short week So where is that château with the 4000+ Photos? Vinycourt? Update found it! Its actualy Vignacourt definitely going to check it out 👍🏼

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks! The photos are in Vignacourt. It’s a farmhouse in town.

[@arnoroorda3201]

@@MatMcLachlanHistory yes got it thanks mate! 🇦🇺

[@jeffrigby189]

This is really excellent stuff.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks Jeff.

[@tysonator5433]

Great video, Can you please lustre the venues visted in this video ! ?

[@gerryrobins1346]

Wow! What an amazing story. Would love to go thru all those photos. After visiting VB July 2018, this brings back the reality and tragedy of a lost great uncle. One wonders if he ever made it to Naours. Thank you. Regards Phil R.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Gerry Robins thanks Gerry!

[@evanevans1843]

I second that Gerry. I had a great uncle who was around Vignacourt with the 8th Infantry Battalion a number of times.

[@matthewarcher3024]

Love your videos

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thank you!

[@matthewarcher3024]

@@MatMcLachlanHistory they really are awesome and very informative. Truly love them

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Cheers mate.

[@militarymad2840]

Excellent

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thank you!

[@tooyoungtobeold8756]

Talking of Chateau Generals - During the course of the war, 78 British and Dominion officers of the rank of Brigadier-General and above were killed or died during active service, while another 146 were wounded, gassed, or captured.

[@keithyork7691]

Great videos ....I noted your comment about the Generals in their headquarters in luxury. It is great to see a review of the history from the myths proposed by the 60's and 70's "historians" such as Manning Clarke. We often forget that 60 General Officers died from direct action.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Keith York thanks!

[@grumblesa10]

It was telling that nearly all Brit and US veterans at least almost NEVER had bad things to say about their platoon/company leadership. GO's sometimes a different story though

[@rhysthomas5811]

If you look at ww2 generals and later it is realized a general has to be near the front in a forward headquarters to see the lay of the land and see the terrain to know how to direct battles and was good for the men's morale . Some of the worst generals were the ones who stayed behind the lines and the best Rommel/ Patton /Freyberg were the ones who lived in forward headquarters and regularly visited the front lines.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

That’s true, but it depends on your definition of ‘near the front’. Bertangles Chateau, featured in this doco, is 10 miles from the front. That’s about as close as you’d want a Corps commander (and his hundreds of staff and support team) to get.

[@willhovell9019]

Interesting and some good insights into the overall picture. Pity with all the efforts , more attention isn't given to a better pronunciation of the place names . what about the Indian , Africa, Canadian ,/ Newfoundland and Carribbean troops of colour?

[@calkinsb0713]

I find that as I age I become more and more interested in the first world war

[@paddyfedora3661]

I was so intrigued at the names and wondering what happened to them I had to try and research the ones I could read by just watching. Love your work!

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks Paddy.

[@paddyfedora3661]

Name at 12:19, Charles Fitzhenry. Appears he actually enlisted under the name of "William Doyle". KIA August 21, 1918 vwma.org.au/explore/people/112566

[@markhume3503]

Good video again Matt although Monash was invested at his HQ the knighthood had been conferred earlier.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Mark Hume thanks Mark. Yep, I was aware of that but brevity didn’t allow a full explanation.

[@sblack48]

Why is the chateau all boarded up?

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Just shuttered for the winter.

[@louisavondart9178]

It's fair enough to plan in a chateau in the rear areas but if you only have runners for communication, you need to BE closer to the front to recieve those messages. By the time they travelled to the rear areas, they would be hours out of date. Once the planning is done , you don't need a huge staff and can be housed, with your personal staff, in a third line bunker. But it's hard to organise a ball for the officers in a bunker.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

I appreciate the comment, but none of what you have said is true.

[@BlueBaron3339]

That universal impulse to state that *I was here* on the walls of caves is unimaginably ancient. There are other caves in France with hand prints of people hundreds of centuries old. Long before writing. It has be the most basic of human behaviors.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Good point.

[@tandemcompound2]

G'day diggers, we too died at the Somme, Paschendaele, Albert and Amiens. The Canadian Expeditionary Force.

[@darrenwalsh6965]

Indeed - the Canadians played such an important role in the great war as part of the allied push for victory. Lest we forget.

[@tooyoungtobeold8756]

The British were there too.

[@chrispoleson6118]

Wow!! You must have got better

[@paddyfedora3661]

Name at 13:27: Horace Frank Charles Baker. KIA August 22, 1916, 19 YOA. vwma.org.au/explore/people/344887

[@paddyfedora3661]

Name upper right at 11:34: Fredrick Joseph Banyard. KIA June 20, 1918 vwma.org.au/explore/people/100186

[@Swaggerlot]

1916 was not a good time to be at the front. Lance Corporal BAKER, HORACE FRANK CHARLES Service Number 2330 Died 22/08/1916 10th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Lest we forget.

[@aBerlin1945]

Your headquarters is a chateau. Not bad.

[@kevcard1599]

Real facanating stuff. However your title is misleading i thought you were going to be on the somme battlefield not 30k behind the lines mmm

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Check out my ‘Walking the Battle of the Somme’ video to see the frontlines.

[@Jeffybonbon]

there is never a mention of men who survived there wounds who lives were changed my Grandfather was a WW1 veteran and he put his family through hell he had shell shock which made him angry and he had little time for anyone he never said a kind word to me as a kid he died 1971 a very bitter violent guy I know he suffered but so did his whole family

[@Bandhsilver]

Good to see a American instead in aus and Brits