Up early to ensure we were poignantly placed for the 95th anniversary of the Somme battle. Richard's grandfather, Bertram Corthorn DCM, was in the 12th Battalion York and Lancashire regiment (Sheffield City Battallion). Their position on 1st July 1916 was in one of four copses named Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. 2000 soldiers from the battalion were positioned in trenches at the edge of the copses waiting for the whistle to charge. In less than an hour nearly 60...

Writing this in Albert, Somme with minimal wifi so apologies if brief. Uneventful journey down, forgetting the 2 hour power cut in channel tunnel. Thankfully not our train but a previous one. Arrived on France to beautiful sunshine. TomTom took us close to Belgium and our lunch had Flemish choices though we went for fromage and jambon baguette and an albeit Belgian beer. Area dotted with mostly British cemeteries. About 2000 in all. 750,000 British and Commonwea...