On our first day of cycling, we set off for a 26 mile
journey, we started with Lochnagar crater, a German redoubt under which the
British had placed 60,000 pounds of ammonal explosive after six months of
digging for the first of July 1916 offensive which turned into one of the
biggest military failures in british history. The ammonal explosive created a
100 foot deep and 300 feet wide crater .
A local researcher on site showed as
an authentic World War 1 helmet, bayonet, and bullets. We then headed off to Fricourt, the only German
cemetery in the Somme.
We then
cycled on to the Devonshire cemetery, the wind blowing in our face ensuring
coolness in the summer heat. There, we were able to view where both sides of
the line would have been visible, and hear the heart-wrenching stories of men
who knew they would die. We listened to a poem created a hundred years ago on
the very same spot. We headed back off towards Mametz for lunch, however, on
the way Mr Creek and I pulled a prank on Miss Selby. Mr Creek gave me his
talkie walkie and with it I told Miss Selby, who did not know who was talking
to her, in French that she had ordered a saucisson and a roti de boeuf (roast
beef) and that it was €20. The only other information she got was that this was
the butcher of Mametz, we left a perplexed Miss Selby for the rest of the trip!
We then arrived at Mametz and had lunch by the Welsh memorial.
By the
afternoon, the ride was taking its toll and we were all happy to be heading
back to Albert. On our way we stopped at the Delville wood Cemetery where all
the South Africans are buried. Finally we headed back to Albert, after 26 mile
ride we were happy to arrive.
