The Somme - France
The peace and serenity experienced on a day tour of this part of regional France is a far cry from what our soldiers would have experienced 100 years ago.
Staying two nights in Amiens, we were collected by our knowledgeable guide Miriam, from our hotel. Miriam an ex Aussie who has been living in France for 25 years – so language and understanding was not an issue. In between visiting the villages of Villers Bretonneux, Albert and Pozieres – we visited Adelaide Cemetery where the body of the unknown Australian soldier lay until recently. Lochnager crater memorial, which is nearly 30 metres deep just metres away from “no man’s land” & “sausage valley”. The Australian Corps memorial, the Australian War Memorial and Windmill hill which looks out over Mouquet Farm.
A visit to the Somme Museum is a must while visiting the region, the Museum is extremely well done and helped piece together every we had learned throughout the day. To anyone considering visiting the Somme region of France - I encourage you to do so - it is an experience which will stay with me forever.