Modern aerial photographs
Images taken 7 October 2011 by Terry Blackwood. All images are copyright La Boisselle Study Group and cannot be reproduced without their permission.
Aerial oblique looking from Lochnagar Crater towards La Boisselle. The boundary of the Glory Hole site is marked.
Aerial oblique looking from Lochnagar Crater towards the village of La Boisselle. British trenches marked in blue, German lines in red. The narrowness of No Man
Detailed view of the British section of Glory Hole. British/French trenches in yellow, German trenches marked in red.
Close up view of British-French trenches showing openings of X Incline and W Adit.
I am visiting the site today with a Group from Bury Grammar School CCF. It is an incredible piece of history and archaeology.
St. James Catholic High school, Cheadle Hulme had the privilege to visit the La Boiselle project.
A unique experience not to be missed. The pupils could not believe their luck and fully appreciated the experience.
We would like to thank Ian and Peter for allowing us the opportunity to visit giving the pupils at St James a truly memorable experience. Good luck with the project and hope to visit again next year.
Regards,
Mrs Louise Birch (Head of History)
I was there with my father and two brothers a week ago today (1/11). Richard and Iain were nice enough to take us in and show us around. Truly amazing!
Great photos, I have stood near the crater a few times and wondered where the trench systems ran,I will be there again with some friends in March.Hope we can see some work taking place.Many thanks for the job you do. Frank Nattriss
Good morning Madam, good morning Sir,
I am a Briton, a friend of Sophie Carluer (19tf Rgt). For an exposition in 2014 for the Centenary of the WW1, I am looking for some
aerial -then and now- photos of Ovillers -La Boisselle taken by Terry Blackwood in october 2011. The villge and the glory crater.Could you send me them?
I am working on the memory of the soldiers of the 118 th Rgt (Quimper-Cornwall) who fought with the 19th (Brest)before august 1915 in this bloody sector, just before your great fathers.
Thank you very much.
Alain Le Berre
My great uncle (George William Whaley) is buried at the Gordon Dump Cemetery about 300 yards away and he died in the Somme offensive, I’ve visited this area a great deal over the last few years to put flowers on his grave but never knew that the tunnel entrances were this close to his last resting place. I will be visiting his grave again at the end of August and wondered if the tunnels would be open at this time?
Have just got home this evening from visit to the battle fields ( with Leger holidays). we were due to visit the Newfoundland cemetery/museum, but because the Canadian attache was visiting were unable to go in! This turn out to be a bonus for me and my son Tom, as our tour guide Iain is part of the La Boiselle Study Group. He took us to the site and gave the group a personal tour.
Iain`s obvious enthusiasm for this project was clear for all to see, I felt privileged to be able to visit the site.
Thanks Iain for your great input on our trip.
Dave Dale
Have recently visited the battlefield area of the Somme. We were recommended to visit La Boiselle Project by our hosts Diane & Vic Piuk. We were not disappointed.
Despite being very busy continuing the excavation work we were shown around by Peter and Richard. We are from a mining area in South Yorkshire and feel proud to have seen and heard about the contribution tunnellers made to the war effort.
Thank you
Phil Chappell