Battlefields of World War One are a major part of our history and for many of us it is on our list of places to visit, so when my mother-in-law said she wanted to visit Theipval Memorial to the Missing for some time to see the name of her uncle, Rifleman Ernest Charles Saunders, who was killed in the Great War, we took the opportunity.  

We chose a tour with Leger Holidays from their Battlefields Brochure, called “All Quiet on the Western Front”. Hats off to Leger for arranging an amazing trip.  It bought to life the battles, the bravery and the incredible hardships that the soldiers endured,and not just the British and their allies;  the cemeteries we saw contained many young German dead as well.

We were accompanied the whole time by a very knowledgeable guide – a gentleman from Barnsley who brought the surroundings to life.  The tour starts with the battlefields of Flanders.  Some of the biggest battles were around Ypres, and more than 250,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers died in the area.  We visited Tyne Cot Cemetery, is where many people are buried from the battle for Passchendaele. We also stopped at Sanctuary Wood with its preserved trenches and wonderful museum.  At Ploegsteert, we heard the account of the Christmas Truce. The day ended in Ypres with the ‘Last Post Ceremony’.  Each night at 8pm, the Last Post is sounded at the Menin Gate.  The Menin Gate commemorates 55,000 men who were never found, from the battles close by.  The hardest amongst us could not help but be moved by the atmosphere every night at that ceremony.

The following day is the haunting Somme battlefields.  Both my grandfathers fought on the Somme and survived but not without injury.  My grandmother’s brother lost his life, as of course did my mother-in-law’s Uncle Charlie. The day began in Peronne where they have a brilliant Museum, also on this day we saw the largest British mine crater on the Western Front at La Boiselle, and the Newfoundland Park memorial to the Canadian forces, with its preserved trenches. The day ended at Thiepval, where we found the memorial to Uncle Charlie.  It was very emotional for my husband and his Mum; they felt like they had found the missing member of their family.

We pay tribute to Rifleman Ernest Charles Saunders whose body was never found.