Cycling the Somme - Day 2 |
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Our route - Day 2. Click on the map to enlarge. |
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Day 2 - saw us leave Auchonvillers in the Land Rover and drive to Bailleulmont Communal Cemetery at the very North of our designated area. It was here that we off loaded the bikes and made our first stop. The village communal cemetery contains a samll number of graves including those of some who were court martialled and shot. One headstone carries the inscription 'Shot At Dawn'. Following the D1 we soon turne onto the D26 towards humbercamps. We then worked our way South through a number of villages used by Field Ambulences before turning back towards the Front Line of July 1st. Cycling South through Foncquevillers, Gommecourt and Hebuterne we gradually approached Serre across ground that saw ferocious fighting. Cutting cross country we approached Luke Copse, Railway Hollow and Queens cemeteries and most notably the memorial to the Accrington Pals who suffered such heavy casualties on the very first day. On reaching the Serre Road we turned East towards Colincamps taking in Sucriere and Euston Road cemeteries. Our final leg took us back Northwards to Sailly au Bois before circling back through Courcelles, Bertrancort, Mailly Maillet and Auchonvillers. With plenty of daylight left not to mention life in the legs we continued on to Mesnil and Knightsbridge before returning to Avril's Guesthouse for a well earned beer. |
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