From Flanders to The Somme...Your photographs.

[genjen]

The restaurant was still closed and we ended up paying a ridiculous amount of money for omelette and chips in a different one which plainly likes ripping off the tourists!

But as a first day, it had been quite amazing. I was looking forward to the next one......

[groom]

I visited the Menin Gate on the way home from a holiday a few years ago. It was during the day, but even then there was a peaceful, respectful atmosphere there.

Jan

[genjen]

The astonishing thing was that the following morning, it wasn't raining! It didn't last long but we did manage to go back to the Menin Gate to look for my two great uncles as well as your ancestors.
here is the Gate in sunshine. It is truly amazing to think that all of those walls are just covered with names.

[genjen]

The panels on the Menin Gate are huge and although it is in very good condition, some of them are slightly more faded or eroded than others. What we tried to do was to get a reasonably close up shot of each of your names and where possible, another, from slightly further back to give an idea of who else was named from each regiment or battallion. Some have worked better than others but I think you should be able to read your person's name.

Here is Leonard Arthur Johnson, for Kaybron.
I am sure it is him as all the details are correct but he does seem to have more initials than I was given. And there was no other person of this name on the panel numbers I had for him.

[genjen]

And John Henry Freeman for tedscout

He was right at the top of a section so not the easiest to read, sorry.

[J.J.]

The M.M. added at the end of some names should have had a space or no dots to stand it out..( Oh, I just looked again and there are 2 dots ( or comma?) between name & award, but still hard to distinguish)
 Military Medal  http://www.1914-1918.net/grandad/gallantry2.htm

Quote from site:
"First instituted in March 1916 as an award for distinguished service in the field for Warrant Officers, NCO's and lower ranks. The award of an MM was also possible for women. All awards of the MM were announced in the London Gazette, with no citation. No citations or receommandations now exist.

When you find the listing in the London Gazette, note the date of publication. The event for which the award was made was usually some 3-4 months before. MM awards are often mentioned in war diaries.

The recipient was allowed to use the initials MM after their name."

Hoo, Now I don't feel so badly about my spelling..."receommandations ? "
The Gazette note should be helpful for those searching though... link here for those who hadn't seen it yet...:  http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/

[genjen]

Thanks J.J. It did seem like an awful lot of initials and I did wonder about the Military Medal but wasn't sure.

Jen

[J.J.]

No problem...I had seen it under awards, for previous searches...otherwise I'd not have known myself. Sorry to interrupt the thread, tho!  Carry on!!      J.J.

[genjen]

Arthur Caunce for Rosedale.

This was a beautifully clear one. The second one shows how big the panel is, through the archway.