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Cruising in the sector east of Pilkem Ridge.
We start at the summit of the slope of the uncompleted A19,
which gives us an overview of the battlefield of
the 3rd Battle of Ypres of 1917, or the Battle of Passendaele. |
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Panorama of Pilkem Ridge from the dead end of the A19. |
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Four photo's from the summit of the dead end A19,
made from left to right:
View in the direction of Boezinge.
View in the direction of Pilkem.
View in the direction of Goumier Farm.
View in the direction of Mouse Trap Farm
and Buffs Road Cemetery.
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After the Battle of Messines (7 June 1917),
the Allies launched the Third Battle of Ypres on 31 July 1917.
Only in November they would reach their objective, 8 km to the east,
the village of Passendale.
The Allies did not reach their ultimate objective,
the railroad Oostende - Menin,
more to the east, and to the north, the town of Brugge. |
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View from Buffs Road Cemetery to the north.
View from Buffs Road Cemetery
in the direction of Mouse Trap Farm. (right low corner Trench Map)
Mouse Trap Farm, like it is nowadays on the exact location,
as where the German stronghold used to be.
Continuing along the road to St. Juliaan,
some hundreds of meters furtheron on
the northern side of the road.
The German Bunker of Cheddar Villa.
Destroyed tank near this location.
We turn back and go immediately right,
northward to Vijfwegen...
... to locate the bunker near Goumier Farm.
(centre quadrant 9, Trench Map)
After weeks of rain in May 2006,
I experienced a little taste of
the Passendaele Mud to make these pictures.
The Goumier Farm Bunker viewed from the eastern side.
View from the bunker from the north eastern side.
We continue to go back to the unfinished A19 ,
across the Ypres Yzer Canal, go right,
to follow the N 369 to Boezinge.
Continue to the next chapter:
