The artifacts found with them were exceptionally well-preserved and sometimes showed the incredibly brutal force with which the artillery had struck their positions. The impact on some objects speaks for itself

Private Joseph Patrickson MM, 11/NF, 24

Private Arnold Sanderson MM, 11/NF, 26

An Unknown Soldier of the Northumberland Fusiliers

An Unknown Soldier of the Great War

2nd Lieutenant Leslie Wallace Ablett, 11/NF, 20

2nd Lieutenant Edward Douglas Bruty, 11/NF, 21

Serjeant Thomas Feasby, 11/NF, 32

Lance Corporal Stanley Blakeborough, 11/NF, 21

Private Harry Miller, 11/NF, 28

In 2021, these soldiers found eternal rest @cwgc.bsky.social Tyne Cot Cemetery. They were reinterred with military honors, and their descendants, dignitaries, and even The Duke of Kent in attendance.

photos @EricCompernolle

#FWW #History #Archaeology

On-site identification of 2/Lt Ablett was a pivotal moment. A gold ring with an inscription and an id-tag led the way to discovering the identities of other soldiers. This extensive effort eventually identified 7 out of 9 soldiers from the 11/Northumberland Fusiliers.

In 2018, a remarkable discovery unfolded during sewer construction in Oude Wervikstraat, Beselare. Human remains and #FWW artifacts were unearthed. The Flanders Heritage agency initiated on-site research, revealing soldiers interred in trenches and shell craters.

Tragically, heavy artillery shelling struck their positions on 14 October. On the following day, the war diaries grimly noted: 'C Coy very heavily shelled in the early morning - 2 Lt L.W. ABLETT and 2 Lt E.D. BRUTY ‘C’ Coy killed – Batt HQ shelled heavily.

The chances of identification seemed very poor, until thorough historical research followed by DNA led to the identification of a young soldier from Newfoundland, Private John Lambert.

For some cases the delay was too long and they died of their wounds at the RAP. These men were buried on the spot in field graves. Their burial site, erased by heavy shelling, remained unknown, until a few years ago the remains of 8 soldiers were recovered #FWW #Archaeology

For some reason the location of the RAP remained unknown by Field Ambulances and evacuation of the wounded didn't start. On his own initiative, the M.O. of the Hants started sending German POW's back to evacuate stretcher cases and so restored the line of evacuation #History

That day, RAMC units of the 29th Division installed a Regimental Aid Post here at the banks of the Steenbeek (between Ruisseau Farm and Tuffs/Taffs Farm) in support of the attack on Langemark.
#FWW #Archaeology #History #WW1

Seven years ago he was finally laid to rest at
@cwgc.bsky.social New Irish Farm Cemetery. Before the ceremony we took his relatives to some key locations where we know their ‘Uncle Jack’ has been. It was an emotional moment when we reached the spot where he was found.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4oG...

Cpt Walker was killed when he jumped out of a bomb crater. Many witness accounts reported on his death, they varied greatly on how he met his end but they all agreed on how fearless he led his men, with his revolver in his hand, shouting: ‘Come on lads”.

In 2016 a new pipeline was constructed over the same ground. On this small stretch of land 15 soldiers were found. One of them was Henry John Innes Walker from New Zealand, killed at about the same time as the Gallipoli landing.

Germans took new positions overnight and where already at the farmhouse on the left (Oblong Farm). Unaware, the Warwicks advanced in closed formation. 20min later it was all over. 10th Brigade suffered 2000+ casualties (1/RW: 17 officers and 500 other ranks of whom 192 missing)