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OFFICIAL
POST OPERATION REPORT
Weekend
Patrol of Bruges and the Ypres Salient
10
August 2002 (cont.) |
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| 1430 |
The museum proves to be an excellent introduction into the events of the area. After a quick lunch of frittes and
mayonnaise, we leave Ieper. |
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| 1500 |
Arrive Hill 60. CPL Jackson is about to go through the gate leading to the public monument. Jackson then asks the party whether they think 'the gate is electrified.'
CPL Dermody gives him heaps of grief over this, and rest of party remind him WWI finished 88 years ago and that there is no need to electrify a tourist attraction. |
Click on any image
for a larger version |
| 1505 |
CPL Jackson gives us a briefing of the tunnelling exploits of the Australian Engineers. The hill was fought over throughout the war and was honeycombed with tunnels from both
sides, the aim of which was to plant explosives under the enemy's defensives and explode them in conjunction with an above ground attack. |
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The tunnels often met and resulted in
fierce underground battles.
The overall result is a hill surface that undulates from the craters and heaving of the earth almost 90 years ago and places that resemble volcanic
craters - 50 metres across - from the largest of the explosions.
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CPL Jackson told us of some of the largest explosions throwing the hill itself up to 100m in the air and a flying clod of earth killing an unwary observer 300m away. |
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| 1540 |
We enter a small museum across the road
and enjoy looking at stereo photos that are viewed by looking into a wooden box. The 3D effect of the sepia images is surprisingly powerful. |
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| 1600 |
Depart Hill 60 for Polygon Wood. CPL Henderson takes on a route of apparently spiralling circles to get us there. In the end we weave our way there after CPL Dermody points to a wood on a slight hill and suggests that that would be worth fighting over. |
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[Saturday
10 August cont.] or [Back] |
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