Thiepval memorial, France

[stunsworth]

Tommorow marks the 60th anniversary of the start of the battle of the Somme. By the time it ended in November there were over 400,000 British casualties, almost 200,000 French ones and over 600,000 German ones.

This memorial to those whose bodies were never found is at Thiepval.

[andybarton]

Lest we forget, Steve.

I have a Great Uncle on the Thiepval Memorial. The new visitors' centre is a very worthwhile addition to the memorial.

If there is anyone here who wants to read a novel which really brings home life in the trenches 90 years ago, I can commend Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...words=birdsong

And if anyone wants the address of a British couple who run a fine B&B on the Front Line, and know more about The Great War than anyone I have ever met, I will gladly pass on their details.

[stunsworth]

Andy, I went to the visitor's centre before walking up to the memorial.

Could you drop me a line with the b&b couple's details? I'm bound to be back in Northern France over the next year or so.

Thanks

[graeme_clarke]

Steve - I was there 6 years ago tracking my great uncles who were both killed on the Somme - 2 years apart! Its a very emotive experience seeing a family name on the column. On a glorious July day, strangely there were no birds singing. I swear, if there are ghosts....

Graeme