Military History Tours          On Tour - Delville Wood Centenary 15 July 2016

With the sad news of the Islamic daesch attack in Nice overnight, we set out for The Australian National Memorial outside Villiers Bretonneux. Since last year, the car park has been moved from the VB side of the site to the far side of the site. This has been caused by the construction/destruction work going on around the site. We all climbed the tower and enjoyed the view. The foundations for the new building behind the tower appeared to be finished, however, no work was going on a weekday Friday. Perhaps the workers decided to make it a long weekend by combining with Bastille Day.

Next stop was at the Adelaide cemetery. Ernie read out the Eulogy for the Unknown Soldier which Paul Keating delivered on 11 November 1993 on the interment of the Unknown Soldier at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

John spoke at the grave of his great uncle Frank OÆGrady.

At Albert we visited the museum in the tunnels under then cathedral.

At Thiepval, we visited the Information Centre, the new Museum and the Memorial. The French and British flags were at half mast because of Nice. The memorial was covered with wreaths and with flowers from the 1st July ceremonies at the site.

At Beaumont Hamel, we enjoyed our packaged lunches before visiting the New Foundland Information Centre, climbed the Caribou mound and walked the track around the site.

Caribou at Beaumont-Hamel

This means "Keep Out!"

Tomorrow we head north across the border.