Digger Project- Madeleine Thomson

The final Digger Project led us to a very remote cemetery that was difficult to find but ultimately very rewarding.

Maddy recounted the tale of two brothers named Hutchinson. Edwin, who died in the final weeks of WW1, was in the Royal Engineers Corp. His brother Eric received one letter from Edwin stating that he was ok, and later the same day, the news that Edwin had been killed. This was a very powerful and well researched project to finish on.

Thanks to all who participated in the Digger Project. It has been a very meaningful and significant journey.

Digger Project - Zoe James, Matthew Lobsey, Kristy Burton

The Digger Project is also meant to pay respect to soldiers that were lucky enough to survive the Great War.
Matthew told us about his great grandfather's brother William John Lobsey, who was a runner and recieved a Military Medal for gallantry. William was gassed at VB and died young in 1950.
Kristy told us about Alfred Burton who was 48 and trained in Egpyt but due to back injuries he was considered medically unfit.
Zoe James told us the tale of John Patterson who fought in the Battle of Amiens. Zoe showed us original photos and postcards that her grandmother sent her. She has found out the names of John's best mates from a photo and is interested in researching these men as well. Patterson also continued to suffer the effects of gas warfare for the rest of his life.

Digger Project - Kimberley Everson

After the Anzac Day ceremonies we travelled north to the interesting cemetery of La Chapelette British and Indian Cemetery. Kimberley reflected on the idea that William Brotherton reminded her of her brother both physically and and at the same stage of life.

The cemetery that Kimberley took us to contains the graves of Indian workers , both Hindu and Muslim, who were involved in the war in such a way that it cost them their lives. The Empire angle of the war is ripe for investigation, in other cemeteries we have found the Chinese labourers and Burmese coolies.

Anzac Day

Katharine Crompton, Shannon Kennedy and Mark Bellamy laid the wreath on behalf of the Clarence Valley and McAuley Catholic College.

ANZAC Day Villers Bretonneux

Digger Project - Mark Bellamy

Mark found James Martin on the Villers Bretonneux memorial wall for Marlene Colman of Red Rock. Her uncle was killed in 1917 and although he was buried, his grave was later lost in the fighting. James was from Coramba and ran a shop called the Coffee Palace.

Digger Project - Grace Katuzans

Grace told us about Ernest Davis of Maclean and Cowper. He was buried on the Somme but his grave was subsequently destroyed in the fighting and now he is remembered on the memorial wall of the Australian Memorial at Villers Bretonneux.

Bullecourt 1917

In Febuary 1917 the German Army pulled back from their postions on the Western Front to a newly created line of defence known as the Hindenburg Line. The Australians attacked this postion twice, April and May 1917; the 1st and 2nd Battles of Bullecourt were some of the bloodiest that the AIF was involved in during WW1. What the battles proved was that the Australians were a crack squad who were capable of fighting the German Army on equal terms. In 1918 this would prove to be a decisive factor.

In the village of Bullecourt there are two memorials including the Bronzed Slouch Hat and the Digger Statue that commemerate these famous battles.

Harry Bodimeade

When we visited Chris Arnott's relative at Grevillers British Cemetery we also said a prayer for Harry Bodimeade who we had paid respects to on the 2009 Tour in the same cemetery, he is Shaun Bodimeade's relative.

Digger Project - Chris Arnott

At the Grevillers British Cemetery on the Somme, Chris recounted the life of Horace Dean. He made a good comparison between his and Horace's life. Horace was reprimanded/gaoled for swearing at an officer after being late. Chris had a similar situation early in the tour, we heard no language but he was definetly very late!

Digger Project - Zachary Bowell

At the Guards Cemetery Lesbouefs Zach told us about Robert Nicholson, it was also very interesting that he also has German relatives that fought in WW1.

Digger Project - E J Hourigan

E. J told us the insipirational story of Abel Skinner of Casino, a relative, who recieved the Distinguished Conduct Medal for bravery at Pozieres.

Easter Sunday

We held our own service on Easter Sunday as the times for Mass were unsuitable. We held our service in the Basilica in Albert. The Prayers of the Faithful demonstrated to us the excellence, thoughtfulness and compassion that this group has displayed since we left the College 18 days ago.

The Golden Virgin on top of the Basilica was the subject of much legend and myth during WW1. The British believed that when the Virgin fell the war would end. The Golden Virgin can be seen glinting many miles from Albert.

Final Morning Walk

Most mornings we have gone for an optional walk at 6.00am. Abbeville had little to offer but it was great for a final walk with the stalwarts of the group. This has been great fun so thanks to all who participated. Special mention to Katharine Crompton who attended every walk.

Digger Project - Elizabeth Summerell

Lizzie took us to the very beautiful British Pozieres Cemetery/Memorial Wall. Tom Richards was a very brave man and we were proud and moved to hear his story.

Signs

Somme Guide.

Our guide for the afternoon was Julian. He took us to many locations, the most dramatic being the British Memorial to the Somme at Thiepval.

Digger Project - Shannon Kennedy

At the famous Mouquet Farm, Moo Cow Farm to the Aussie Diggers, Shannon recounted the story of his relative Clarence Mills who was an engineer. He read a beautiful prayer which focussed on the survivors of WW1 and their difficulties in coping after the war. He composed the prayer himself and we have requested a copy of it.

Digger Project - Kailyn Wake

We travelled to Lochnagar Crater which was detontaed at 7.28 on the 1st of July 1916, the start of the Battle of the Somme. Kailyn used the backdrop of Sausage Valley to recount the story of three brothers and their stories in WW1. Henry Elliot was buried in the vicinity of Sausage Valley but his grave was subsequently destroyed. John Elloit was wounded at Pozieres and later died. Allan survived the war and Kailyn had an amazing picture of him in the courtyard of Versailles Palace which we had visited a few days ago.

The Cobber Statue

The Cobber Statue commemerates a famous story at the Battle of Fromelles where an injured  soldier whispered "don't forget me cobber".

Mark carried his cobber Matthew to the bus.

Michael carried his cobber Chris as well.

DiggerProject - Jon Lavery

VC Corner Cemetery is unique amongst cemeteries in France. It is the only cemetery that is entirely Australian and yet it contains no headstones. The disasterous battle of Fromelles occured on the 19th of July 1916. It was the first action that Australians saw on the Western Front and was designed to ensure that German soldiers remained on the sector and didn't move to the Somme. It  became the worst day in Australia's military history with 5,500 casualties in one day including 1900 dead. Many of the dead were hastily buried in a two pits that make up VC Corner Cemetery. The rear wall lists the names of those who were never found.

Jon Lavery's wife Kim had a great uncle, Arthur Wardell, who had a falling out with his stepfather and moved from England to Australia, he lied at his enlistment about his age. Jon believes that he joined so he could go back to Europe. His name is on the Wall of Rememberance at Fromelles.

Digger Project - Richelle Levey

Rue-Petillon Cemetery at Fleurbaix has a very special connection to Grafton. Richelle recounted the sad story of 19 year old John Edward Chapman and his tragic death in the Fromelles campaign of 1916. Chapman was a very popular young man and dearly loved by his family, his grandfather was the inaugral mayor of Grafton City. We later had a discussion about the tragedy of war and waste of young lives and the comparisons we could make in our own times.

Digger Project - Katharine Crompton

Katharine took us across lush cow paddocks to the small Caestre Military Cemetery near Hazebrouk on the French/Belgium border to see the grave of Fred Bush/Busch. She recounted a tale of extraordinary valour to rescue comrades who were under heavy attack. He was awarded the Military Cross posthumously for these actions where he died.

Digger Project - Jamie Disson

Jaime Disson spoke of the life of John Timothy Maguire. He was horrifically killed during the 3rd Battle of Ypres(Passchendaele).

His name is recorded in a remarkable position; top left of the gallery that leads to the wreath laying altar.

Digger Project- Chris Arnott

After the Menin Gate Ceremony the group toured the Monument and heard many stories connecting our group to fallen soldiers. Chris Arnott recounted the life of Arthur Harold Mills who was lost but is commemorated on the Gate.

Menin Gate Ceremony

Every night at 8.00pm since 1928 the last post has been played at the Menin Gate.

Richard Arnott and Bronte Rowe laid a wreath on behalf of the Clarence Valley and McAuley Catholic College.

Digger Project - Kimberley Ennever

Kim researched Herbert Enever who was a British soldier who died in the Battle of Passchendaele. He has no known grave and is remembered on the memorial wall at Tyne Cot Cemetery.

Digger Project- Bronte Rowe

Bronte researched Robert (Peter) Shuemack. He was killed at Polygon Wood and has no known grave. We also found his name inscribed on the Menin Gate in Ypres.

Polygon Wood Group Shot

Our Belgian Guide

In Belgium we have been lucky to have the services of Kun Hangriete from Antwerpen. Hopefully he will bring a national costume next time.

Hill 60

We began our day with a visit to Hill 60. On June 7th 1917 at 3.10am the Allies detonated huge qualities of dynamite that had been tunnelled underneath German lines at 19 locations. This signalled the start of the Battle of Messines, a success for the Allies. This is a shot of an enormous crater from the blast.

Morning Walkers - Messines

The morning walk group reconvened in Messines and found the Irish Peace Park. Republicans and Loyalists fought together in WW1 and today this site represents a time when the Irish were as one.

We also visited a cemetery next to our hostel. It was beautiful in the dawn but eerie.

From Paris To Flanders Fields

Compiegne is a isolated spot in the forest where WW1 came to an end. The Germans and Allies met at an isolated location and signed the agreement that the fighting would stop on November 11th 1918. This was an amazing museum that really surprised everyone. They would let us take photos so this is an image of an anti-German monument that the French built in the 1920's.

Vimy Ridge is the site of the Canadian Memorial. It is located near the town of Arras and sits on the edge of a steep hill overlooking Northern France. At night it is floodlit and must look very dramatic.

Digger Project

A new phase of the tour began today when we journeyed to Flanders which is in Belgium and France. The Digger Project has been underway for nearly a year, students have researched either a family member or a local man from the Clarence Valley. We will visit their graves over the next 5 days and the students will tell us their story.

Digger Project - Amelia Davies

Amelia Davies studied Arthur Frederick James Payne from Ulmarra. Amelia told a very interesting story of his life made even more poignant by the fact that she is not related to him and had researched his life over the last 6 months. Amelia placed a photo of Arthur at his grave.

Digger Project- Shannon Kennedy

Shannon researched Michael Mulchay, an Engineer who was in the Engineeer Corps with Shannon's great grandfather. He is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinge. This cemetery contains over 11,000 burials and during the war it was the largest cemetery on the Western Front.

Digger Project -Natalie Tees

Natalie researched James Tees who was her Grandfather's uncle. He is buried at Haringhe Military Cemetery which is also known as Bandaghem as it was linked to a station were men were treated for their injuries.

Goodbye Paris

On our last day in Paris we, went to the Arc De Triomphe, walked the Champs Elysee, visited the Louvre, went to Montmatre, shopped, visted the Holocaust Museum, then went home had dinner and went on a cruise.
Paris has been very full on, the crowds are beyond immagination and the French system of dealing with group bookings is very difficult and annoying. We have made the most of every minute but I think everyone is ready to move on.

Our French Guides

We have been so lucky to have had Fifi and Gigi as our guides in Paris. Here they are striking a Parisian pose and showing us how to catch the Metro

Fairy Floss Fun