Sunset tonight from Haringhe (Bandaghem) cemetery; a smaller site, close to the French boarder, commemorating just over 800 casualties

In 1935 Frank was offered a new contract to work in Courcelette British Cemetery. Sadly he died in December 1936, leaving behind Marie and 6 year old Robert. It's believed he died as a consequence of a war wound. Frank was granted an IWGC staff headstone and buried in Courcelette Village Cemetery.

In the summer of 1919, shortly after being demobilised, Frank began working for the IWGC initially in the Godewaersvelde sector initially. He married Marie Soler in 1921, and the couple welcomed their only child, Robert, in 1930.

In early 1918, the battalion was disbanded and Frank transferred to the 13th Battalion. The 13th participated in the 1918 battles of the Somme in the St Quentin sector and the fierce fighting around Wytschaete in April 1918.

He would have been one of the new recruits to replace the men of the Sussex Pal's Battalions, who suffered terrible casualties in June 1916.
He is likely to have participated in the Battle of Passchendaele, as well as Pilkelm Ridge & Langemark.

After so many years, its wonderful to finally put a face to a name. Frank Hayward was born in Bristol in August 1898 to Henry & Minnie. He attested into the 12th Battalion Essex Regiment in August 1916, around the time of his 18th birthday.

There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme nor reason for the issuing of stones 🙃 the 4 who died in the canal in 1922 all have standard stones. But a chap who died in 1920 has a flat top?? Seems to most common 1925 onwards.

a gray headstone with a curved top and a carved cross, inscribed, "Lilian Cooper, 2nd June 1920"

There are not very many IWGC staff spouses buried in @cwgc.bsky.social cemeteries in France. Even fewer with the standard, curved-top headstone.

Lilian Cooper, wife of foreman A.B. Cooper, died in 1920 near the IWGC head office in St. Omer. She is buried in Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery.

gravestone of Herbert Dickens, a civilian gravestone (rectangular with rounded corners), in the fog with the Cross of Sacrifice in the background

mugshot of a middle-aged man in a striped jacket, lined face and dark hair, holding a chalk board with number 512

Herbert Dickens' internee information card, in German, with his photo, thumbprint, and address in Beaurains

Grave of Herbert Dickens in Longuenesse. He worked for the @cwgc.bsky.social in many capacities in France: gardener, mechanic, blacksmith, coppersmith, etc.

Dickens lived in Beaurains, near the current CWGC Experience. He was interned in 1940, along with his teenage son and daughter.

It's been a while since I last posted on here, but here's an update to the jeep since last year - now fully rigged with stretcher frame and set to airborne mode. Doesn't she look good?

#ww2 #ww2jeep

Civilian bombing victims’ graves in Bethune, France — broad, yellowish-gray stone markets with small metal name plaques and marble memorial plaques

One of the reasons I was in France was to visit the graves of civilian bombing victims like Jeanne (10) and Micheline (2) Vasseur, who were killed by Allied bombs in 1944.

It is beyond horrific that the US is now murdering hundreds of children in Iran in a war of braggadocio, not liberation.

What lovely weather we’re having 🙃 thank you for visiting them anyway!!

Grave of Paul Dematons, separated from a line of other CWGC graves by a small gap, photographed on a foggy morning

There is a plot of ~25 IWGC staff graves at Longuenesse, but also several other staff members scattered through the cemetery (like Lt. Paul Dematons (d.1924)).

I’ll be adding these to the list of staff burials curated by @poppymercier.bsky.social: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

My latest Legion Magazine article is out now, featuring an interview with British-born French resident and historian Poppy Mercier (@poppymercier.bsky.social), who has embarked on a journey to honour locally buried Canadian airmen from WW II.

legionmagazine.com/british-born...

📸 Poppy Mercier.

I sadly never met Jack, he died not long before I was born. He lived with these memories for the rest of his life. His stories have been passed down and now it’s my turn to start passing them along; sadly role of the Royal Navy in the American Sector is often passed over.

It killed every man on board and threw Jack out into the water, causing severe shrapnel wounds to both arms. He was rescued when a fellow Coxswain pulled him out of the water by his belt. Jack’s war was over; waking up a few days later in hospital.

Today WN72 is the American National Guard Memorial. The photo shows a large modern concrete memorial that sits atop the original German built concrete bunker system.

He came ashore piloting his LCA with men of the 116th Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division in Dog Green sector of the landing zone. Before they could even reach the beach they were hit by the 88 gun of WN72 situated on the beach at Vierville-sur-Mer.

He served in North Africa (Operation Torch) Sicily, Anzio and Salerno, piloting and working on Landing Craft (Assault). A few weeks ago I returned to the sector of Omaha Beach he landed on, 6 June 1944.

Uncle Jack
John “Jack” Marketis was my grandma Joan’s older brother. I was always quite close to her up to her death and I remember her telling me stories about her siblings including Jack. He joined the Royal Navy prior to the Second World War breaking out.

Original photo taken on 15th or 16th June 1944, showing 2 medics of the 326th airborne medical company speaking to locals of the town of Carentan. It appears they have a civilian casualty loaded on a stretcher on their jeep.

The same location, but a modern photo taken on 20th May 2025

L'église Notre-Dame de Carentan
Then & Now: 15/16 June 1944 to 20 May 2025
Members of the 326th Airborne Medical Company (101st Airborne Division) with one of their Jeeps parked in front of the church at Carentan talking to the locals.
Original photo courtesy of “WW2 US Medical Research Centre”

Burial service for 2 unknown commonwealth soldiers today in CWGC Ovillers Military Cemetery. Sadly their identities could not be discovered; they both receive a burial with full military honours. May they rest in peace, now alongside their comrades once more.

It was great to finally be able to visit Loos British Cemetery Extension at the start of the week. The new cemetery has been built to accommodate another 1,200 burials; with the increase of remains being found over the last 10 years such a site is now greatly needed.

All ready for a new season and out with my first group next week! If you’re looking for a local guide who can bring a fresh perspective to your tours, don’t hesitate to contact me; from a general Battle of the Somme tour or following in the footsteps of a relative, I’m always happy to assist

Stop No.3: Rancourt British Cemetery. Sitting between the large French and German cemeteries of Rancourt, it contains less than 100 burials. This includes the 3 aircrew killed in a crash on their return from Arras in 1940

Stop No.2: La Chapelette. This cemetery has a great mix of both British/Commonwealth and Indian troops. In 1940 the Germans used the empty side section of the cemetery to bury their dead.

A beautiful day for exploring the battlefields - visit No.1 to Brie British Cemetery, just outside of Péronne. Such a beautiful small cemetery out in the middle of nowhere with some fascinating burials.

Sunset over the Thiepval memorial this evening, looking towards the woodland at Authuille and Aveluy
#ww1 #somme

A beautiful service held today for L/Cpl George Rankeillor. He has previously been listed as missing on the Arras Memorial. Service was attended by the Household Cavalry and the Regimantal Association.

New unit markings on the jeep, more accurate to her unit (326 Airborne Medical Co)