Lochnagar Crater Guestbook

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There are now 39 messages in our guestbook.
Viewing messages 1 to 39.

C. Bright

Thank you for the work you do at the mine site and this informative web site. With my brother, I visited the crater on 11/11/11, when I learned my great uncle spent much of WWI in the Somme. May the work you do allow my generation and those in the future to understand the horrers of war and work to prevent them.

19 November 2011 - American living in Copenhagen, Denmark

Margaret Younger

November 11th 2011 in La Boiselle.
What an honour to join the Friends and Madame le Maire as they made their way around the various memorials in the village following the piper. This included, of course, the Lochnagar Crater itself.
The day was glorious and we retired afterwards to the Mairie for a " Vin d'honneur". This enabled me to meet and chat to the owner of the Glory Hole and the son of the gentleman who sold the crater to Richard.
Without the Friends these meetings would not have been possible

15 November 2011 - Mundesley Norfolk

Giuseppe Clemente

thank You for preserving history, impressive job.
Donation on the way in memory of my grandfather WW1 veteran, Lt Josef Bonell, 2nd Rgt, Tiroler Kaiserschuetzen, Austro-Hungarian Royal Imperial Army

7 August 2011 - Norman OK - USA

Guestbook Monitors comments Thank you for your support. It is a great pleasure and privilege to honour your grandfather - our first Austro-Hungarian soldier. Richard Dunning

Rod and Margaret Younger

JULY 1st 2011
Thanks to Richard Dunning and the hard working Friends several hundred people were able to stand at the crater and commemorate July 1st.
The replacement cross looked magnificent on this glorious summer's morning and those assembled were able to participate in the service by joining hands around the crater and by casting petals to represent the fallen.

8 July 2011 - Mundesley Norfolk

Lorenzo e Catia

Dear Mr. Richard,
thanks for giving us the opportunity to participate in the commemoration of July 1, 2011 and to commemorate the fallen of World War Italians.
Very moving and touching ceremony, thanks for everything
Congratulations again for the initiative and the work to keep these memories alive

5 July 2011 - Modena- italy

Julie Jones

After seeing that the BBC is making a programe in the trenchers of the Lochangar Crater, I would love to know how to get in contact with the programe makers,
My Great Grandfarther Sgt Thomas Rippon of the 22nd Bn Northumberland Fusiliers (3rd Scottish)
C Company was reported missing on the 1st July 1916.
We were informrd that this was the last place he was seen.
If anyone has any more information would the please contact me om
juliejones4@hotmail.co.uk

"HE HAS NO NAMED GRAVE"
Thank you

12 June 2011 - Wiltshire - formaly Durham

Adrian Monkhouse

Having recently visited the Lochnagar Crater I can express only my sincere gratitude to the Friends in maintaining the crater and memorial site. On a personal level, my great grandfather John Thomas Molloy of the 24th Tyneside Irish Battallion was killed on 1st July 1916 attacking La Boiselle and the fact that over 90years later the sacrifice of such men is still remembered is very touching.

For the people of Tyneside and County Durham, Lochnagar is stands as a symbol of their bravery and the ultimate sacrifice that many paid. It is hard to imagine how these men must have felt as they moved forward to attack the enemy's position but with true Geordie grit I am sure that all them steadfastly maintained their advance.

I would implore all visitors to this area to visit the memorial site and reflect on the loss of life on both sides and hopefully, we can all recognise that collaboration rather than confrontation is a better way forward

10 June 2011 - Wokingam (a Geordie in exile)

superb website
superb project
what i cant understand is if u have 200000 visitors each year - why u dont charge people - if u charged them £1 each - which is less than u pay in a hospital car park - u could hire full time staff to look after the place
no one would begrudge that

best wishes with this superb bit of history

10 June 2011 - folkestone

Richard Dunning

On behalf of all the Friends of Lochnagar heartfelt congratulation on your magnificent effort - and of course for the fundraising as well. All will go towards the refurbishing of the area around the replacement Cross.
Well done Marie and thanks again.

19 April 2011 - Guildford

Frances & Mike Speakman

WELL DONE MARIE ....

Your marathon time of 4 Hours 45 minutes was amazing!

Thank you for raising money for the crater..

Best wishes

Mike & Frances Speakman

19 April 2011 - Ilford, Essex England

Les Disbrey

Further to the previous message,the base of the new cross will be prepared over the late May Bank Holiday period but the cross will not be erected until the last week in June in order to give the cement time to set.

16 April 2011 - N/W Middx.

Les Disbrey

As many of you will know,the Cross blew down in a high wind in late August due to considerable rot.The remains plus the brass plaque were saved by Jon Haslock of the Old Blighty Cafe.Following an appeal to the FoL members,funds were raised so that fresh wood,(Oak) has been located. It is anticipated that a new Cross will be erected over the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May.We hope for good weather.

25 March 2011 - N/W Middx

Graham Ager

As a new "Friend" I would be interested in being put in touch with other "Friends" in the area who may be interested in attending the July ceremony.
This would cut down on the travel costs et.

21 March 2011 - Cowbridge Vale of Glamorgan

Lynette Aikman

Could anyone tell me the history of the wooden cross situated at the crater of Lochnagar

Answer (from the website):
In 1986 a large cross of medieval wood was erected close to the lip. It was made with roof timbers from an abandoned, deconsecrated church close to Durham - most likely a church used by some of the soldiers from Tyneside who themselves fell at Lochnagar.

3 March 2011 - Gateshead

MARGARET YOUNGER

If any fellow "Friend" happens to be on the Somme on Sat December 18th do go to the carol service "Treve de Noel" held at 18-30 in Pozieres Church.
Take a share of refreshments to "Tommies" before the service. Then off to the Church for a very friendly international service with people of all ages.
Rod and I intend to be there.

28 November 2010 - Mundesley Norfolk

Sean Doyle

My Great Grandfather saw action here with the 34th Division. He buried many men from the Tynside Irish here before he himself was killed around the mine. I am so pleased that he can be remembered by this land being kept as it was. Many Thanks Great Grandson to RifleMan S/4453 Sydney Albert Dymond 13th Battalion Prince Consorts Own.

Sean Doyle

20 November 2010 - Rochdale Lancashire /Orignally High Wycombe Bucks

Margaret Younger

As two very new members of the Friends of Lochnagar Rod and I would like to say thank you for the very warm welcome we received at the dinner.

31 October 2010 - Mundesley Norfolk

Claire Coulson McLeod

My family and I visited the Crater for the first time last year and again this summer, and were fortunate enough to take part in this year's ceremony on 1st July. It was tremendously moving. Thank you to Richard and the Friends for all of your hard work in keeping the place so beautifully amazing.

21 September 2010 - Bath, England

Bob & Julia Paterson

Richard

2 very small words say it all.

"Thank you " for everything.

The new site is pretty cool - we are impressed !

16 September 2010 - Dundee/ Morval

Rob Kirk

Excellent website. Very well done. Sorry to have missed the July 1st ceremony this year - the first time for several years - but determined to return. Keep up the good work.

3 September 2010 - Kenton, Middlesex

Nigel Dewing

I visited the site last week during a family holiday where we took the opportunity to look at the Somme battlefield. Whilst there I was both surprised and very moved to find a wreath laid in memory of my grandfather Tom Dewing, as the last witness to the La Boiselle mine.

He was a signaller in the Royal Engineer's and attached to the 34th Divison. On 1 July 1916, together with a colleague, his role was to man a lookout post known as Smith's redoubt overlooking that section of the line; their task, to await the heliographed signal that their Division had met it's objective. He witnessed the explosion of the mine and watched the day's events unfold before him. They did manage to see the first letter of the divisional callsign before it was lost in the smoke and confusion of battle.
He never forgot that day or the loss of so many friends and collegues, which was only really apparent to them at the next church parade where they paraded in their usual places, leaving gaps for the fallen. As he recalled, even the colonels were crying.

One of the fortunate survivors of the conflict, he died in 2001 just a few weeks short of his 105th birthday; at which point he was the last known british witness to the first day of the battle of the Somme. Thank you for remembering him.

30 August 2010 - Upper Basildon, Berkshire, UK

william bell

was over in june and was one of the sites we visited
very moving indeed

26 August 2010 - blantyre glasgow

Marshall Bowman

Congratulations on the website. Have only discovered it after visiting the Crater with pupils from Wick High School this year and last. An iconic piece of WW1 landscape which pupils find fascinating and stunning. Also close to Contalmasion where I had the honour of laying tributes on behalf of Raith Rovers FC to the players who were members of McCraes.
Richard and the Friends are to be congratulated on their magnificent work of care for this memorial to all who fell on that fateful day all these years ago.

19 July 2010 - Lybster Caithness Scotland

François Bergez - Somme Remembrance Association

This new website is great. Well done !
Thanks to Richard and Friends of Lochnagar for their wonderful work , preserving and maintaining the most visited battlefield site on the Somme.

3 July 2010 - Amiens , Somme, France

Margaret Younger

My husband and I were honoured to be able to attend the 2010 July 1st ceremony at the Lochnagar Crater and found the ceremony very moving.
We are regular visitors to this area of the Western Front.

2 July 2010 - Mundesley Norfolk GB

Ade Petty

Visited the crater June 2010. I was in total awe. During my time at the site a large number of hairy bikers were also paying a visit, they too were suitably moved by the sheer scale of the thing. Our guide was not very informative not that too many words were needed, so dipping into your site has answered many questions. I was particularly touched by the discovery of that poor soldier in 1998 and then taking comfort in knowing he is now properly laid to rest .
I commend you on your dogged determination in securing this piece of historic land and saving it from the farmer's big bag of top soil in order that the rest of us can journey back to 1916.

Lest we forget.

22 June 2010 - Hertfordshire

Tom Grieves

In 2006 I travelled from Australia via the North East of England to attend the 0730 Ceremony at Lochnagar on 01 Jul 2006, the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. My Dad Christopher Grieves 24/1509 24th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Irish) aged 23 was wounded during the advance of the 103rd Brigade up “Sausage” valley adjacent to Lochnagar.

I was in contact with Richard Dunning, prior to visiting Lochnagar, and he arranged for me to lay a wreath. As a Vietnam War veteran, I felt so privileged to do so, dressed in my Service Medals and Slouch Hat, what a special day that was. What a wonderful contribution Richard has made to honour our fallen soldiers by giving public access to the crater. Richard asked me to write “something” to put on the wreath which I did. The wreath read:

In Memory of the Tyneside Brigades
There they talked laughed sang and swore, and paid the bl..dy price of war.
So many fell so few survived their memory though still much alive.
This spot was then a hellish place but now a place of tranquil awe.
Lest we forget.

I hope to visit Lochnagar again one day, maybe for the 100th Anniversary. I have returned to the Lochnagar web site a number of times in recent years, and am delighted to see how it has improved. I particularly appreciated the link to the Simon Jones Military Historian’s information on the Tunnellers who dug and laid the explosives for the Lochnagar mine.

I have a feeling that my Dad Chris Grieves may have also contributed to the tunnelling at Lochnagar as he was a coal miner, and was probably involved in infantry work parties on the site assisting the tunnellers. In 2006, I was unaware that my grandfather William Grieves was a Sapper 102472in the Royal Engineers 170thTunnelling Company. He joined the RE at age 46. As far as I know he was never in the vicinity of Lochnagar, but he was involved in the tunnelling and laying of mines near Cuinchy and the Brickstacks in the summer of 1915 and at the Hohenzollern Redoubt in the opening of Battle of Loos in 1916.

My thanks to Richard Dunning and all who contribute to the upkeep and of the Lochnagar Crater and the associated web site.

17 May 2010 - Thornton, Maitland, near Newcastle, Australia

Tonie and Valmai Holt

Looking at the new Lochnagar Crater website we were very moved to hear, in his own words, the inspiring and extraordinary story of Richard Dunning's determined journey towards his purchase of the Lochnagar Crater .
Only a delightfully mad Englishman would have been so driven by the most altruistic of motives as to put so much energy, love, devotion, time and an eye-watering amount of his own personal money into acquiring, maintaining, improving and sharing, with what are now hundreds of like-minded 'Friends' and regular visitors, what is undoubtedly a hallowed site of the utmost historic importance. It has meant years of single-minded, sometimes agonising, often frustrating, struggles against local red tape and seemingly unreasonable restrictions and expensive requirements, vandalism, harsh weather, the constant need to repair the crumbling crater and its approaches, and lack of funds...
We started our battlefield tours in the very same year that Richard won his long fight to save this unique place for posterity. A visit to the Crater became a highlight of our visits to the Somme and since we sold the tour company and concentrated on writing our battlefield guidebooks, a description and photos of the crater are highly important in our Somme guides.
We have been proud and indeed honoured to have been able to take part over the years in the intimate and personal (however many people attend) act of remembrance and commemoration organised so perfectly (gently structured but seemingly informal) by Richard and his dedicated and loyal band of 'Friends'. Like Tubby Clayton of 'Toc H' fame, Richard's motto has always been 'Abandon rank all ye who enter here' - all are welcome to join in. The ceremony has been even more meaningful to us since our grand-daughters, Jessica and Rebecca Wise, have also whole-heartedly taken part.
Were it not for Richard this cemetery-memorial-reminder of the sacrifice and heroism of the men of all nationalities who fought and died in its vicinity in 1916 and 1918 would not exist today. We are very privileged to count him as one of our dearest friends.
Please contribute to this website, spread the word and make donations to the Crater's upkeep.

8 May 2010 - Woodnesborough, Sandwich, Kent CT13 0NJ

John Morgan

My 15 yr old son, Tom, has just returned from a school GCSE History field-trip to the Great War battlefields and managed a brief visit to Lochnagar. They were only able to stay for a few minutes, as they had so many other places to visit, but the whole experience certainly made an impression on him. I shall never forget what he said to me when he got back concerning the first war cemetery they had visited; he said, "Dad, when we pulled up outside the cemetery and saw those thousands of graves all perfectly in alignment the whole coach fell silent." Now considering there were about 45 noisy teenagers on that coach, no doubt with their ipods and their mobile phones, then that was some achievement. That is why it is vital that our young people visit these places for generations to come. My thanks to my cousin George Parr, a 'Friend of Lochnagar' for the copy of the 'New Chequers' he sent us prior to Tom's trip.

1 April 2010 - Leyland, Lancashire

Sarah and Robin King

Well done Clive and Peter. The site is very informative and attractive. Wonderful selection of photos.

20 March 2010 - Perle, Luxembourg

Simon Pettett

A vast improvement which I'm sure will continue to grow due to the dedication of 'The Friends'.

3 March 2010 - Burgess Hill, West Sussex

Iain Fry

I hope this website helps visitors understand a little of the sacrifice of others made during The Great War. The Friends of Lochnagar give of their time and effort in order to maintain the Crater as a Memorial to them . Any donations by visitors to this website, or to the Crater itself, are truly gratefully received, in order to assist the continued upkeep of this place for the future.

3 March 2010 - Swindon. Wilts. UK

Vic and Diane Piuk

The new site is looking good and will no doubt improve further as more work is done to it. Congratulations all round!
Please support Richard and the Friends as there is a tremendous amount of work which goes on all the year round to keep Lochnagar the special place that it is and it fully deserves our support.
Special thanks must go to Richard as without him it would have long vanished or deteriorated perhaps beyond rescue. An all round good egg.

3 March 2010 - Hardecourt aux Bois, Somme, France

Warren Osborne

Great site, Well done Clive and Peter, I'll look forward to seeing it finished.

24 February 2010 - Duffield Derbyshire

Matthew Hurley

The new site looks great, well done to all involved.

24 February 2010 - New Byth, Aberdeenshire

Les Disbrey

A very promising site which without doubt will attract many visitors.

16 February 2010 - Pinner,Middx.

Debbie Wilbur

Love the improved site - keep up the good work!

6 June 2009 - Burbage, Leicestershire

Haze

Well done, a very infomative and interesting website.

5 June 2009 - Surrey

Peter Reed

Test Message from the webmaster.
I hope that this guestbook proves a useful addition to the site.

3 June 2009 - Epsom

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