Genevra Charsley, Flanders Battlefield Tour

I once held the VC of Clement Robertson in my hand after his grandson took it out of his pocket wrapped in a sheet of kitchen paper. Never have forgotten how incredibly light the medal felt, especially compared to his endeavors.

Back for the day at the Old White House in Pops, always feels nice to be here especially after the frenetic days of Armistice.

A kid from my village in Ontario who never made it home. He died at a place called Vindictive 107 years ago today.
Remember them.

Armistice 2025 took my friends out on a #Dunkirk trail, couldn’t fit all of the sites in too many and not enough time. Showed them the glass etchings that John Hutton had done at the Dunkirk Memorial & Cemetery from top to bottom depicting the RAF & German Stukas to the evacuation from the beaches.

Just 2 of those in my family who did not return from The Great War. Gt Uncle Arthur Coldstream Gds, lost between Metz & Gouzeaucourt Nov 1917, no known grave, he is listed on the memorial at Louverval. Also his cousin William RE, died in July 1917, buried at La Clytte nr Ypres.
We do not forget.

Have a heart they needed to get the English Channel and Blighty in as well you know 😄

Board left at Essex Farm showing the route for the evacuation of wounded soldiers from the frontline.

If this belongs to any tour groups coming out from the UK please contact me. I shall place for safekeeping in my ‘battle’ van and then arrange for collection.

I know…and when you manage to find information you really do feel like you’ve struck gold!

Great start...Artillery not the easiest at the best of times for research ...the exact three months that I'm looking for July, August & September 1917 and no surprise they're missing...what an absolute pain...

William Barker posing for a formal portrait photograph, which is signed “Sincerely yours, William Barker”. He’s wearing immaculate RFC uniform including Sam Browne belt, breeches and polished knee-length boots. His right hand rests on a walking cane and he carries gloves in his left hand.

October 27th, 1918. Victoria Cross action of veteran Canadian pilot Major William Barker. Flying a Sopwith Snipe on a solo patrol, he shot down a Rumpler two-seater and was immediately attacked by 15 German Fokker D.VIIs.
📷 IWM Q 68086
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The realities of being in a Sanitary Section during the First World War: “In certain places decomposing dead bodies are exposed in the walls and the stench from these is very offensive AAA. They should be well sprinkled with Chlorine of Lime and covered with earth AAA.

Certainly was, and left an incredible legacy.

I always think that this is a ‘slimmed down’ version of Tubby, short but not rotund 😄

Casualties from a working party in Belgium & part of France, July 1917. Covering areas with family descendants of Thomas Bragg, resting in Kandahar Farm Cemetery along with Lieut. Christensen & 3 O.R’s also killed.

Shrapnel from 1944 found along the edge of the fields at Hill 112 in Normandy this morning.

Footballer and scored the winning goal in the 1911 FA Cup Final.

I agree completely Chris.

Hello Nigel, Is it just generic landscape photos of Polygon Wood as we see it today or as it looked during the First World War?

Not sure about this…I’m all for commemoration and remembrance but dare I say that this is a bit OTT?

#OTD 13 October 1915. An awful day for the counties of the North Midlands as their fathers, husbands and sons met a bloody repluse in their attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt, a phase of the Battle of Loos. #ww1 #genealogy

Gunner Officer: Malcolm Vyvyan We return to the memories of WW1 veteran Malcolm Vyvyan MC, who served with 96th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery on the Western Front from 1916, and then latterly the Royal Flying Corps and …

Gunner Officer: Malcolm Vyvyan. In this latest Old Front Line #podcast we return to the memories of #WW1 veteran Malcolm Vyvyan MC, who served with 96th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery on the Western Front from 1916.

oldfrontline.co.uk/2025/10/11/g...

Restoration work being carried out on the Buttes in Polygon Wood therefore is currently off limits to the public walking up there. The cemetery is still accessible to the public.

Positive response to explanation of the Christmas Truce, we’re now going to insert into the tour a visit to the resting place of a footballer for the two teenage sons…

Oh dear, time to be a damp squid..."so we wondered if there is any way you could also incorporate the Christmas Truce football match site?"

On Friday we followed James Cormack of the 5th Cameron Highlanders & the Final Advance 28th September through to 27th October 1918. Starting off at the area of Bellewaerde, Frezenberg Ridges and Potijze, then advancing through areas such as MolenHoek Ridge, the Keiberg Spur & on to Waterdamhoek.

Too busy thinking I’d have nightmares after going down there. Jacques and I were offered the opportunity once but we politely declined.

I think it was around the area of Hill 80, could be mistaken though.

I don’t envy the person who has to carry the box with remains down into the crypt…

***Take Notice***For anyone out guiding the Ypres Salient this weekend please note there is a burial service on Saturday 4th October at the German Cemetery at Langemarck, from what I understand it is going to be in the afternoon.

Out guiding and met Tonny one of the buglers from the Last Post Association, he very kindly gave a little impromptu talk about his role within the LPA. A nice surprise for my chaps from Leek in Staffordshire.