Somme Battlefields - September 2010

[grimmy]

Many thanks, Pete. That brought tears to my eyes.

[pete th]

Grimmy, you need to get over there. They are beautiful and moving places and a great credit to the CWGC who tend them.

Cheers
Pete

[grimmy]

Cheers Pete. Yeah, I want to take the old man over to Normandy so he can show me the sights of his WW2 exploits with the 11th Division (Operations Epsom, Goodwood, Market Garden etc).

During the 'Charge of the Bull' across France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Denmark, his tank passed through Ypres.

Normandy to the Somme - what a journey - and I'm not just talking miles.

Looking forward to retracing the footsteps of two generations.

[pete th]

Grimmy, I'm writing a book about my local area's involvement in WW2 and have had the great privilege of meeting several veterans of the war, all of whom I'm proud to call friends. My grandad served with the Royal Maritime Artillery in WW2 and was a great influence on me. I hope you both have a wonderful trip.

Cheers
Pete

[grimmy]

Many thanks Pete.

I keep pretending to myself that I'm worried that dad might not have the emotional strength to deal with the trip (the 23rd Hussars got a right pasting in Normandy and he lost many a good friend), but, if I'm honest, it's my ability to cope I'm worried about.

I have enough info to visit the spot, to within a few yards, where granddad was gassed at Ginchy in 1916. I just hope I can deal with that.

Gordon Bennett - those guys went through hell and back and here's me wimping out like a big Jessie. I'm gonna stand in front of a mirror looking tough when I get home 

[Roughyed]

Pete

Which area will the book cover?

Phil

[pete th]

Hi Phil, Irlam, Cadishead and surrounding areas. We've already completed the book on WW1.

Cheers
Pete