Leaving the build

We’d committed some time ago to going away the first three days in August. We were looking forward to it although we didn’t really want to leave the build. It was the first time the builders would be left to their own devices. What would happen? What would we come back to? We left contact numbers and urged them to call about any query at any time. As we drove off our anxiety levels rose.

We were heading off to Arras in northern France for three days on a trip with my sister and her family. Our grandfather had fought there in the First World War. With the aid of his diary and some great research by my brother we planned to visit places he had been when he was a wireless operator supporting an artillery battery at the front during the battle of Arras. I had attended the 100 year anniversary commemorations last year on 9 April with my two brothers but had not had time to visit any of the sites or memorials hence the decision to go back with my sister.

It was very sobering to hear about the loss of life and devastation caused. Arras was on the front line for most of the war and, although it is difficult to believe now, the whole of the centre of the city was virtually razed to the ground. After the war they rebuilt it brick by brick back to the original state and you wouldn’t know, very impressive.

We visited Vimy Ridge just outside of Arras which was captured by the Canadians and is seen as the beginning of Canada’s evolution from dominion to independent nation. At the Lens ’14-18 museum we learned about the history of the war in the north of the Pas de Calais.

We also toured the Carriere Wellington where the memorial service had been held the previous year. This is a series of underground tunnels dug by New Zealand miners six months before the battle which joined up disused quarries from the middle ages. These were used to house nearly 24,000 troops up to eight days before the attack. When battle started at 5.30am GMT on Monday 9 April 1917 it was a surprise for the Germans and the Allies were finally able to break the deadlock of the previous three years. However, only due to a great loss of life. An average of 4,000 men died each day in this battle.

My grandfather was lucky to survive. We visited St Catherine just outside Arras where he was stationed when the attack happened. On Thursday 12 April he walks up to what used to be the German frontline and mentions the ‘complete desolation’ and ‘3 mine craters said to be the largest on Western Front’. We found a couple of miles away those mine craters, still impacting the landscape more than 100 years later.

In the now ploughed field of what used to be no man’s land poppies grow.

It was a moving and worthwhile trip commemorating those who gave their lives and survived and an opportunity for good family time as we enjoyed the delights of Arras today.