Just shows to go-ya. GOD made this Earth so nothing is permanent.(here is where mold and mildew come in) Nothing. HIS new Earth will be permanent and great.
What is jaw dropping for me is there are, even after 100 years, the French are still digging up unexploded ordnance and around Verdun, there are areas still off limits
On 7 June 1917, the British fired 22 of 26 mines in the Messines sector. Some did not detonate. Reportedly, location of the still active mines were lost in the German spring offensive of 1918. One mine detonated on 17 June 1955 when an electric pylon was built over the site. Another mine reportedly detonated in the 1920s. The others, tons of gun cotton when emplaced, are still there.
Much shallower than the ones I played in around Saint Mihiel France 1953-1961. Many farmers were injured/killed moving unexploded ordnance (UXO) instead of calling the police, it took too long for the authorities to respond when the farmers needed to be planting crops. And yes there are still huge areas of land declared as NO GO ZONES because of the UXO's that are too dangerous to move or dig up after this much time.
That is the most sacred ground on this earth to Newfoundlanders. It's the Beaumont Hamel Battlefield on the Somme. It belongs now to the Canadian government as it was a Newfoundland memorial site before we joined Canada. 801 men of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment were in the ranks on the morning of July 1, 1916. 68 answered the roll call the next day. My Grandfather, Uncle and myself all served in the Regiment over a period of 100 years. Better than the Best is the Regiment's motto. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/wwi-somme-offensive-turned-into-one-of-the-deadliest-days-in-the-history-of-modern-warfare/article30726559/
My Grandfather was a tunneler during WW1, they were involved in successful efforts to foil German mining – known as counter-mining operations – just to the north-east of Arras. I have read a bit about their work, and hand to hand fighting underground as they broke into German tunnels occurred reasonably frequently. Setting mines under German positions etc....I am in awe of the old bastard. I only met him a couple of times and he died when I was about 12 or 13. Lofty
Wow. I am extremely surprised they have not reclaimed the landscape, after all these years.
ReplyDeleteJust shows to go-ya. GOD made this Earth so nothing is permanent.(here is where mold and mildew come in) Nothing. HIS new Earth will be permanent and great.
ReplyDeleteWhat is jaw dropping for me is there are, even after 100 years, the French are still digging up unexploded ordnance and around Verdun, there are areas still off limits
ReplyDeleteNot just in France -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QsNJMXJFjQ
DeleteThe remainders of the trench lines at Vicksburg are still visible - the NPS has done a great job showing them.
ReplyDeleteOn 7 June 1917, the British fired 22 of 26 mines in the Messines sector. Some did not detonate. Reportedly, location of the still active mines were lost in the German spring offensive of 1918. One mine detonated on 17 June 1955 when an electric pylon was built over the site. Another mine reportedly detonated in the 1920s. The others, tons of gun cotton when emplaced, are still there.
ReplyDeleteSix part series on WW1. Riveting. Start here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RglqdXD9MXE
ReplyDeleteMuch shallower than the ones I played in around Saint Mihiel France 1953-1961. Many farmers were injured/killed moving unexploded ordnance (UXO) instead of calling the police, it took too long for the authorities to respond when the farmers needed to be planting crops. And yes there are still huge areas of land declared as NO GO ZONES because of the UXO's that are too dangerous to move or dig up after this much time.
ReplyDeleteThat is the most sacred ground on this earth to Newfoundlanders. It's the Beaumont Hamel Battlefield on the Somme. It belongs now to the Canadian government as it was a Newfoundland memorial site before we joined Canada. 801 men of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment were in the ranks on the morning of July 1, 1916. 68 answered the roll call the next day. My Grandfather, Uncle and myself all served in the Regiment over a period of 100 years. Better than the Best is the Regiment's motto. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/wwi-somme-offensive-turned-into-one-of-the-deadliest-days-in-the-history-of-modern-warfare/article30726559/
ReplyDeleteMy Grandfather was a tunneler during WW1, they were involved in successful efforts to foil German mining – known as counter-mining operations – just to the north-east of Arras. I have read a bit about their work, and hand to hand fighting underground as they broke into German tunnels occurred reasonably frequently. Setting mines under German positions etc....I am in awe of the old bastard. I only met him a couple of times and he died when I was about 12 or 13.
ReplyDeleteLofty