What is latest news?
Just about any recent or planned event or activity to do with the battlefields that we write about that is either news to us and/or we believe will be of help to others. The list is edited regularly.

             News Headings - see the DETAILS below

• 7. Website lists ALL 1891 soldiers who fell at Arnhem. www.marketgarden.com
• 17. Jeremy Tenniswood announces a web site for militaria collectors.
•  20.WW1 Marker Stones - web site.
• 23. Some excellent web sites
• 25. A film you must see
• 29. NOW PUBLISHED - THE WESTERN FRONT - SOUTH
• 30. DEAD MAN'S CORNER MUSEUM - a museum with a difference in Normandy
• 32. A great museum in Albert on the Somme. Go there.
• 33. If you want an on-the-spot guide to the Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches then look no further - Danielle was born in Normandy and lives there.
• 34. Don't have much time in Ypres or on the Somme? Then these new guides will be for you.
• 35. New memorials and reception centres on the Western Front
• 36. New even larger more illustrated D Day Normandy Guide Book NOW PUBLISHED
• 37. John Urquhart's latest audio Campaign Trails CD published
• 38. La Somme Remembrance Association announce a new memorial
• 39. Author Paul (Walking the Somme) Reed has a site well worth consulting
• 40. Could this be the best WW1 site on the web? Have a look at Trenches on the Web
• 41. Valor Tours - a formidable range of tours from the longest established US battefield tours company - and from an old friend
• 42 Remembering the Fallen - a website from two young men who made a remarkable pledge to remember
• 43 Joe Bristow gets Old Bill on Antiques Road show - see http://www.olebill.zoomshare.com
• 44. Good News - an expert guide can take you around the Arnhem and Market Garden battlefields. Contact Frans Amerlaan at frans@marketgarden.com
• 45. James Power offers small bespoke tours to the battlefields of the First World War. Click Here
• 46. Well kown militaria dealer David Cohen has a new website. www.dcfa.com
• 47. Steve Douglas's Maple Leaf Legacy Project is a must for all Canadians www.mapleleaflegacy.org
• 48. Alan Jennings has one of the most useful sites on the web if you are interested in the battlefields of the First World War

DETAILS

7. Arnhem Roll of Honour

Andries Hoekstra and Frans Ammerlaan announce that after many years of work they have compiled an on-line database of all 1891 soldiers who fell in the battle of Arnhem. It can be accessed via a link on Arnhem Casualties

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17. Jeremy Tenniswood announces a web site for Militaria Collectors

Jeremy Tenniswood has specialised in vintage military firearms, medals, bayonets, uniforms, bayonets and swords for over 30 years. Now Tenniswood are developing a new web site that they believe will be 'one of the largest online catalogues of military collectables in the world'. Tenniswood do not just offer collectables but from a deep background of knowledge can guide and advise the collector. Military Collectables  telephone +44 (0) 1206 368787

Web site  www.militaria.co.uk

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20. WW1 Marker Stones - help to preserve some memorials

Rik Scherpenberg who has been researching and identifying WW1 marker stones for years has a web site WW1 Marker Stones which pictures all those that he and his colleagues have found - 95 of them. He also plans to erect plaques where marker stones have disappeared and is looking for sponsors whose name will appear on the plaque. Anyone interested should contact Rik direct via the site. Rik also has for sale a splendid DVD called the Ribbon of Stone which gives pictures and history of the markers - both Demarcation Stones of WW1 and Liberty Highway Markers of WW2. Funds raised from sales will go towards preserving historic markers and monuments.

UPDATE

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23. Some excellent websites

There are many excellent websites that offer insights and information about the First World War and its battlefields. There are two that we would suggest are a must to visit - they are Tom Morgan's Hellfire Corner at www.fylde.demon.co.uk and Michael Duffy's First World War at www.firstworldwar.com  They are authorative, informative, thoughtful and up to date.

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25. A Long Engagement

Do go and see this film. It is a sentimental story and not all of the contemporary military hardware is strictly accurate but for battlefield scenes of WW1 it cannot be beaten. The absolute degradation experienced by those in the field is there for all to see and to sense. The story is that of a young girl whose fiance is supposed killed (after being court martialled) in No Man's Land and she spends years trying to find out what happened to him. The scenes of action are compelling and the buzz and hiss of bullets almost makes one want to duck. You will talk about this.

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29. WESTERN FRONT - SOUTH

The second volume of the pair of books that cover the length of the Western Front HAS been published on 11 November 2005 and is available from us now via PayPal or direct via phone or e mail. Together with Western Front - North the books form the most complete modern record of the battlefields of the First World War ever published. The book has over 360 pages and almost 400 coloured pictures. You can order in the normal way via this site. The most complete record of the Western Front South.

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30. DEAD MAN'S CORNER MUSEUM - St COME

This is a very unusual museum and well worth a visit. It is based in a house that was used by Major von der Heydte and the German 6th Parachute Regiment during the Normandy fighting. It is superbly presented with excellent dioramas some whose figures have the faces of those who actually fought here. Adjacent to the museum is 'The Paratrooper' an emporium of memorabilia all for sale, ranging from original ration packs to uniforms. The story of the name is told in the museum and supplemented with showcases full of personal items from the period. The venture is Phase 1 of a project by the Carentan Historical Center and the prime movers are curator Frederic Fourquemin, Belgian publisher Michel de Trez and D-Day expert Emmanuel Allain of Caen. Contact Dead Man's Corner Museum    

Website www.paratrooper-museum.org

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32. A GREAT MUSEUM ON THE SOMME - GO THERE

Finding a museum that has real artefacts in this age of electronic wonders is difficult and no matter how much effort is put into recreating trench and other scenes in places far from the battlefields there is always a sense of artificiality. This is where the Somme '14-18' Trench Museum is different. It is found in the tunnels under the Basilique in Albert and has dramatic sound effects, convincing dioramas, displays of genuine artefacts and just that edge of dampness that brings home a whiff of the reality of trench warfare. There are captions in three languages and a book shop. Groups are welcome. Somme Museum Albert.

www.musee-somme-1916.org

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33. AN ON-THE-SPOT GUIDE IN NORMANDY AND NONE BETTER

Many visitors to Normandy travel by themselves and not on conducted tours but trying to visit the landing beaches can be very difficult. Much time can be wasted looking for the memorials and museums never  mind where to eat or to stay. Even finding a good local guide is not easy. However all those problems are now solved. Visit Your Local Normandy Battlefield Guide where Danielle Dusbosq, born and living in Normandy, provides all the answers. Danielle spent some years as a tourist officer in the region and has for many years conducted  both groups and individuals around the landing beaches and other tourist areas of Normandy. She speaks English fluently which can be a great help in particular to those visitors coming from North America. She can chauffeur her own vehicle for those who do not wish to drive themselves.

34. POCKET GUIDES TO THE YPRES AND TO THE SOMME

These 112 pages long pocket sized guide-books are designed for those who wish to make short visits to the battlefields of Ypres (Passchendaele) and the Somme. Brief historical backgrounds are given together with detailed itineraries for half-day, full day and longer visits. There are full colour in-text maps and some 60 pictures in each as well as concise tourist information on where to stay and where to eat. Both books are now available at good book shops.

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35. NEW MEMORIALS AND RECEPTION CENTRESThe reception centre at the German cemetery at Langemarck opened in September and consists of a simple above-ground tunnel in which three video screens tell the story of conditions at the front, some history, the establishment of the graves and commemoration. It is a walk-through preparation for a visit to the cemetery. The reception centre at Tyne Cot is at the top end of the cemetery and offers a view over the battlefield through a large picture window below which are orientation sketches. There is a large car/bus park and visitors shouldl pass via the centre into the cemetery and exit back into the car park, though in difficult weather it is a temptation to short-circuit the system.

On 9 September 2006 a new memorial was unveiled to Dancox VC at Langemarck in the presence of members of his family and on 13 October 2006 a memorial to the 46th North Midlands Territorial Division wasunveiled at the Hohenzollern Redoubt.

36. NEW D DAY NORMANDY LANDING BEACHES GUIDE-BOOK PUBLISHED

Edition 5 of our Normandy guide book IS NOW AVAILABLEr. It has been expanded and updated and there are now over 300 pages and over 200 pictures.

37. MILITARY HISTORIAN JOHN URQUHART HAS JUST PUBLISHED 'YPRES'

See www.campaign-trails.co.uk for details of this DVD audio guide to the Salient which covers the Background to the Ypres battles and then via each in turn finishes at the Menin Gate. In all the running time is 76 minutes. Designed to be used on the move the DVD is one of a series called Campaign Trails. Also available via the site are conducted tours.

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38.LA SOMME REMEMBRANCE ASSOCIATION exists to keep alive the memory of those soldiers who fought on the Somme during the First World War. It also organises ceremonies and erects memorials. In March 2007 a memorial to Pte C Cox was unveiled near Achiet le Grand. Details at www.somme-remembrance.com

39. Paul Reed's Site www.battlefields1418.com has been established for 6 years and offers much background on WW1 battles and advice on visiting all parts of the Western Front. Have a look at it before you decide how you are going to travel.

40. Mike Hanlon's Trenches on the Web www.worldwar1.com is a superb collection of information, contributed articles and links. Fully searchable, the site provides a tangible connection between British and American enthusiasts and must vie for the title of 'Best WW1 site on the Web'.

41. 30 Years ago, when we began Major and Mrs Holts Battlefield Tours, we met Bob Reynolds, a WW2 RAF pilot who had settled in America. He had just begun an organisation called 'Valor Tours' with the aim of helping veterans and their families retrace the steps that their loved ones had taken. Valor Tours is still running as strongly as ever under the command of Vicky Middagh, who was with Bob from the early days, and now runs a formidable range of tours from the Pacific to the beaches of Normandy. Though most of the travellers will be American, the Valor Tours programme offers Europeans the opportunity to see things from a Transatlanctic viewpoint, so if you are interested have a look at www.valortours.com You will not be disappointed.

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42. Remembering the Fallen http://ww1cemeteries.com - this is the opening statement by Brent Whittam and Terry Heard who created the site -

'The original idea behind this site was to record our visit to all 940  1914-1918 Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemeteries with 40 plus burials in France and Belgium. In all it has taken us 6 years to complete the task that we set ourselves back in 1998. Our aim at the time was to visit and pay our respects in each of the cemeteries in Sidney Hurst's  book "The Silent Cities", we are proud to be able to say that we have walked around each and every one of those cemeteries ' There is much to see and to learn.

43. Joe Bristow, one time enduro motor cyclist, hurt his knee, and having come across Old Bill while searching the internet, decided that he wanted to collect BB things to fill the gap left by being unable to race. His story is on his website http://www.olebill.zoomshare.com. Recently he was filmed by the Antiques Road Show and so Old Bill's march into the public eye continues. Comines-Warneton in Belgium have now erected signs and information boards for the Bairnsfather Memorial plaque on the cottage at St Yvon.

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44. Frans Ammerlaan is a Dutchman who is steeped in the history of Operation Market Garden and has been involved for many years in making sure that the men who fought to liberate his country are not forgotten. He is one of the founders and organisers of the extraordinary website www.marketgarden.com and has helped us with our own guide book to the battlefield. He is now available as a local guide for those who wish to have an informed tour of the area. Contact him at frans@marketgarden.com

45. Bespoke Battlefield Tours. James Power a former policeman has been visiting the battlefields of the First World War for over 30 years and conducting tours for a dozen years and offers small - half a dozen or less - accompanied tours or planned self conducted visits. Have a look at Click here

46. David Cohen is well known in the militaria dealing and collecting fields. He specialises in Fine Art drawings, paintings and scuptures of the First World War and has done so for over 2 decades. He and his wife Judith have been friends of ours for many years and we can highly recommend their site and their expertise. www.dcfa.com

47. Steve Douglas, a Canadian living in Ypres, is the prime mover behind a project to Remember Canada's War Dead. The Maple Leaf Project is a Registered Charity and supported by volunteers sets out to remember Canadians from all conflicts including Afghanistan. Extremely comprehensive and well presented the site should rank alongside the CWGC site for all Canadians seeking information about their loved ones lost in combat.

www.mapleleaflegacy.ca

48. Alan Jennings was introduced to the Great War through its poetry while at school but it was not until some years later that he was able to visit the battlefields. His site www.ww1battlefields.co.uk chronicles his visits and sets out to help all those who like him feel determined that those who fought and died must be remembered. There are maps and photos, words of advice and direction to a site that can help with research. This is a good one - have a look at it.

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