Wenches in Trenches are a group of women, from all walks of life, who raise money for military charities by doing a sponsored walk each year, around September time, on the western Front. The Great War saw large number of women serving as nurses or with the VAD (Voluntary Aid... read more →
Jan
07
Oct
09
The eulogy for George Harwood by the Chairman of the Friends of Lochnagar. 9th october 2015 – Whitley Bay. In my experience, there has never been anyone quite like George. I speak as a friend of 40... read more →
Aug
01
25th Battalion northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Irish) Killed in Action 1 July 1916, aged 29 John Foley was born in 1887 in Ballyhea, Charleville, Cork, Ireland, the son of David and Minnie Foley. When the 1901 census was taken... read more →
Aug
01
2nd Battalion Royal Scots. Shot at dawn 19 May 1918, aged 28. Robert William Sims was born at Haltwhistle, northumberland in 1890 (GRO reference: Jun 1890 Haltwhistle 10b 347), to sixteen year old Amy Simes.... read more →
Jul
07
The eulogy delivered at the funeral of Les Disbrey by the Chairman of the Friends of Lochnagar. 7 July 2015 - Contalmaison Church. This is without doubt one of the hardest things I... read more →
Jul
01
The two Lochnagars, one a mountain in Scotland, the other a Great War crater in France and now a Peace Memorial, are linked together by having the same name. With the advent of the Centenary year of the Great... read more →
Jun
20
The original wreath laying area around the cross was made in 2004. At the same time the entrance was made more formal with duck boarded tracks leading onto the site. Entrance to the Crater showing the two duckboard tracks, wooden ' knife rests ' and kerb... read more →
Feb
20
Extract from 'The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War' by Captain H. FitzM. Stacke MC. That afternoon the 58th Brigade attacked the La Boisselle salient, securing a lodgment on the southern face; and orders were sent for the 57th Brigade to move up after midnight. Rather than risk another jam in... read more →
Apr
20
Each year it is estimated that up to 250,000 people will walk around the Crater path. Whilst every visitor is welcome, the damage caused by wear and tear has been enormous. For instance, the chalk path itself has been eroded away at the rate of 6 inches in just 4... read more →
Aug
01
Its 4am on Tuesday 1st July 2008, Simon Pettett and I are driving south out of Arras on the N17 a long roman road heading towards Lochnagar. Somewhere to the east in the direction of Neuville Vitasse the... read more →

