Sites: Beaumont-Hamel (part of the Somme Offensive) and the British Monument & Interpretive Centre at Thiepval
Questions:
Why did so many go missing in 1916? How did the war change in 1917?
How Canadian was the Canadian Corps?
How significant was the Vimy Ridgee victory and the Canadian contribution?
Some thoughts or reflections on from the day... (not necessarily directly answering these questions)
- Our tour guide spoke about identities being lost - not just missing people. Whole towns had to be rebuilt after the war (and again after WWII). This affects the community identity. Our tour guide spoke of a soldier who changed his name after the war and became a writer. (I can't remember more details than that - it was a long flight) I thought that was an other interesting interpretation of the missing or lost after the war. Not only those men who were physically missing, but also all the men suffering from PTSD ("shellshock" at the time) who lost a piece of themselves that maybe not everyone could see.
- The memorial sites we visited today were not celebrations of victory, but were about honouring the lost soldiers. The Beaumont-Hamel guide spoke about it being a place for not only the British (including the Newfoundland regiment) and French, but also a place for Germans to come to remember losses. Someone (I'm sorry I can't remember who - I'm tired) also pointed out the losses are different than today. There were a lot more, and most (all) couldn't get a proper burial. Many families have no place to go to honour their lost. Today, we are able to bring home our fallen soldiers and have things like the Highway of Heroes to honour them as they return to their loved ones. It reminded me a little about this article from a year ago about the differences in the way countries remember the war.
At the entrance to Beaumonttt-Hamel site, honouring the Newfoundland Regiment
Monument to Newfoundland, using material/plants reminiscent of Newfoundland, and the caribou.
Danger Tree
The Monument at Thiepval (part of the Somme Offensive), getting ready for 100th Anniversary next year.
Cemetery at Thiepval - French crosses, British tomb stones.
I find the topic of the missing really interesting. As stated, we often focus on the physically missing or the MIA. Especially in previous wars (I think things are improving), the emotionally/mentally missing were ignored or overlooked. Sure "shell shock" may have been diagnosed, but how were veterans helped to bring back the emotional parts of them that were missing or completely altered?
ReplyDeleteAlso, do you have details about the Danger Tree?
hi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteWe had a short discussion about how attitudes have changed from shell shock" to PTS. It used to be something men were told to get over, then a "disorder", and now more of an accepted natural response to very traumatic events. Now it is more worrisome if someone were to come back with no psychological trauma.
The Danger Tree was something I was interested in because I had read about it before I left. It's in the middle of no man's land at Beaumont-Hamel and was a point where the Newfoundlanders headed when they went over the top. It was a real tree at the time, and now there is a replica in its place.