The Via Francigena and WW1 Battlefields

[BobM]

The VF route from Arras to Trefcon passes through World War 1 battlefields with numerous military cemeteries on and close to the route.

Pilgrims interested in this aspect of the VF might find Paul Reed's walking guides useful:
Walking The Somme
Walking The Salient
Walking Arras
A description of these books can be found at: http://www.ww1battlefields.co.uk/review ... books.html

There is also a very evocative song Willie McBride a.k.a. Green Fields of France that is worth listening to. The best version is by an Irish group called The Fureys.
You can see the lyrics at http://www.irishsongs.com/lyrics.php?Ac ... ong_id=390

Rgds

Bob M

 

[jp2speeds57]

Thanks Bob. What a beautiful song!!!
jpierre

 

[miguel_gp]

There is also a very evocative song Willie McBride a.k.a. Green Fields of France that is worth listening to. The best version is by an Irish group called The Fureys.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntt3wy-L8Ok[/youtube]

 

[BobM]

Love the YouTube video Thx.

The Fureys also sing another song "Belfast Mill" that would be great to listen to (or maybe depressing) while walking through the abandoned (?) coal mining areas and the "lost villages" of northern France.

Things always change, but big industrial changes also have big impacts on the human beings involved. "Belfast Mill" and its lyrics capture it very well.

Rgds

Bob M

 

[Alan Pearce]

"Willie McBride" might be called an Irish song, but was actually written by the Scottish Australian singer /songwriter Eric Bogle, in 1976. Bogle is known world/wide for his anti-war songs, and for the evocative songs he has written about his adopted homeland Australia. All Aussies should hear him sing "Shelter" at least once.

Alan

Be brave. Life is joyous.

 

[William Marques]

Thiepval is not very far off the route close to Bapaume.

 

[BobM]

The mairie at Bapaume also has a plaque commemorating the soldiers killed by a booby trap in the WW1 mairie as they sought shelter for the night.

Rgds

Bob M

 

[skilsaw]

My Grandfather was gassed at Ypres. Is that "the salient" you refer to?
I would like to go to Vimy Ridge for April 9-11, 2017. The 100th anniversary of the Battle.

The Via Francigena and WW1 Battlefields in one pilgrimage would be fitting.
Going by bicycle would be efficient but walking would be better suited for sombre reflection.

I'll have to consider the options.

David, Victoria, Canada.

 

[SabsP]

One could also start in Belgium, in Bruges and get on the Via Brugensis to Arras. You will encounter some of the Belgian battlefiels of WWI. You could always make a detour to Ypres.
http://www.compostelagenootschap.be/default.aspx?id=512
http://www.nieuwsbronnen.com/tenbundere ... outes.html

There is an old medieval variant called Via Yprensis that goes from belgian coastal city of Nieuwpoort through Ypres and then to Arras.

EDIT : the daily Last Post at Menenpoort in Ypres , played at 8 pm by the fire brigade of Ypres.
Always gets me shivering...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiWL2BCfhGg