Serre Road Cemetery #1

If we can, we try and give the boys a bit of history on the way home. Son #1 is starting GCSE history this year and so a trip around the Somme seemed appropriate.

We've been here before and it's always moving. Waste of young life on a massive scale. It's hard to imagine when you stand here today but I think it's important that we remember and that we nudge our kids into remembering.

Anyway, we went to Thiepval, Lochnager crater, London Cemetery and Extension at Longueval, Railway Hollow cemetery, where we were hassled by a local farmer (as have others). Railway Hollow has a memorial to the Accrington Pals and craters and trenches still remain.

Son #1 took it all in and gave me the detailed story of how the war began.

As Harry Patch put it, it was really just an extended family argument.

Anyway, nothing I can write can possibly sum it all up. It seems as relevant as ever, the need to get on.