Remembrance Ride Out 2015

So just a few weeks to this years annual trip to the battlefields of Northern France

25+ of us this year, out on Nov 6th (tunnel) and back on the 9th.

This year's trip will visit the battle sites associated with the Battle of Loos (Aug-Sept 1915) and observe the 11 o'clock silence at the Canadian memorial at Vimy Ridge cemetery north of Arras

In years past we have visited many sites including Ypres, Theipval, Normandy (WW2) and Verdun

Always a sobering experience, but we manage to enjoy a few beers and a decent dinner or two as well.

Arrived home yesterday evening after another excellent weekend of socialising with friends but more importantly, paying respects to those that made the ultimate sacrifice for us.

The main focus on Remembrance Sunday was the Canadian Memorial at the Vimy Ridge. There was a moving ceremony to mark the day.

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The whole landscape surrounding the memorial and the woods on the ridge are pockmarked with the scars of exploding bombs and the craters they formed. There were some huge ones but the pictures don't really give you the scale.

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The German trenches on the ridge. The flagpole in the background to the left with the Canadian flag marks the location of the Canadian trenches, literally a stones throw away.

More later.....

Vimy Ridge

Close to 100 years later, in another part of our world.....

Make Love

Not War.....

Looking forward to read more on your trip though!

On Saturday, we visited La Coupole, the site of a V2 rocket bunker from WW2. Fortunately, it was rendered unusable shortly before it was able to fire its first rocket (by my old squadron).

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Although the photo looks upside down, the concrete above is actually the roof of the dome which covered the missile preparation area. Over 3000 of the V2 missiles were fired, mainly at London & Antwerp.

We visited the Bethune Military Cemetery.

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And during some of our discussions on Saturday evening over several bottles of French red wine and a few malt whiskies, we discovered that one of out group had discovered that her Great Uncle was buried in a small cemetery not too far away so a few of us rode over to pay our respects.

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It was a beautifully peaceful spot, on the edge of a very rural little French village; quiet and sombre.

Private Anthony Gunn was 25 years old when he died of his wounds in June 1918.

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And I have to say that the 1200 was a perfect Grand Tourer, especially with the new suspension. It was her first trip overseas and it will not be the last. All she needs now is a new, more comfy seat. Averaged nearly 50mpg (UK gallons) so 200 miles to a tank, and we weren't hanging around.

R.I.P. brave soldiers !

Love the poppy on your bike. So few young people (at least here) seem to even have an inkling about any of this any more. Very sad. Thanks for posting and keeping the memory of those brave soldiers alive. Happy Veterans day this week to all former and current service members.

Thanks for posting the pics G.

Great trip as always, shame we were slowed by the 12's :goofy:

To those that have served and are serving...THANK YOU!

Thanks for the pictures and the slice of history, and to those who serve.

Great looking 1200 :fing02: