Inside the amazing cave city that housed 25,000 Allied troops under German noses in WWI

The Daily Mail (U.K.) ^ | March 15, 2008 | ROBERT HARDMAN

[Stoat]

My grandfather fought in the trenches during WW-1 and as a result, had foot problems for the rest of his life. I truly regret not ever taking the time to actually sit down and talk to him about his life. But as a young kid, one never gives much thought to things like that........

Given the horrors of war and the usually reserved nature of many Veterans, It may well be that he might not have been too eager to speak at length about his experiences....I've found that to frequently be the case among WW2 Vets that I've had the honor to meet and your Grandfather may possibly have been similarly disinclined.

My grandfather fought in the trenches during WW-1 and as a result, had foot problems for the rest of his life. I truly regret not ever taking the time to actually sit down and talk to him about his life. But as a young kid, one never gives much thought to things like that........

[zot]

Thanks for the ping. This is absolutely amazing.

[Stoat]

The “Gibson Girl,” you never know where you’ll find her next.

Indeed, her image was tremendously popular

Gibson Girl - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And her hourglass figure helped to rescue downed airmen in WW2   :-)

Wireless for the Warrior. Gibson Girl

 

[BerryDingle]

sappers -- Skilled VC or NVA infiltrators sent to damage fixed defenses before an attack.

They carried petroleum based plastic explosives worn in a backpack which they placed the entire pack on or near a defensive position. pulled a delay fuse and "dee dee maoed" out of there. They were especially experts at remaining silent through seemingly impenetrable obstacles (layered static perimeter defenses) during darkness, and could disarm friendly mines during the process.

[Paulus Invictus]

My great uncle died in France in 1917 when a German shell exploded near him and the concussion killed him, leaving him unmarked, but dead nevertheless. He was a very bright, family hero and his loss was and still is lamented. He bravely acted as his commander's runner and carried messages to scattered units, many times while under fire. His home town has honored his memory with a memorial monument along with the others who lost their lives in battle in WW I.

Last week I noticed a new memorial in front of City Hall in my wife's home town. Listed on an impressive brass plate are dozens of names of those citizens who died in WW I, WWII, Viet Nam, Korea and Desert Storm. I was amazed and very touched that such a small town of about 20K had contributed so many heros to the cause of freedom.

[Harold Hill]

bfl

[Constitution Day]

Bump for later (and thanks for posting this!)

[Slump Tester]

I don’t know how you find them., but please keep stuff like that coming!

[Stoat]

sappers -- Skilled VC or NVA infiltrators sent to damage fixed defenses before an attack.

They carried petroleum based plastic explosives worn in a backpack which they placed the entire pack on or near a defensive position. pulled a delay fuse and "dee dee maoed" out of there. They were especially experts at remaining silent through seemingly impenetrable obstacles (layered static perimeter defenses) during darkness, and could disarm friendly mines during the process.

Thanks very much for the essential background....a vicious and determined enemy.

 

 

NVA Sapper

 "A photo I took circa April 1969 of an NVA snapper cutting the wire of defensive positions on 2/11 at An Hoa. The sapper had been captured the night before in an attack on 2/11 positions and he agree to show how easy it was for sappers to breach our defenses. "

Marine Corps BS - Vietnam

sappers -- Skilled VC or NVA infiltrators sent to damage fixed defenses before an attack.

They carried petroleum based plastic explosives worn in a backpack which they placed the entire pack on or near a defensive position. pulled a delay fuse and "dee dee maoed" out of there. They were especially experts at remaining silent through seemingly impenetrable obstacles (layered static perimeter defenses) during darkness, and could disarm friendly mines during the process.

[Stoat]

It's because of the sacrifices made by your great uncle as well as innumerable others that we are now able to exchange information peacefully on the internet, own our very own computers and do pretty much what we like. Without him and so very many others like him, we would now be saluting Der Fuhrer or bowing to a Japanese imperial Emperor, be living in constant fear that another of our relatives will be executed in our town's main street 'to set an example' and worrying whether we will be able to obtain a ration of sauerkraut and turnips or old, raw, wormy fish today.

We owe EVERYTHING to our Vets and I'm delighted that your wife's town has placed such a fitting tribute to them.

My great hope is that the innumerable sacrifices of all of our Veterans will never be forgotten, but modern events frequently cause me concern.  Occasionally, however, there is a bit of news that brings me hope that efforts are being made in the right direction.

(New York) City teachers to attend Marine boot camp in South Carolina

[Theresawithanh]

Amazing story! Thank you for posting this, and bumping!

I wish this would have been known when I was in that part of Europe in the late 1980s.

[Stoat]

Thank you so much for this article.

Fascinating.

***************

This is absolutely amazing.

***************

Bump for later (and thanks for posting this!)

****************

I don’t know how you find them., but please keep stuff like that coming!

*****************

Amazing story! Thank you for posting this, and bumping!

*******************

Thank you all so very much for your very kind words....I'm delighted that you're finding this to be a worthwhile read. :-)

As always though at FR, the best part of the thread is the added information and personal stories that FReepers submit, so I'm hoping that everyone will read over the posts here if you haven't done so already, as many of them bring the article to life and add details that were omitted by the article's author.

Thank you so much for this article.

Fascinating.

[Stoat]

I wish this would have been known when I was in that part of Europe in the late 1980s.

From the article:

During World War II, a few locals with long memories used them as secret air raid shelters and then, once again, the caves were sealed. And that is how they remained until 1990 when Alain Jacques decided to investigate.

(edit)

Now, 18 years after Alain's first discovery, a £3 million visitor centre and a lift have been constructed. The Carriere Wellington, underground home of the Suffolk Regiment 91 years back, is, finally, open to the world.

It appears that the site has just been opened to the public and so there wouldn't have been anything for you to see at the time you were there.

Now, however, you have an opportunity to return and visit the area, and to do it in a time when it appears that the French are a bit more congenial toward us Yanks, which is an added bonus  :-)

[indcons]

Thanks for the ping, Stoat.

Mil hist ping.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks BenL.

Adolf Eichmann’s list
Sunday Times | Mar. 16, 2008 | Sarah Helm
Posted on 03/16/2008 1:37:34 PM EDT by Alouette
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1986622/posts

[SunkenCiv]

Cemetery attacked, Muslims suspected
News.Telegraph | 3/8/05 | Colin Randall
Posted on 08/03/2005 4:13:03 PM EDT by Minutemen
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1456312/posts

[RushLake]

I get so tired of Obama and all the rest of the junk.

This type of thing is very welcome on my screen. Thank you,

You probably are aware of a great website HellfireCorner which is devoted to WWI. Lots of terrific stuff on there. I bet this has made it there as well, I'll have to check it out.

[Stoat]

I get so tired of Obama and all the rest of the junk.

This type of thing is very welcome on my screen. Thank you,

I agree, and you're quite welcome, my pleasure  :-)

You probably are aware of a great website HellfireCorner which is devoted to WWI. Lots of terrific stuff on there. I bet this has made it there as well, I'll have to check it out.
 

Actually no, I wasn't familiar with that but it's now bookmarked and I will definitely look it over regularly....it appears to be a labor of love and dedication by Mr. Morgan, such is the detail and completeness provided.  I can only read about it for short periods at a time, however, because there is so much sadness and pain....but it's a wonderful, landmark site that shouldn't be missed because of the incredible courage and bravery documented there as well..

Tom Morgan's HELLFIRE CORNER - The home of Tom Morgan Military Books

I've sent Mr. Morgan an email including a hyperlink to this thread and an invitation to drop by.

Thank you so very much RushLake for your post....if we are lucky he may sign up as a new FReeper  :-)

I get so tired of Obama and all the rest of the junk.

This type of thing is very welcome on my screen. Thank you,

I agree, and you're quite welcome, my pleasure  :-)

You probably are aware of a great website HellfireCorner which is devoted to WWI. Lots of terrific stuff on there. I bet this has made it there as well, I'll have to check it out.
 

Actually no, I wasn't familiar with that but it's now bookmarked and I will definitely look it over regularly....it appears to be a labor of love and dedication by Mr. Morgan, such is the detail and completeness provided.  I can only read about it for short periods at a time, however, because there is so much sadness and pain....but it's a wonderful, landmark site that shouldn't be missed because of the incredible courage and bravery documented there as well..

Tom Morgan's HELLFIRE CORNER - The home of Tom Morgan Military Books

[Stoat]

Thanks for the ping, Stoat.

You're quite welcome, and thank you very much for pinging your list  :-)

[SunkenCiv]

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