March 2026 News - Spring Comes to The Somme

Did you remember to Spring forward an hour into the lighter evenings here in Europe?

We have had a busy March, and it seems that spring is definitely here.  It has been a busy, varied and rewarding month that has flown by, with so many interesting people and stories shared.

Weather-wise it has been a real mixed bag. Many grey skies, some beautiful blue-sky days, and even some warm sunshine, with the odd thunder shower thrown in.  Spring flowers – snowdrops, cowslips, primroses and daffodils all have shown their colours. The wood anemones in Delville Wood are particularly beautiful, their delicate white flowers hugging the bases of all the trees.  The quality of the light improves, with a rich, golden luminescence which fills the landscape when the sun peeps out from the clouds. Photographers heaven.

Delville Wood

We often think and remark that Nature always wins over War. We see it here in the landscape once so ravaged and witness to so much death and destruction now taken back by nature, reclaimed as it were.  So it is with a sigh that we look out and see the world as war torn as ever. The ordinary man once again paying the price for others need for power, control and greed. All we can do is spread our little bit of peace and kindness wherever we go and especially here at No.fifty6 where we try to create an oasis of calm in a mad world for all who come through our door.

Spring comes to Thiepval.

So, the poetry of Sara Teasdale spoke to us this month.

She writes so much of nature and love and war. If you do not know her work check out this poem, as well as Spring in War Time.

There will Come Soft Rains

(War Time)

There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground,
And swallows circling with their shimmering sound;

And frogs in the pools singing at night,
And wild plum trees in tremulous white,

Robins will wear their feathery fire
Whistling their whims on a low fence-wire;

And not one will know of the war, not one
Will care at last when it is done.

Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree
If mankind perished utterly;

And Spring herself, when she woke at dawn,
Would scarcely know that we were gone.

Sara Trevor Teasdale  (1884–1933) was was born in St.Louis Missouri. In 1918, she won a Pulitzer Prize for her 1917 poetry collection Love Songs. She is one of the most influential female American poets.

Sara Teasdale

March Visitors

It has been lovely having some wonderful returning guests to share The Somme with this March. Making the most of good weather there has been a lot of walking going on, with most guests managing to dodge the rain showers.

Father and son Tony and Dan come each year from Wolverhampton to walk the tracks of The Somme, looking for vestiges of the War whilst sharing special father/son time. They always enjoy their time here and go home refreshed and steeped in history.

First time visitors to us Charlie, Nick and Clyde, 3 old university chums who had kept in touch – coincidentally all having studied the same Uni course as David at the same time but at different establishments. The pals concentrated on the 1^st July battle from North to South and spent a day with David exploring the history in some detail. It was lovely having them here.

Terry Whenham, came with friend Jon and Michael and Susan from Melbourne. Michael was an early adopter of Terry’s podcasts and reached out to Terry to say how much he enjoyed them. Since then they have become firm friends and Michael and Susan have made several trips over to tour with Terry. They spent 4 days mainly walking The Somme, really looking at the detail which is difficult to do on a flying visit. Blessed with good weather they racked up many kilometres, the sun on their faces and history and friendship in their hearts. We had a lot of great discussions and many laughs too around the table. They love it so much they will be back in the Autumn.

Gary and Clare came from Suffolk.– Gary a seasoned Somme lover bringing Clare for her first visit. They too walked in good weather and appreciated the quiet time away and banter around the table.

Making a special trip from the US via Africa were retired Anglican bishop John and his wife retired priest Meg. They spent time with David exploring the battlefields, both loving history. John has connections with his family involved in the First World war in both military and civilian capacities. John’s grandfather, John Bentley Marquis, was a Sergeant in Company D, 108th Engineers, 33rd Division of the American Army. His unit was involved in action at Chipilly Ridge and Gressaire Wood and in constructing bridges at the Meuse River and Forges Creek, while in 1918 in operations around Amiens. John’s great grandmother Sarah was quite a lady. She was a leading figure in the Daughters of the American Revolution. John provided this write up of how Sarah helped the rebuilding of French village Tilloloy.

Sarah Mitchell Guernsey

President General, 2017-2020

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)

 President General Sarah Guernsey visited Tilloloy in 1919 to see the conditions of the town and larger area and explore needs for rebuilding the infrastructure and homes, and creating a town water system, which was built with $130,000 raised by the DAR. She envisioned also the construction of a community center to foster the renewal of the life of the community.

 For this rehabilitation work, she received the Médaille de la Reconnaissance Française from the French government, awarded to civilians who aided World War I war victims. Her citation says that she “greatly assisted in the development of this important work, which adopted 5,000 French war orphans and the village of Tilloloy.”

 The DAR War Relief Service Committee raised funds in order to, among other purposes, “re-chickenize” France. Donors were given a button pin, which read, “I have a chicken in France.”

Under Sarah’s leadership, the DAR raised $333,000 for war relief ($10.9 million in 2026 dollars) and DAR members bought $36 million in Liberty Bonds to support the US involvement in WWI ($1.29 billion in 2026 dollars).

The Guernsey family continue their philanthropy and spiritual work to this day.

Relief work at Tilloloy

Sarah Guernsey in France.

Bike racing friends Wendy and George visited from Colchester and Sheffield and spent a lovely few days exploring the battlefield before heading home via Brands Hatch for a bike race meeting. The ladies loved their time exploring and David was very jealous of the Brands Hatch bit.

Battlefield guide Tim visited to spend some time walking alone on his beloved Somme before his busy touring season commences. Tim has been visiting the battlefields since he was just a lad and feels at his most content on the tracks of The Somme. This visit he found a button which he has identified as a Hampshire Regiment officer’s button – 14^th Service Battalion (1^st Portsmouth) in the area behind Ancre British Cemetery. Quite a find. We wish Tim well with his guiding season.

  Tim's find - Hampshire Officer's Button.

Having booked the same March dates last year for 2026 the two lovely  Marks from Luton and Staines spent 4 days walking the Somme, finding vestiges of the War. They commented how walking the tracks helps clear your mind and the peace and quiet is wonderful. We couldn’t agree more. With lively chats around our dining table the two Marks thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with guests such as Jim and Ron who they met last year, and it seems that we have started a trend as they have all already booked for next year to coincide their 2027 visits. The lovely Marks remembered we have an anniversary this month and came with gifts for us – we love you guys – not saying that gifts are compulsory!

Jim, visits us every year from Essex with his dad Ron. Jim makes no secret of the fact that it is his favourite weekend of the year. He buzzes with the excitement of it all. Ron too, we think he loves it too!

 Jim wrote this to us after his visit:

Dear Julie and David

 Thank you for another absolutely wonderful weekend. As usual - loved it!!

A 6th visit to the Somme for me, and possibly the most rewarding yet. As always, the main purpose of my visit was to visit the grave of my Great Great Uncle, Herbert Guiver of the 2nd Essex, who was killed near Serre on 17 February 1916 and is buried in Sucrerie Cemetery.

 Thanks to David for taking us out yesterday. A really fun and informative morning. And he learnt the difference between Munich Trench and New Munich Trench Cemeteries, so he got something out of it too ????

 Thank you Julie for the amazing meals. The food was delicious and if you could bottle the atmosphere around the Number 56 dinner table and sell it you’d make a bloody fortune!!

 Today we’ve packed in Lochnagar, Delville Wood, Guillemont Road and Sucrerie Cemeteries, Mouquet Farm and lunch in Albert. We bumped into the Marks at our final pit stop, Regina Trench, before heading to Calais. 

 As discussed  one of the Remembrance events in Southend last year was to line all 1.3 miles of Southend Pier with knitted poppies donated by the local community. They managed to get over 110,000. It was quite a sight! My Mum knitted 130 of these, so I asked her to make me one to leave with Herbert. We hope you enjoy the special 56 poppy she knitted for you too.

 I’ve attached some photos. 

 Speak soon

 Jim x

Jim left these at Herbert's grave. The pebbles from his garden handpainted by his family. One of The Southend Pier poppies. 

Like all our lovely returning guests Jim and his family are always welcome here, especially as dad Ron bakes us cheese biscuits which disappear quickly with the cheese board, seeded bread and Jim brings preserves made from produce from his own allotment. Last year, we made sloe gin together – we provided the sloe’s foraged from Mametz and Jim providing the gin. Made across our dining table, Jim nurtured it back home and brought it with him this trip in a bottle he had labeled with a hand drawn Mametz dragon. We enjoyed it around our table. Something wonderful about good produce shared around a table with friends.

The Mametz Sloe Gin is served by Julie & Jim.

Mark C has now taken up the Sloe Gin challenge. He has taken the sloes away to ginify and bring back next year…

We have some rhubarb gin maturing, using Jim’s garden rhubarb.

Thank you boys you are very special to us.

Ian, a fellow battlefield guide from the North East bought

friends Steven and John from the North East for their second visit to the area. John is particularly interested in Chaplains who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice. He seeks them out on each visit. John also kindly donated for 2 plaques to be installed at Lochnagar.

Ian, Steven and John.

Brothers Billy and Jeff came with brother-in-law Ryan from Portadown. Billy and Jeff’s great grandfather Thomas fought on the Somme, serving with the Royal Irish Fusiliers. He was wounded on 8^th March 1916 in the trenches near Y Ravine, Beaumont Hamel. He was evacuated wounded to Le Havre where he died of his wounds on 12^th March 1916.

He is buried in Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre. Having visited on the 100^th anniversary of his death, the brothers were back to pay their respects on the 110^th anniversary. An emotional visit for them. They have also ordered a plaque for Thomas to be installed on the walkway at Lochnagar Crater. Thank you for coming all the way from Northern Ireland boys.

Jeff and Billy at Thomas's grave.

Friends Neil, Mark and Ali & Gary from Croydon and Kent visit every year, but this time came earlier in the year than their usual May/June to experience a different season.  They spent long days out walking and visiting with in the main good weather but chilly morning and evenings. They spent time with David on Redan Ridge as well as areas such as Hangard Wood and Cambrai – including a visit to Deborah tank.

The foursomes enthusiasm for The Somme is amazing and again the essence of their visit is found around our table – among friends sharing good discussion, good food and especially profiteroles. Despite David doing despicable things with squirty cream which he calls plate art, he was presented with an Employee of the Month badge from Neil!

Neil lovely thought but – that was last month, and he is not in the running for March! Those who bought flowers and gifts for our anniversary are the winners this month – unlike "no flowers" David.  

The chums have already booked for next year and we will see Ali and Gary in the autumn when they come on their own special 110^th anniversary pilgrimage.

Gary, Ali, Mark & Neil.

David came from Taunton as he does at least once a year. He loves the personal stories of the Somme and seeks out headstone inscriptions which leave a lasting mark. With an ancestor in the Royal Scots who has no known grave, David took photos of all 49 unknown Royal Scots in Gordon Dump Cemetery who could be his man! He will adopt one of the graves.

 He has his next visit booked in September.

At the same time Adam came on his motorbike. He adores it here. He was delighted to meet David as they had connected on Social Media. Their ancestors served together in The Royal Scots and both died on 1^st July 1916 near Lochnagar and have no known grave. History connections sending echoes through the years. 2, now friends, side by side, remembering comrades in arms etched on the panels at Thiepval, forever in the fields of The Somme.

The photo shows Adam with Private Alexander Barclay’s medals and Queen Mary tin and ID disc – treasured possessions.

Adam with Alex Barclay's effects.

Private Alexander Barclay.

Tony and Jon came from Essex, their third visit to us, but having visited the Somme many times. They visited all over the Somme and they too visited Deborah tank.

Tony & Jon.

Jon loves to take photographs and captured some lovely pictures in amazing light. They too have booked for later in the year. 

Jon's photo - Fricourt. 

Finally dear Sam came with 2 chums, brothers Olly and Johnny. They have a cricket connection in that Sam used to coach them at Northampton – they have remained friends. Sam led them on a pilgrimage to discover the war service of their Great Grandfather Company Sergeant Major Charles Sanders of the 9^th Royal Fusiliers who fought at Ovillers on 7^th July 1916 and was wounded. The boys have a certificate showing Charles was awarded the Medaille Militaire by the French for his action in 1916. The boys followed in his footsteps, across the tracks of The Somme now so peaceful .An emotional experience for them.

So thank you to all our guests who have made March such an interesting and varied month for us.  You all leave a little part of you with us when you leave and you are all the reason why we love what we do.

The Annotated DCM Roll 1914-1920

While Gary and Ali were here they brought over our personal copy of a new double volume book – The DCM Roll by Howard Williamson. We already have other reference books by Howard on Campaign Medals but this is something quite extraordinary. A lifetime’s research, cataloguing every person who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in the First World War. Available in an exceptionally produced hard back and also soft back, the books are an incredible source for research. Ali’s own Great Uncle Fred Cooker is in there – awarded the DCM for his action at Ovillers in July 1916. He was later killed the same year at Guedecourt.

For further information on the book please contact us and we will put you in touch with Howard.

Howard's wonderful books.

Somme 110th Commemorations

We attended a meeting with the Sous Prefete and Security services about the forthcoming commemorations for the 110^th anniversary of The Battle of the Somme. There will be tighter restrictions than usual due to the presence of VVIPS, but not as restrictive as for the 100^th. There may be bag searches, no drone flying, one way systems and park and ride to the Thiepval, Ulster Tower and Newfoundland Park services. Lochnagar at its 07h28 start time will have less onerous restrictions. As more develops we will let you know.

Ulster Tower

The Ulster Tower reopened after the winter break on 1^st March. It is good to see first Carol and Trevor to open up, then Rocky and Jo back at The Tower for the next few weeks assuring a warm Ulster welcome and great tours into Thiepval Wood. Austin and other volunteers will be on rotation at The Tower during the year.  Always a great place for a cuppa, a story and a packet of Tayto crisps.

On display in the Memorial Room is a replica of The Ulster Tower in Lego designed and built by the talented Youri Van Miegroet. It comprises 3636 bricks in honour of the 36^th Ulster Division. There is even a Lego Carol, Trevor and Rocky!

The Lego Tower.

34^th Division Memorial

Our lovely Madelon – 34^th Division Memorial you can see from our back windows, has a new CWGC sign next to the water tower in our village guiding you to find her. She is worth a visit – not just to pay your respects to the 34^th Division who sacrificed so much in the liberation of La Boisselle, but for the amazing views across the landscape as it is on the high ground in La Boisselle. 

The new sign by the water tower. 

Animal Postscript

The birds are busy nesting in the garden – sparows, blackbirds, collared doves and tits. On our walks the natural world is all around us, bringing a sense of calm and continuity.

Bathtime for a garden visitor.

David’s March Joke:

With Hamnet winning at the Baftas and Oscars…

Rumours of Shakespeare owning a bakery have resurfaced.

A historian said this morning -

“It’s much adough about muffin.”

All is well at no.fifty6. Please stay safe and well, have a Happy Easter and see you soon we hope.

Mash Valley March Sunset.