First day of the battle of Passchendaele: the Boezinge sector (Photo Blog)

7/31/2017

Welsh Cemetery "Caesar's Nose" at Boezinge.

Today, 100 years ago, the battle of Passchendaele began

Break through the German defences. Cut of their supplies.
Push forward towards Zeebrugge and capture the U-boats harbors.
It was as simple as that. Just break through.

A German minelaying submarine at Zeebrugge.
Source: http://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/323/41/large_000000.jpg?action=d&cat=photographs

The 3th battle of Ypres began on the 31st of July 1917 after an opening bombardement of ten days. More than 3000 canons fired their deadly spawn upon the German defences.

These same Germans had been expecting an assault and started months before with the building of their famous defense system: all separate lines of bunkers and other strongholds.

The "breakthrough" came 105 days later and the ground gained was only 8 km. The U-boats harbors were never reached. Victory became slaughter instead. A disaster that destroyed a generation, that divided so many dead from the living.

From Boezinge to Pilkem

Boezinge (near Ypres, on the other side of the canal), view on the old railway towards the canal. This railway was the line that separated the Guards division and the 38th division.

A while ago we travelled to the village Boezinge to visit the start positions of the Guards and the 38th Welsh divisions on that 31st of july 1917.

It was a cloudy misty morning and the summer feeling was far away.

Welsh Cemetery "Caesar's Nose"

We started at Welsh Cemetery, Caesar’s Nose. The Cemetery is named after the spot Caesar’s Nose which was part of the German trenches facing the village of Boezinge. It’s one of those small hidden cemeteries, with nothing but the sound of the wind.

Welsh Cemetery "Caesar's Nose" at Boezinge.

Welsh Cemetery "Caesar's Nose" at Boezinge.
The graves of 6 Welsh soldiers.

We were confronted with the graves of 6 Welsh soldiers, buried next to each other. All were killed on the first day of the battle or during the trenchraids in the days before. These raids went on during the night and were essential for getting a clear view on the situation of the German frontline.

We took our time to walk around and my wife Sarah discovered a small stone in the corner of the cemetery . “From South Wales, a little bit of home” was written on it. A very symbolic thing which touched us both that morning.

Welsh Cemetery "Caesar's Nose" at Boezinge.
We discovered a small stone in the corner of the cemetery: “From South Wales, a little bit of home”

Artillery Wood Cemetery

We left the 68 men behind us and travelled towards Artillery wood, a cemetery started by the Guards division after the battle. Artillery wood was right behind the cemetery. German artillery shelled the attackers from these positions.

Artillery Wood Cemetery at Boezinge.

One of the soldiers buried here is the famous poet known as Hed Wyn (private Ellis Humprey Evans).

Artillery Wood Cemetery at Boezinge.

At the end of the war 141 soldiers were buried here. Today, 1307 souls find their last resting place at Artillery Wood Cemetery.

After reading the moving inscriptions and names on the graves, we left Artillery Wood Cemetery and drove of to Goumier Farm.

The capture of Goumier Farm

Now overgrown and hidden behind the cornfield, Goumier Farm is one of the few concrete reminders of the fighting that took place here.

The machine-guns inside the bunker gave hard resistance on the attacking soldiers of the Black Watch. This stronghold was taken on the 31st of July and 20 German soldiers were captured along with their machine-guns.

Goumier Farm at Boezinge.

From the spot of Goumier Farm you have a clear view on the spires of the church of Langemark. The attack would strand in the fields in the far distance, right before the Steenbeek.

Boezinge, view from Goumier Farm towards Langemark.
In the far distance on the right you can see the church of Langemark.

The Ziegler bunker, an impressive stronghold

Another concrete stronghold is the Ziegler bunker, named after the engineer who designed it. Now in open field, but back in 1917 it was hidden between the trees of “wood 16” .

The Ziegler Bunker at Boezinge.

Early in the morning of the 31st of July 1917, it was taken by the French army who attacked on the left side of the British divisions. It’s a pretty unique type of bunker with his 20 meters length.

Even after more then 100 years of ploughing, deadly debris is still present in the fields around Ypres.

The Welsh National Memorial Park

Welsh National Memorial Park at Langemark-Poelkapelle, near Boezinge and Pilkem.

Raised in 2014, the red dragon commemorates the actions of all Welsh men and women involved in the great war and is the first and only national Welsh Great War Memorial outside Wales.

Welsh National Memorial Park at Langemark-Poelkapelle, near Boezinge and Pilkem.

It was near this spot that the poet Hedd Wyn lost his life.
He served in the 15th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, part of the 38th division.

Private Simon Jones recalled years after the war:

"We started over Canal Bank at Ypres, and he was killed half way across Pilckem. I've heard many say that they were with Hedd Wyn and this and that, well I was with him...
I saw him fall and I can say that it was a nosecap shell in his stomach that killed him. You could tell that... He was going in front of me, and I saw him fall on his knees and grab two fistfuls of dirt... He was dying, of course...
There were stretcher bearers coming up behind us, you see. There was nothing – well, you'd be breaking the rules if you went to help someone who was injured when you were in an attack."

Source: https://museum.wales/articles/2007-04-25/Welsh-bard-falls-in-the-battle-fields-of-Flanders//

Join us in remembering the men who fought and died

The battle of Pilkem ridge was the start of the 3th battle of Ypres. The attack stranded right before the Steenbeek and it would take until the 16th of August before the attack on Langemark could start.

At the end of the Battle of Passchendaele the allied forces lost about 275.000 casualties during 105 days, the Germans about 220.000.

"Dead but not forgotten"
Another moving inscription on a grave at Artillery Wood Cemetery.

Please reply and let us know if you have any relatives who fought during the 3th battle of Ypres.

Thank you for sharing our blogpost!

Sources
Before endeavours fade (Rose E.B.Coombs)
They called it Passchendaele (Lyn Macdonald)
Zeebrugge and Ostend (James W. Stock)
https://museum.wales/articles/2007-04-25/Welsh-bard-falls-in-the-battle-fields-of-Flanders//
http://www.wo1.be/nl/geschiedenis/gastbijdragen/militaire-en-burgerlijke-geschiedenis/de-slag-van-pilkem-de-gebeurtenissen-van-31-juli-1917-op-het-grondgebied-boezin

About our blog

We take you along our photographic journey through the World War battlefields in Belgium and France.

In remembrance of these World Wars, we highlight every month a specific battle, region or regiment.

With our black and white photographs and self written poetry, we share our impression of these historic, heroic and tragic events.

August 2017

From the 31st of July until November the 10th we remember the Battle of Passchendaele and the soldiers who fought and died in Flander’s mud during these 105 days of slaughter.

Discover how we tell the stories behind our black and white pictures from the battle of Pilkem Ridge to the battle of the Menin Road.