Like yesterday the day is cool and overcast, sometimes drizzling. The weather is very fitting for our touring the southern battlefields of the Somme. We all felt quite emotional as we walked around the War Memorial Cemeteries of Beacon, Villers-Bretonineux, le Hamel, Pozieres, Thiepval and Delville Wood.
In 1968 DH had been selected by the Australian Army to attend the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Armistice Treaty in Villiers-Bretonneux. This visit involved an armed guard for General De Gaulle in Paris, then the Dawn Service and a Civic breakfast put on by the local Mayor of Villiers-Bretonineux. During this breakfast local school children sang Waltz Sing Matilda obviously in a French accent. He said not any of the soldiers had a dry eye.
The last cemetery at Delville Wood was for the South Africans who had also sacrificed their lives here. A very emotional and tiring day. We were glad to return back to our very own WW1 museum at Chavasse Farm.
Beacon War Cemetery
AIF 3rd Division Memorial
Villers-Bretonneux Australian War Memorial.
Enterance to Villers-Bretenneux
View from tower
My grandfather, Alexander McKissock, has his name on a wall here. He was blown to bits as he advanced across no man's land.
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