2006 Last Day

Day eleven 11th July

We are off to Dunkerque today for the ferry home but today is the reason we are here, 90 years ago to the day, my grandfather was here in Albert with the DLI.  It was day eleven of the Battle of the Somme and its the first place we know for sure where he was since two or three days before it started.  So I wanted to be where he was on the same day 90 years on, I never met him, he died in the shipyards in the 1930s, but I have his diary for 1916 and feel I know him well.  I will be back one day to visit some of the other places I know he was but not necessarily on the exact day.

(11 JUL TUESDAY 1916

Relieved early this morning by the Camerons of First Brigade, in their kilts, a man in a skirt never looked better than the one who says “I’ll tak over from here sonny”. We headed out and made our way to Albert and luckily, we managed, to get out without any additionally casualties.

In Albert, met some lads from Hartlepool and had a bit of crack with them over some delicious hot food. After having been fed and watered I was very tired, so I wished the lads luck and went off to my billet.

Tonight my nerves are shattered, although our company did not actually go over the top this time, we were shelled almost entirely the whole time we were in and have again witnessed things that no one should ever have to see. I have lost a couple of friends over the last few days and tonight my thoughts and prayers go out to their families, as well as my own.)

Before we leave Albert, we first visit Aldi, to buy the things we saw the day before, red and white wine, several pack of the beer Ty Ternal Abbey (it is just like Leffe and is now at Aldi in this country at less than half the price) and the boules, the BBQ has no cable so we just leave it (latter we realise we have a cable the same at home, never mind).

On the way out of Albert we visit the Lochnagar Crater at the village of La Boiselle, the largest mine crater on the Western Front.  It is a very impressive hole, it looks like a meteor crater, there is a school visit there at the same time as us, sadly they don't look very interested.  We also visit one of the many war cemeteries, the British cemetery and memorial at Pozières, before heading off for the coast.

As we have plenty of time before the ferry, can take our time and stop for more beer to take back anywhere along the way. We head for the A1 along the D929 and from the A1 take the A26 for Calais. On the map, just off the A26 near Lens, we spot a Champion supermarket with a petrol station and head off the motorway to find it. After a bit of a detour we find it and stock up with much more wine, beer and lots of steak haché, fresh and frozen (we like them and its BBQ season at home). Then over for Diesel but its one that will not take my cards, so its back on the A26. At Calais we get on the A16 but instead of heading for Dunkerque we turn left and head for the supermarket at the tunnel instead. We get more beer more steak haché and some gifts for the girls but we can never find the petrol station there. So its back on the A16 towards Dunkerque and head into Gravelines for a walk before checking in to the terminal, now there should be a petrol station there but there but isn't, this one caught us out in 2004, then it was closed, this time it is gone. Very luckily there is one just a just bit further on, as we would have run out.

The town square has been done up since we were last there and it looks good, also the car park that was used as an unofficial Aire is now an Aire. After a walk along the very long pier we head off for the ferry and arrive very early but we just join the queue. Then its off home.