36.A Memorial to my Great Great Uncles

Whilst on our recent tour of the battlefields of the First World War, we visited the Lochnagar Crater - the site of the largest crater ever made by man in anger. It is 300 ft wide and 70 ft deep

When the underground mine exploded on 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the sound could be heard in London!

It was bought by an Englishman to save it being filled in and now can be visited by anyone. Around the edge is a walkway, and to help with its upkeep, you can pay for a plaque to commemorate anyone who fought in the Great War.

Mum and I, thought it would be a great idea to have the names of our 3 great great uncles who died in the Somme commemorated in one place - as 2 are buried in separate cemeteries and the other has no known grave. So we have paid for Walter, Charles and Frederick Hollingsworth to have a plaque like this one, next to each other.

25. Visiting Battlefields of the Great War

Mum and I really enjoyed our tour of the French and Belgium battlefields last weekend. Driven around by Galloway Travel, we were lucky enough to have the fabulous Mike Peters as a guide to explain what happened, when, how and more importantly why!

Staying in Ypres, the 4 day tour took us to many sites. My favourite spot was Delville Wood, where thousands of South Africans died trying to get the wood from the Germans. The South African Centre is very impressive and a contrast to the surrounding beautiful bluebell woods.

Other highlights of the tour were the spot where the first gas attack took place 100 years ago, the huge Tyne Cott Cemetery, the first place where tanks rolled into battle, going deep into the mines under Arras and the stunning memorial at Vimy Ridge

We also visited many graves and memorials and heard stories of brave men winning Victoria Crosses, the only female killed in battle, footballers and fighting aces - and even the last resting place of  Chief Sitting Bulls grandson - Standing Buffalo. Mike was really a mine of interesting facts with an encyclopedic knowledge of World War One and the Battle of the Somme.

I would highly recommend anyone to go on a similar tour by Galloway Travel - the accommodation, food and attention to detail could not be faulted!

24. Discovering the grave and memorials of my WW1 Ancestors

Mum and I went to find the graves and memorials of my relatives who died in the First World War

This is the grave of Walter Samuel Hollingsworth, my great, great uncle. He was a Lance Serjeant 43144 (formerly 998) in the 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.

He was killed in action in France & Flanders on 12 October 1916. He is buried in the Grevilliers British Cemetery, near Arras, France. He was one of 3 brothers who died in the Great War

Me with the memorial to Charles James Hollingsworth, Private 26822 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.He was killed in action in France & Flanders on 19 April 1918. (The CWGC Register says between 9th and 19th April). He has no known grave, but is commemorated with honour on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium ( near Ypres). Pte Hollingsworth was born in Claydon and enlisted in Bury St Edmunds.

His name is also on the headstone of his wife in Bredfield cemetry.

The third brother was Frederick John Hollingsworth Private 43879 (formerly 4578) 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. He was killed in action in France & Flanders on 19 April 1918, the same time as his brother Charles. He is buried in the Suffolk Cemetery, La Rolanderie Farm, Erquinghem-lys France (near border with Belgium).  Pte Hollingsworth was born in Claydon and enlisted in Woodbridge.

We have no photos of these brothers but we do have a set of wooden bricks which they owned and which have been played with by all of the family since!

On my fathers side of the family we found the name of Arthur W Whiting, 4^th Battalion Suffolk Regiment , who died 15^th July 1916 at The Somme, no body found, but commemorated at Thiepval (near Arras)

We also found the name of a distant relative James Jolly Norfolk Regiment Lance corporal (3^rd cousin 2 x removed) on the Menin Gate at Ypres

23. Last Post at the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium

Every night at 8pm precisely the last post is sounded in Ypres to remember the dead of the Great War. It has happened every night since 1927 - the only exception was during the German occupation of the town in WWII. Traffic is stopped and silence falls on the crowds.

It is a moving ceremony where anyone can participate and lay a wreath or tribute to those who died. The names of nearly 55,000 men who died before August 1917 and whose resting place is unknown are inscribed in the memorial. I attended on Sunday 19th April 2015.

Further details are on the Last Post website

2. Purchased a Paul Cummins Ceramic Poppy

This is something that I would have probably thought was a good idea but never got round to doing - so I went and bought one as soon as I could!  

It is a fabulous idea by Paul Cummins and Tom Piper to remember the 888,246 people who died in World War 1 - and they looked stunning against the Tower of London, there were hundreds of people looking at them when we went to see them in September - and the volunteers will be putting them out until November.

My poppy is number 247,779 and the money raised is going to 6 different charities - the Confederation of Service Charities (COBSEO), Combat Stress, Coming Home, Help for Heroes, the Royal British Legion and SSAFA (formerly the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) and could raise up to £15m.

 The poppy will be posted to me in January. You can find out  how to buy one or more information here
http://poppies.hrp.org.uk/