Updates To Website

I have made a number of updates to the website. Check out the shoutout for information:

Shoutout

November 5th 2016 Commemoration Plan

My plan for November 5th this year is as follows:

1. Meet at 11am at the French memorial in the middle of Gueudecourt.

2. Meet with the Mayor by 11:30am at the mairie.
Unveil the plaque, have a couple of speeches and there may be other items as well.

Anyone my follow me with the rest of my plan -
3. Go to the Bayonet/Hilt Trench area where the 1st and 3rd Battalions attacked where a wreath will be placed.

4. Go to the area of the Maze attack and lay a wreath.

5. Go to Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.

The battlefield (where the 1st and 3rd Battalions attacked)

French soldier memorial in Gueudecourt

Villers-Bretonneux Memorial

M.A.T.R. Researching

 
I have finally listened to all the friends, family and some of the people I have already done research for and created a website to offer my researching skills for a fee.


I am offering my skills is genealogical and/or military research. The website is: 

http://www.matrresearching.com/




Additional Note: The way I came up with the name 'M.A.T.R. Researching' is by wanting to acknowledge the two people that started my genealogical and military researching.
'M.A.' are the initials of my grandmother - in response to her death in January 1998 I began my genealogical research.
'T.R.' are the initials of my great-grandfather who is the very first person I undertook military research for.

A Wonderful Surprise!!

Last night around 9:15pm I received an email from my contact in France that informed me of some fantastic news ...

Some of you may remember last year (or even the year before) I wrote that I was planning something special for the 100th anniversary but I didn't want to say to much in case I couldn't pull it off - well after the email last night I am feeling comfortable enough to let you all in on my special thing. 

This is where the battle for the 1st Battle occurred.

Back Story: 

After my last visit to Gueudecourt for the 95th Anniversary I had the crazy idea that I wanted a monument or plaque erected either right next to the battlefield or in Gueudecourt that commemorated our dead soldiers, especially those still buried on the battlefield. Even though I REALLY wanted this I never thought I could achieve any thing. Though over the last couple of years with the aid of my contact in France I have been trying to achieve something - I had decided at this point in time I wanted a plaque in Gueudecourt. The last thing I did a few months ago was directly write a letter to the mayor of Gueudecourt which my contact passed on for me.

WELL ...

... GUESS WHAT?

The email last night said that the mayor of Gueudecourt had agreed for a plaque to be erected on the wall of the 'mairie'.

 SO ...

This means I need to get busy now organising the creation of this plaque and getting it to France in time for 100th anniversary.

99th Anniversary

Ninety-nine years ago today Australian soldiers were involved in an offensive near Flers and Geuedecourt, France. 

 Thomas (my great-grandfather) and his fellow Australian soldiers of the 1st and 3rd Battalion attacked a 'triangle' just near Geuedecourt, France. Unfortunately a number of them were wounded and/or died during this attack.

This is an attack map for the 'triangle' attack on November 5th 1916

A little further along the front the 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th Battalions were also involved in this offensive. They were attacking a section called 'The Maze' and a larger number of these soldiers were wounded and/or killed then involved in the 'triangle' attack.

This is photograph of the original attack plan for the November 5th offensive.

 

 

Unfortunately for a number of the soldiers killed (especially in the 'triangle' attack) they remained un-buried where they fell until early March 1917. 

NEW WEBSITE

As of early this morning I have made my new website go live!

I have transferred over everything that was on the old site and will be adding new research (information, maps and photographs) about the November 5th 1916 attack. I have expanded my research to all the Australian battalions involved in this attack.

ANZAC Day 2014

Again this year I went to the local ANZAC Day service followed by attending the gathering at the local RSL. This year my brother joined my dad and I for the first time. Also this year I wanted to lay a wreath for the Thomas and the other 1st Battalion soliders of November 5th, something I haven't felt like doing for a few years - mainly because I had thought after the last time I laid one I wouldn't do it again until I could lay one at their memorial on the battlefield.

My wreath.

Instead of having something made, I made it myself (see the picture to the left). I made it out of Rosemary and tied the Battalion patch colours at the bottom.

Dad and I took it up the wreath and laid it on the memorial together.

I have to admit while doing this I was thinking that the next time I lay a wreath it will be in France over their graves (on the battlefield) - I hope. Mind you I still need to wait 2 years.

Wreath at the local memorial.