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 Posted by CockneyTone » Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:08 pm
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.png) Lieutenant-Colonel Registered user Posts: 441 |
| Borderites! I have just obtained a copy of the said publication that apparently was one of 1k copies published in 1981. I am just starting to read through it but should anybody wish a day looked up please let me know, it covers 1st Jan - 30th June 1916! Regards, Scottie. |
| Posted by CockneyTone » Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:12 pm
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Lieutenant-Colonel Registered user Posts: 441 |
| Chris, sorry, only just noticed your previous post on this book! For your info I hope to visit his grave at Dantzig Alley next week to pay my respects! Regards, Scottie. |
| Posted by kerchi » Sat Mar 06, 2010 2:34 pm
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 Field-Marshal Administrator Posts: 2160 In memory of John Bardgett (15309 L/Cpl.) 11th Border Regiment Who died 1st July 1916. |
| Hi Scottie, no worries, it's a great diary and deserves another mention. What do you think of it so far? I would love to be able to use on the Wiki but unfortunately this publication just isn't old enough. I started a Linzell page on the wiki a while back but haven't progressed any further. Not even sure if the publisher exists any more as I tried to phone them about a year ago and all I got was a home number and the lady who answered had never heard of it!! Chris P.s. Wish I was joining you Scottie on your little visit; any chance of a photo for the wiki site please? |
| Posted by CockneyTone » Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:57 pm
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Lieutenant-Colonel Registered user Posts: 441 |
| Chris, no probs, will try and visit him. Only just started reading it but enjoying it so far. Regards, Scottie. |
| Posted by kerchi » Sat Mar 06, 2010 11:52 pm
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Field-Marshal Administrator Posts: 2160 In memory of John Bardgett (15309 L/Cpl.) 11th Border Regiment Who died 1st July 1916. |
| Scottie, let me know what you think of your purchase as I have read this through a couple of times and would be interested of your views. I did find it a little vague in places but saying that it does give some insight to what was happening, even if sometimes it doesn't explicitly talk about the action but more about the 'minor' things that are happening at the time. Still, a riveting read nonetheless. So, are you still doing your trips to the Somme? I can't remember but do you do your own tours? I'm still interested in going. Chris |
| Posted by CockneyTone » Sun Mar 07, 2010 9:04 am
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Lieutenant-Colonel Registered user Posts: 441 |
| Chris, yep, still doing the odd bit of guiding, but don't advertise, just repeat custom and word of mouth. Just going over for a 'crafty' overnighter as I like to call them, taking three mates for a bit of a 'spring' walk around Flers on the Somme, also using it as a bit of a recce to look around Guedecourt as I have had an enquiry about running a visit/trip to there for someone. I have actually been ignoring the Great War a bit and concentrating on the Boer War as I am still hoping to get out there to follow my Grandfathers footsteps with the Borders! Hope to finish the Diary before my trip so will let you have my feedback. Would love to have a stroll around the Somme with you visiting the Border locations! Regards, Scottie. |
| Posted by kerchi » Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:55 pm
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Field-Marshal Administrator Posts: 2160 In memory of John Bardgett (15309 L/Cpl.) 11th Border Regiment Who died 1st July 1916. |
| Scottie, taking in a few walks to cover some of the Border's routes with you would be great, especially as I am interested in all battalions of the regiment (although you know my main preference is the 11th) so there would be plenty of choice, maybe someday soon. When we looked at some of the tours they were so expensive I would rather put it towards a bigger two week holiday from our every increasing list of places to visit, £500 for three nights up to £1000 for 5 nights is a little bit on the steep side for the amount of time away. Enjoy the diary, it has some interesting bits in it. Chris |
| Posted by CockneyTone » Sat Mar 13, 2010 9:49 pm
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Lieutenant-Colonel Registered user Posts: 441 |
| Fellow Borderites, I managed to visit 2nd Lt Linzell MC to pay my respects and have posted a picture of his headstone! Regards, Scottie. |
| Posted by CockneyTone » Sat Mar 13, 2010 9:53 pm
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Lieutenant-Colonel Registered user Posts: 441 |
| The family had a rather sad personal inscription engraved on the headstone; NO NO NO OH GOD NOT FOR NAUGHT
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| Posted by kerchi » Sun Mar 14, 2010 1:08 am
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Field-Marshal Administrator Posts: 2160 In memory of John Bardgett (15309 L/Cpl.) 11th Border Regiment Who died 1st July 1916. |
| Scottie, would like to have been with you to pay my respects too. How was it the trip? Anyway, thanks a million for posting the pictures here. Can I use the photos on the wiki site for Lizell's page? Chris |
| Posted by CockneyTone » Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:27 am
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Lieutenant-Colonel Registered user Posts: 441 |
| Chris, would be pleased if you used the pictures elsewhere, no problem. We had a fantastic trip, two days of constant sunshine, however a freezing wind that simply cut you in half! But we were well wrapped up so kept the chill at bay! We got to the Somme late morning, the B & B (can I post details?) let us book in early and welcomed us with a splendid cup of tea, we then went straight out for a walk around Flers then up to Guedercourt, I needed to do a recce on that area for a possible trip later in the year that I may be guiding!
We were concentrating on the Tank attack of the 15th September 1916. As we started our stroll we stood next to the French Memorial my mate saw he was standing on two live 303 bullets that had been turned up by the recent ploughing, a couple of yards away we saw a shell nose cone! The next day after a splendid 'full English' breakie we walked down the footpaths to the NZ memorial then onto Deville Wood and back up to Flers! We found a monster dud shell during that walk, I will post a picture if you are interested. You mentioned earlier the cost of a trip, well if you plan well and have access to a car (Not sure that you have?) it works out quite reasonably, we went via the Tunnel, took loads of grub with us and a couple of small gaz stoves for a brew up as we walked, the whole trip came to £440 for the four of us, so £110 each, that included insurances, breakdown cover, motorway tolls grub, B & B, evening meal with wine etc! We could have knocked £40 off if we took a ferry i/l of the Tunnel but we wanted more time on the Somme! So it can be done more reasonably, obviously adding more days to it increases the sum accordingly! |
| Posted by spike » Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:30 am
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 General Global moderator Posts: 1788 In memory of John Farrer (19455 Pte.) 11th Border Regiment k.i.a. 1st July 1916 |
| Sounds like an excellent trip, Scottie. Very poignant, the inscription - it cries out with the grief of a family that has lost a loved one. |
| Posted by kerchi » Sun Mar 14, 2010 5:32 pm
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Field-Marshal Administrator Posts: 2160 In memory of John Bardgett (15309 L/Cpl.) 11th Border Regiment Who died 1st July 1916. |
Hey Scottie, sounds like you had a bit of luck on your side with regards to the decent weather. I don't mind the cold so much but everything always seems so much better when the sun makes an appearance and brightens the day! 8)Thanks for the piccies, I will add them to Linzell's wiki page today. Posting B&B details is perfectly okay, they would probably appreciate the word being spread, especially if you liked it so much. It certainly sounded welcoming. As for the route and potentially dangerous finds, I can honestly, with everything falling into place, this little trip sounds like a gem and most successful.
 CockneyTone wrote:You mentioned earlier the cost of a trip, well if you plan well and have access to a car (Not sure that you have?) it works out quite reasonably One of the reasons why we looked at tours was because we don't drive and so hiring a car, for instance, isn't really an option for us. This kind of puts a rather large spanner in the works and is probably one of the reasons why I keep delaying the Somme trip. The prices you mention are great, very reasonable indeed, but for us it would cost considerably more and unfortunately our friends don't share the same enthusiasm for visiting battlefields as we do. I think I would like to spend a minimum of 3 days there with the option of upping it to 5 maybe if we'd like to see some other 'stuff'. We'll still think about our options. A meet up there with you would be something to consider in the not too distant future though. |
| Posted by CockneyTone » Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:51 am
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Lieutenant-Colonel Registered user Posts: 441 |
| Spike, possibly one of the saddest inscriptions I have seen!
Chris, would love to meet up with you over there with you sometime and follow the footsteps of the Border boys! I do like my 'crafty overnighters' as I call them but agree that with your interest in the subject a longer stay would be preferable for you! The B & B is called OTAGO View and can be found at www.fieldsoffrance.com and is run by Peter & Hilary Smith, Peter is an excellent Guide and a fellow member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides! Please see below a picture of a 'little find' we tripped over near the NZ Memorial! (Yours truly on the left!) |
| Posted by kerchi » Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:05 pm
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Field-Marshal Administrator Posts: 2160 In memory of John Bardgett (15309 L/Cpl.) 11th Border Regiment Who died 1st July 1916. |
| Crikey, that is one heck of a relic. The dudd, NOT you of course, just in case you were wondering!!! I know that a lot of shells and bullets get found all the time but shells that big....how do you know it is safe to move? Looks complete! You've probably seen quite a collection on your travels. Regarding the B&B, which looks welcoming by the way, maybe you could start a new thread with recommendations of B&B's etc. you like; this would be useful for anyone researching places to stay. Just a suggestion. |
| Posted by CockneyTone » Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:01 am
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Lieutenant-Colonel Registered user Posts: 441 |
| Chris, as a general rule of thumb I don't touch them, my 'idiot mate' had stood this one up! it had obviously just been cleared from a newly ploughed field and was awaiting collection with about half a dozen smaller ones. We did have a laugh about it as they had just been left at the end of the local football pitch! Would not want to be taking the corners on that pitch! A couple of years ago I was at the Lochnager crater when an even larger shell had been unearthed, a French school teacher was sat astride it, surrounded by his school class and he was explaining its workings whilst tapping it with his whistle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We did see a lot of unexploded shells on this visit, approximately thirty plus! I am guessing that is because we were walking a bit off the beaten track on one of the less visited areas on the Somme. Many of them had obviously received a visit prior to us by a local as many of them had recently had their brass 'banding' removed from them! (A very dodgy hobby!) A good idea on the B & B, where should I start a thread? (The Lounge?) |
| Posted by kerchi » Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:11 pm
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Field-Marshal Administrator Posts: 2160 In memory of John Bardgett (15309 L/Cpl.) 11th Border Regiment Who died 1st July 1916. |
| CockneyTone wrote: A couple of years ago I was at the Lochnager crater when an even larger shell had been unearthed, a French school teacher was sat astride it, surrounded by his school class and he was explaining its workings whilst tapping it with his whistle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe that!! That's crazy-mad-fool behaviour, especially with all those kids and not knowing if it was safe. I guess if he knew it was safe that would be fine but I would tend to agree with you, as much as I would like a souvenir (of sorts) such as a bullet casing or something, I certainly wouldn't touch them. Regarding the B&B thread, you could start it in 'the lounge' or maybe in the 'Media & Information' board. I could create a child board there called 'Battlefield Accommodation' or something of the like. Could even add it to the 'Western Front' board. What do you think? |
| Posted by CockneyTone » Tue Mar 16, 2010 11:14 pm
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Lieutenant-Colonel Registered user Posts: 441 |
| Chris,
perhaps a Battlefield Accommodation in the western Front area might be the place to put one? Let me know where you would prefer it and I will add a couple of places I would recommend! Regards, Scottie. |
| Posted by kerchi » Wed Mar 17, 2010 12:04 am
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Field-Marshal Administrator Posts: 2160 In memory of John Bardgett (15309 L/Cpl.) 11th Border Regiment Who died 1st July 1916. |
| Scottie, that's sounds good to me; I'll create a board in the Western Front forum and then individual threads can be started for different accommodation. If they have websites, links can be added and if there are any images available, or if you have any yourself, that would be a bonus so people can see what the places look like. Getting back to Linzell's diary, I think I am going to have another read of it myself on my lunch breaks at work....it's nice to pass the time with something interesting to read. Chris |
| Posted by CockneyTone » Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:25 pm
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Lieutenant-Colonel Registered user Posts: 441 |
| Chris, thanks, I have started a new thread regarding the B & B. Will have to get stuck into the book again myself and get this thread back on its original track! Regards,scottie. |
| Posted by CockneyTone » Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:36 pm
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Lieutenant-Colonel Registered user Posts: 441 |
| Borderites, well had a good look through the diary again and have quite enjoyed it, a bit slow at times but it highlights the monotony and reality of life in and out of the trenches. Must admit I smiled a bit reading the letter from his 'batman' Pte. Elson to Mrs. Linzell apologising for returning Harold's under clothes with out washing them! Happy reading, Scottie. |
| Posted by kerchi » Mon Apr 05, 2010 1:48 pm
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Field-Marshal Administrator Posts: 2160 In memory of John Bardgett (15309 L/Cpl.) 11th Border Regiment Who died 1st July 1916. |
| Scottie, I have read some parts of the diary again. I do tend to agree with you that some sections are somewhat slow and he doesn't really say anything about anything, however, some parts do stand out a little and some of them are quite interesting to read.
Tuesday 18th January, when he becomes ill and at the end of the day he feels like "nothing on earth" and then the next day he is taken to hospital with a temperature of 102 degrees. The part I found a little amusing was when, on Wednesday the 26th, he was "rather severely told off" by the sister because he went outside. I could spend hours quoting Linzell's diary even though some of it is mundane, the quirky parts or descriptions of some of the action did make me want to turn the pages. I'd like to be able to get in touch with the author of the book to ask for permission to use it but I don't know how it is best to do that; don't even know if he is still alive. |
| Posted by CockneyTone » Mon Apr 05, 2010 8:28 pm
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Lieutenant-Colonel Registered user Posts: 441 |
| Chris, I have tried 'googling' the Author but have drawn a blank! Looking at the publication it came out in 1981, might be worth a try contacting the publishers, if they still exist! Regards, Scottie. |
| Posted by kerchi » Sat Jan 08, 2011 11:34 pm
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Field-Marshal Administrator Posts: 2160 In memory of John Bardgett (15309 L/Cpl.) 11th Border Regiment Who died 1st July 1916. |
| I tried that a while ago but all I got was a private home telephone number and the person on the other end had never heard of the publishers. Unless I got the number wrong I am not sure what other options there are.....a little frustrating. |