Tyne Cot Cemetary and brooding soldier monument

[Bagge]

Tyne Cot Cemetary, Here you get some perspective on the horrors that was the result of the trench war.

German military cemetary, something different then the Tyne Cot cemetary with it's white stones
Makes you humble when you see all these graves and so many of them without names

Hill 60
Hard to see now how it looked, but you can see remains of trenches and concrete bunkers all over the area

 

[Bagge]

"The Brooding soldier" Monument over Canadian soldiers

 

[Bagge]

Some pics from the museum in Paschendaele

Trenchrifle with periscope

Bram is trying on a german helmet, think it's a little to big for him :hmmm

Hope you found something interesting :coolio

//Mats

 

[jknaus]

Thanks for posting these Matts. I encourage anyone who goes to Europe to pay your respects at one of the War Cemetaries. Its an experience you will never forget.
As for the gas attacks, in my home town London Ontario there is a Veterans hospital. When I was around 9 or 10 my Mom took me to visit (she volunteered there). She took me to the gas ward and its something that will forever stay with me. Such a horific weapon I dont think any sane person would ever consider its use if they saw the results.
James

 

[RichB]

I have a first cousin, L/Cpl Thomas R Holtsbaum, buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery near Poperinge who served in the 33rd Battlion, 3rd Australian Division. He was wounded on 03 Oct 1917 near Zonnebeke and taken to the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station were he died of his wounds on 04 Oct.

Rich

 

[Bagge]

Must remember that if i go there again, maybe i can find him, you had the chance to go there? It was so many cemetaries in this area, not easy to find someone unless you know where they are buried.
//Mats

 

[Bagge]

Rich, not sure you have seen this, but i found this online.

http://www.lijssenthoek.be/nl/adres/10614/-thomas-richard-holtsbaum.html

 

[RichB]

I have never been there. His grave reference is XX.F.3A.

My uncle, Rifleman LF Bull, is also buried in the Adegem Canadian War Cemetery. His grave is 1.A.12. He was killed in action 24 Oct 44 with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.

Cheers,
Rich

 

[lupanzer]

Very,very interesting , Matts...thanks for posting.

Luiz

 

[RichB]

Rich, not sure you have seen this, but i found this online.

http://www.lijssenthoek.be/nl/adres/10614/-thomas-richard-holtsbaum.html

No I haven't. Thanks Mats.

Cheers,
Rich

 

[Sherman 18]

Great pictures! Thank you for sharing

 

[Sharkmouth]

Many thanks Mats for posting both sides of the war graves. The immensity and infinite end to Life is a sobering fact when one ponders while wandering through the fields.

The reference images are also of great value.

Best of all, I am SUPER happy to see you include your boy in this adventure. It is never too early to learn.

Regards & thank to you and yours,

 

[moon puppy]

Thank you Matts... :zen

 

[Barney]

Matts,

What a splendid experience! I was fortunate to visit many battlefields and cemeteries while I was stationed in Europe in the late 70's - early 80's. This of course was before digital cameras and my EX wife made certain to "lose" all my photos.

I had a great uncle (Abraham Millisor) who travelled to France and drove an ambulance for 3 years. He was gassed 2X and died before I arrived on the scene.

Few live today that can recall the horror of the trenches... I talked to a Legionaire who was in Indochina in the 50's and he related how terrible it was at Dien Ben Phu... My experiences were with more fluid action, but it was bad enough... and that was just when I finally got home!

Thanks for the photos and the gentile reminder that for our tomorrows, they gave their todays.

 

[Bagge]

Next weekend me and my :love wife go here again and we will visit the cemetary where RichB's first cousin is burried.
Pics will follow after we come back.
Also have some other interesting things to see around there Like one of belgiums biggest modelstores Domino
This weekend we go visit a show in Ransart, will try to get pics for you guys
//Mats

 

[Plastik Smurff]

Thank's for posting these mate. A moving reminder.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Many thanks for posting your photos Mats. Things I probably would never get to see otherwise.

 

[Bagge]

Today a visit to the Lijsterhoek military cemetary outside poperinge, Belgium (not far from Ieper)

On the metal fence it was a date for everyday of the war and on the bottom of each bar the number of people killed that day, you could see when it was calm periods and then a big battle with many dead, really makes you think about how they had it

Sorry that the photos are on the side happened when i uploaded to the forum :idonno

Entrance to the cemetary

It is the second biggest war cemetary and here lies soldiers from all nationalities Brittish, Canadian, Australian, French, Chinese and german.

And finally we found the grave of RichB's first cousin Thomas Richard Holtsbaum, we had the number of the grave but it was not easy to find anyway because in the list they use Roman numbers XX and on the grave it said 20
We brought a little cross with for him

Our son Bram was with to place the cross

It felt good to be able to do this for him and he's family.

R.I.P. Thomas Richard Holtsbaum and all other soldiers no matter what nationality you have!

//Mats

 

[moon puppy]

What a great thing you all have done Mats, Veerle and Bram. Thanks for sharing with us.

Think I got the photo rotation fixed for you.

 

[jknaus]

James