July 2026  - Hot Summer on The Somme – 110 Commemorations - No.56 News

July  - when the days are long and hot, and there is much activity in terms of managing the landscape here, welcoming our guests and of course remembrance activities. The cover photo is Sausage Valley from Lochnagar Crater.

But firstly, an update on our storm damage. Thank you all so much for your messages of concern and support. It means so much that people across the globe are thinking of us and it has rallied us when slow French administration has brought us low! But we are resilient and have bounced back. You all mean a lot to us!

Current progress is that our new Renault is going to be in for repair for several more weeks. The recent storms, not just here but a similar incident in Marseilles means there is a shortage of skilled bodyworkers so it is taking a time. We are on our 3^rd loan car, not without having to exert a little pressure to secure them, but we are currently driving a manual box Renault Clio. We have wheels, that is all that matters.

The orange MG has had a new windscreen fitted and is waiting to go into the garage for bodywork repairs. The first garage it went to has closed down definitively. You couldn’t make it up.

Estimates for the house roof and verranda (dining room) roof have been accepted. We are now waiting for the works to be programmed in.

The important thing it is all slowly getting there. There is a phrase in French – Petit a petit, l’oiseau fait son nid. Little by little the bird makes it’s nest.

Our thoughts of course turn to those suffering the devastation of the terrible wildfires in South Western France and in Spain. Though we are far from that area, more than 200 fire personnel (pompiers) from this area have volunteered to go and help the effort. We applaud their devotion to duty and wish everyone to keep safe.

Arid view from La Boisselle. Stunning beauty.

Certainly the landscape here is arid and yellow gold. Baked by the sun and high temperatures there is very little green. The wheat harvest happened a month earlier than usual and the maize and potatoes in the fields are struggling. There are irrigation devices everywhere.

Tank Cemetery, Guemappe.

Apart from a few drops on one day, we have had no rain in July. Usually lush and vibrant, the landscape looks weatherbeaten and parched, almost like an echo of the devastation here 110 years ago. Even so there is a pared back beauty in the dry rolling undulations of the landscape dotted by dusty cemeteries, and we know nature heals and our lush Somme will soon be back.

Harvesting near Adanac Cemetery.

Of course, each day in July we can’t help but think of each day being another marking the Battle of The Somme. The headstones mark the days like a calendar, with no July day being exempt from commemorating someone’s loved one.  And this the 110^th anniversary year.

Clem lies in Ovillers.

Last month we included in our newsletter the last letter of John Scollen who fell on 1 July 1916.

This letter also moved us with its simplicity, love and resignation.

27th June 1916
My Dear Father,

Probably this will be my last letter to you. If so, by the time you receive this, you will have read in the papers of the great advance the British are making. We are taking part in this…in fact our platoon is the second over the parapet. You will know full well what this means. I need say no more.

If by any chance the worst comes to the worst, do not worry, dear Father. Many men have gone under in the cause for which we are all fighting…many men who were far better than myself.

I am not in the least afraid, and if I do go under, make it as easy as possible for Mother. I know you will both feel it, but Mother needs cheering up, you know; and always remember it will be anything but a disgraceful ending.

I know I am your only child, but there are many, many others; and always remember I tried to do my Duty to my Country.

At first you will feel the loss, but trust in God, dear Father, and He will pull you through.

The whole thing is one gigantic gamble, and I am and always have been ready for a gamble. I really think I shall come through, and I hope you never receive this. However, I am taking full precautions. We are all going into it with light hearts, and full of confidence in our powers to squash the ‘Hun’.

You in England have, I know, been waiting for this great advance. It comes tomorrow (28th inst) Your Birthday. Let us pray this is a good omen. We hope and think this will end the War, and I am one of the many who is content to do my Bit for the Old Country. Buck up the Mater, Dearest Father. At the same time I pray that this will not be necessary.

With much love to Mother and yourself…and keep smiling.

Always your loving son,

George.

George Priestley Townend from Bradford,of the 15th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Pals)  was killed in action on 1st July 1916. He is buried in Serre Road Cemetery no. 1.

1^st July – Lochnagar and Mametz

The 1^st July dawned a hot day -  the 110^th anniversary of The Somme Battle. As usual for us it was an emotional day with David filming the livestream and Julie Mistress of Ceremony at the Lochnagar Crater service at 07h28.

Quiet reflection at 6am on 1st July. 

We can’t explain that after all this time the emotion of the day still gets to us, especially poignant as Richard Dunning could not be here again this year due to ill health.  We did something very special this year. Everyone encircled the Crater and held hands in an act of unity, remembrance and reconciliation. It was like giving the Crater and the fallen, a big hug. Very special indeed. We have had so many positive comments about how personal the Lochnagar service is. That is Richard’s doing.

The Somme Battlefield Pipe Band. 

We also attended a very special lunch in the hunting lodge in Mametz Wood. In the clearing in the wood the air was thick with the souls of those who rest there still. We hope that the shared friendship of the group of French, British, German and  Dutch resonated with the boys we came to remember. Our thanks to Patrice, Maquis de Thezy, who owns the wood, for hosting. A highlight for Julie was translating for the very suave Maquis and then in the middle of the Wood, we read in English, French and German,  the Harry Fellowes poem – The Birds Sing Again In Mametz with the birds indeed singing. It sent shivers.

We then went on to the commemoration at Fricourt German Cemetery and at dusk, Becourt Military Cemetery.

Julie with Iain and Jean de Thezy in Mametz.

Chris & Sally in Mametz Wood

July Guests

A full house of course for 1^st July and everyone played their part in a special  day of remembrance. It was quite the house party with Sally and Chris from Wales,  David and Karen, Martin & Sue and Colleen.

Dear friends Sally and Chris, as well as renewing the Welsh slate plaques in our garden also brought over for us our 2027 Reservations Diary – we have used the same supplier and format since No.fifty6 began. – It is great to have the new diary  - we have already taken many bookings for next year and key dates such as 1^stJuly and 11th November 2027 are already allocated.

Last month dear friend and author Andy Rawson came for a week’s visit and he spent many a long day exploring the 1918 battlefield, using his book and the war diaries as a guide. Andy’s knowledge, happily shared with everyone around the table, as well as his wit and charm always makes for a great visit. Thank you Andy.

  Andy with some of his books

Throughout the month many guests have made their way through our door. From aged 13 to 85 we have had multi generations and it is great to see so many young people engaging with history.

Kieran and Dan have been exploring the history of The Western Front for many years, despite their youth! When not on the Somme they can be found as part of the team that look after Talbot House and entertain with concerts etc. It was a delight having them here.

Tina travelled independently from Sussex, a regular guest of ours. She was sorry to learn about our recent storm and got to work dead-heading our plants and tidying up the garden – so kind!

Glen, Bob and Ian from Manchester explored The Somme  - and as retired train company men, they even managed a ride on the little steam train – Le P’tit Train – always a good thing to do on a visit.

Sonya, Steve (more on Steve later in the animal postscript), Paul and Sylvia made their 3^rd visit to us. It was Paul’s ancestor Henry George Canepe who first brought them here. Henry served with the 1^st Rifle Brigade and died on 1^st July 1916. Young Henry left his trenches in Serre with the objective of the Quadrilateral, the German defensive position. Henry did not make it far, dying in the fields not far away from his starting off trench. He has a battlefield burial in Redan Ridge No.1 Cemetery. So many of the soldiers buried there are unknown, but Henry had an identity disc, his family being in the jewellery trade and it could be that this disc is what enabled him to be identified when his body was found in the fields. The disc was returned to his family. Paul and daughter Sonya find it an emotional visit each time. As they say, they are so glad he has such a beautiful resting place, in a little cemetery so well looked after among his comrades in arms.

Paul at Henry's grave.    

Andrew, Sarah and adult son William made their first visit from Belgium. They spent 4 days visiting the area, taking in all that The Somme and surrounding area has to offer. William even fitted in an online job interview while he was here- with a German engineering company -  so we are all rooting for him.  Andrew has a relative, Joseph Bell of the 13^th Kings Liverpool Regiment who died near Poperinghe in December 1915. We were able to fill in some of the gaps in Andrew’s knowledge about his ancestor by referring to war diaries and accounts. The family feel they know more about Joseph now.

William, Sarah and Andrew

Our regular guest Ross suggested to his builder Matt that he should come and stay with us as he had shown an interest in The Somme. So organised by the lovely Emma, his wife, Matt and their sons Luke and Zack came with Emma’s parents June and Mick. They spent time with David exploring the battlefields and took in an Austin tour of The Ulster Tower. They loved their time here and finished their visit, very poignantly at the grave of June’s ancestor John Edwards of the 2^nd South Staffordshire Regiment who died on 30 November 1917 and lies in Orival Wood Cemetery.

Matt, Emma, June, Mick, Zack and Luke. With Stevie and Fluffy! 

We ended the month with David and Karen, who were here for 1^st July, but returned for a week leading a tour group. They had a wonderful week despite some high temperatures. They were joined by Pat, Joe, Tracey, Sarah, Ged and Nathan. As well as the Somme and of course an Ulster Tower tour, they visited Cambrai, Arras and the Carriere Wellington, Talbot House, The Menin Gate and Ploegstreet as well as Deboorah Tank and The Neuve Chapelle Sector. A busy but rewarding trip. It was lovely having them here.

Tracey, Pat, Ged, Sarah, David, Karen, Joe hiding and Nathan. Fluffy too!

Captain Francis Dodgson Rededication

On 10^th July we attended the rededication of the memorial to Francis Dodgson in Contalmaison. The 5pm service began with a thanksgiving in Contalmaison church, before processing behind pipers to the newly moved and refurbished memorial stone for Francis (known as Toby to his family), which lies a few hundred metres outside Contalmaison village just before Peake Wood. The ceremony was well attended by Francis’s family who’s ancestors had erected an original memorial further back in the field. When Toby’s mother visited with her only surviving son Philip in 1919, they arranged for the memorial as his grave had been lost, having died in the attack leading his company of the 8^th Yorkshire Regiment on 10 July 1916. In 1928 his body was found and he is now buried in Serre No.2 Cemetery.

Captain Dodgson Memorial, Contalmaison

The live broadcast of the memorial rededication  is attached here.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14jFU5eUELn/

 Pozieres Remembered

On 22^nd July, the Digger Cote 160 Association commemorated the Battle of Pozieres with a  night service of remembrance  held at the 1^st Division Memorial. Under the stars on a clear night, Julie translated for Digger Cote President and friend Yves Potard. Photographs of soldiers were chosen to highlight the Allied losses, sustained over the 6-week battle of Pozieres,  the photos projected onto the 1^st Division Memorial. It was a very moving service, again well attended despite the 11pm start time. Wreaths and floral tributes were laid and music supplied by Amiens Brass Band and a lone piper. There was a living history encampment and a very welcome camp soup after midnight capping a wonderful day of remembrance.

Yves and Julie remembering at Pozieres

The little village of Pozieres is very thankful for what those soldiers did so far from home.

https://youtu.be/QDVix1NpK8c?si=IE7v0Y_u_A32_eEj

Animal Postscript

Well, this month is all about the cats and kittens who have captured the hearts of our guests. For some time we have been feeding brother and sister Fluffy and Tiger, who have been visiting our garden for food since they were born in our wood store about a year ago. Fluffy over the spring, got fat, but the weight gain was down to pregnancy! Last month she gave birth to 3 tiny kittens in our water meter cavern.

In the last 2 weeks Fluffy brought the kittens closer to us and they live in the undergrowth in the garden hedges or sleeping among our plant pots at the front door.  Guest Steve managed to pick up one of the tiny tabbies so although originally we called “him” Steve, we discovered all 3 are little girls so she is now Stevie. Emma, Luke and Zack were smitten with the kittens, rushing back each day to feed them and they even bought them treats. The white kitten we have named after their old cat, Mittens. The 3^rd, most timid tabby is yet to be named….We have a no cat in the house policy due to allergies etc, so despite Fluffy’s best efforts to get in, all a ruse for David to feed her, they remain garden cats. Our aim is to gain their trust enough to get them to the vet’s when they are old enough to prevent further litters.

So the kittens are definitely this month’s employees of the month. Sorry David. Zack has asked for regular photos and updates as they grow.

As David and Karen's group left us at the end of the month they came bearing gifts - not for us - but for the kittens and Fluffy. Many boxes of catfood and kibble, new feeding bowls and cat treats. So very kind and we will ensure we carry on caring for the feline family. And we were rather the gifts were for them than us! A houseful of happy guests and garden furry friends is all the gift we need! 

Thank you to everyone who is kind to animals. 

Stevie  Mittens in pot with No.3 who needs a name.

David’s July Joke:

What’s the difference between a kangaroo and a kangaroot?

One’s an Australian marsupial, the other is a Geordie stuck in a lift.

All is well at no.fifty6. We hope to see you soon.

Sunset over Mash Valley towards British Front Line taken from No.fifty6.