Poppy Mercier

My latest Legion Magazine article is out now, featuring an interview with British-born French resident and historian Poppy Mercier (@poppymercier.bsky.social), who has embarked on a journey to honour locally buried Canadian airmen from WW II.

legionmagazine.com/british-born...

📸 Poppy Mercier.

I sadly never met Jack, he died not long before I was born. He lived with these memories for the rest of his life. His stories have been passed down and now it’s my turn to start passing them along; sadly role of the Royal Navy in the American Sector is often passed over.

It killed every man on board and threw Jack out into the water, causing severe shrapnel wounds to both arms. He was rescued when a fellow Coxswain pulled him out of the water by his belt. Jack’s war was over; waking up a few days later in hospital.

Today WN72 is the American National Guard Memorial. The photo shows a large modern concrete memorial that sits atop the original German built concrete bunker system.

He came ashore piloting his LCA with men of the 116th Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division in Dog Green sector of the landing zone. Before they could even reach the beach they were hit by the 88 gun of WN72 situated on the beach at Vierville-sur-Mer.

He served in North Africa (Operation Torch) Sicily, Anzio and Salerno, piloting and working on Landing Craft (Assault). A few weeks ago I returned to the sector of Omaha Beach he landed on, 6 June 1944.

Uncle Jack
John “Jack” Marketis was my grandma Joan’s older brother. I was always quite close to her up to her death and I remember her telling me stories about her siblings including Jack. He joined the Royal Navy prior to the Second World War breaking out.

Original photo taken on 15th or 16th June 1944, showing 2 medics of the 326th airborne medical company speaking to locals of the town of Carentan. It appears they have a civilian casualty loaded on a stretcher on their jeep.

The same location, but a modern photo taken on 20th May 2025

L'église Notre-Dame de Carentan
Then & Now: 15/16 June 1944 to 20 May 2025
Members of the 326th Airborne Medical Company (101st Airborne Division) with one of their Jeeps parked in front of the church at Carentan talking to the locals.
Original photo courtesy of “WW2 US Medical Research Centre”

Burial service for 2 unknown commonwealth soldiers today in CWGC Ovillers Military Cemetery. Sadly their identities could not be discovered; they both receive a burial with full military honours. May they rest in peace, now alongside their comrades once more.

It was great to finally be able to visit Loos British Cemetery Extension at the start of the week. The new cemetery has been built to accommodate another 1,200 burials; with the increase of remains being found over the last 10 years such a site is now greatly needed.

All ready for a new season and out with my first group next week! If you’re looking for a local guide who can bring a fresh perspective to your tours, don’t hesitate to contact me; from a general Battle of the Somme tour or following in the footsteps of a relative, I’m always happy to assist

Stop No.3: Rancourt British Cemetery. Sitting between the large French and German cemeteries of Rancourt, it contains less than 100 burials. This includes the 3 aircrew killed in a crash on their return from Arras in 1940

Stop No.2: La Chapelette. This cemetery has a great mix of both British/Commonwealth and Indian troops. In 1940 the Germans used the empty side section of the cemetery to bury their dead.

A beautiful day for exploring the battlefields - visit No.1 to Brie British Cemetery, just outside of Péronne. Such a beautiful small cemetery out in the middle of nowhere with some fascinating burials.

Sunset over the Thiepval memorial this evening, looking towards the woodland at Authuille and Aveluy
#ww1 #somme

A beautiful service held today for L/Cpl George Rankeillor. He has previously been listed as missing on the Arras Memorial. Service was attended by the Household Cavalry and the Regimantal Association.

New unit markings on the jeep, more accurate to her unit (326 Airborne Medical Co)

I took a brief visit to the tool shed at Serre No2 to see where IWGC Ben Leech hid allied airmen during WW2.
“To Major G.B. Simler in remembrance of his staying as guest? at Serre Road No. 2 Beaumont Hamel Somme France 1944"
Photo from the Simler family, shared by @caitlindeangelis.bsky.social

Buried in Meharicourt cemetery is the crew of Lancaster KB714. On 13 June 1944 the crew from 419 Sqd were returning from bombing Cambrai when they were shot down very close by to Courcelette British Cemetery, killing all on board. May they rest in peace.
“Moosa aswayita"

The Caretakers: War Graves Gardeners and the Secret Bat… When World War I ended, hundreds of British veterans st…

I wrote a little book about the War Graves gardeners in France and what happened to them after the “lack of proper arrangement for [their] evacuation and the complete disappearance of all [their] leaders.”

www.goodreads.com/book/show/12...

Merry Christmas to all friends and followers. I wish you all a lovely time and a very happy new year 🎄🎉

My favourite piece of history, our Ford GPW « Evie » turns 81 today! To celebrate we took her out for a drive around the town and to pick up our Christmas tree 🎄
#history #ww2 #jeep

Absolutely 😁

#ChristmasMarkets in #Berlin last week. We went to a few but I only took photos at Alexanderplatz & Das Center in Potsdammer Platz.

(If you're a wikipedia editor, you can add them yourself, or you can send them to me or @poppymercier.bsky.social, who is responsible for the good work maintaining that page!)

Just some highlights of my 5 days in Berlin…always an excellent time exploring the city, rediscovering its history and enjoying some of the local culture.

Only a few days now until I’m back in my favourite city for the first time since 2019. Berlin is such a beautiful city, with such a rich history and an amazing variety of museums and historic sites

When we discovered this German backpack in a 1914 trench near Wijdendrift (Langemark), we could never have imagined the extraordinary find it held. Only during cleaning in the depot did the eyes and claws of a cuddly toy come to light.

#FWW #Archaeology #History

Same I’ve noticed with the new WW2 medal cards on Ancestry. Lots of oddly transcribed names!

mugshot of a man in his 50s with dark hair, wearing a knit scarf, holding a slate with number 690 in chalk from The National Archives (UK) WO 416

Bert Haskins was a War Graves gardener in Dunkirk in the 1920s-30s.

In 1940, he was arrested by the Germans and sent to an internment camp.

In transit, he befriended the author P.G. Wodehouse, sharing food Bert brought from home. They became friends; Wodehouse dedicated "Money in the Bank" to him

Thanks! It really is niche lol