On the way down to the Loos battlefield we took in a number of other cemeteries, one of which was La Gorgue Communal Cemetery. I first came across the story of 2nd Lieutenant Vincent Sladen Wing (III.A.10) while thumbing through my copy of the “University of London OTC – Roll of War Service 1914-1919”. His entry […]
Author Archive | Peter Hughes
Wrong time, wrong place – the story of one hapless officer
During a recent trip to the battlefields I had with me a former member of the Scots Guards. This was his third year with us and, as ever, we spent some of our time looking at locations and cemeteries connected to his former regiment. This year, based in Ypres, we took a look at the […]
Why Cambrai?
Private John RAE, 2nd Scots Guards, fell in action on the 28th November 1914, aged 29. He came from Ellon in Aberdeenshire and his wife was from Guernsey. His DCM was awarded for gallantry on numerous occasions whilst engaged on scouting duties. On the night of the 27th/28th November, while the battalion was in trenches […]
Known unto God……..and, of course, the CWGC
Ever since my first visit to the Western Front I have always carried a notebook with me. Like many people, I always have a number of things I want to look at and these form the basis of my itinerary. However, in the case of cemeteries, I nearly always come across things of interest that […]
When the music stops
Another trip I did this year was to St.Quentin. We were mainly concerned with that stretch of the retreat in 1914 that lies between Le Cateau and St Quentin itself, including Landrecies and Etreux. For this particular group, it was their first time on this part of the Western Front, and as it was approaching […]
‘A case of picking the right berry’ – Arras Memorials – Pages 201-202
Preparations for a recent trip to Ypres took me back to an event referred to briefly in “Arras Memorials”. It appeared there by virtue of the fact that one of the men involved, Private Howard Clifford ODLUM, happens to be commemorated on the Vimy Memorial. The event in question was a two-pronged raid carried out […]
A daring rescue at sea
In the article I wrote concerning the grave of Surgeon-Lieutenant Frank Pearce Pocock, DSO, MC and Bar, I mentioned Lieutenant Commander George Nicholson Bradford, VC. He featured briefly in “Arras North” by virtue of the fact that one of his brothers, 2nd Lieutenant James Barker Bradford, MC, happens to be buried in Duisans British Cemetery. […]
The cavalry question at Arras
During the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line our cavalry performed a useful role in operations against the enemy’s rearguard. It successfully outflanked the village of Roisel, even though many of the garrison there were able to slip away. Elsewhere, there were similar small triumphs. At Equancourt, for example, the Fort Garry Horse showed flexibility, […]
Avesnes-le-Comte Communal Cemetery Extension
From time to time I’ve written pieces for the website highlighting some of the CWGC cemeteries that lay just beyond the geographical scope of my books on Arras. One of those is the extension to the communal cemetery at Avesnes-le-Comte. This cemetery does have links to the fighting around Arras, not just during the Great […]
“A solitary grave in a grassy valley”
Henry Williamson, best known for his work, “Tarka the Otter”, was a controversial figure. Although his naive leanings towards Hitler and National Socialism turned many away from him, his reputation as an author seems to have endured. Another of Williamson’s works, ” The Wet Flanders Plain”, first published in revised format in 1929, then thankfully re-printed […]