You might recall that the memsahib and I went to France for the Somme Centenary Commemorations last July, and we brought back some photographs from Albert. It so happened that we stumbled upon the graves of some men from my great-uncle's unit, in Savy Cemetery. One of them was the CSM Rhodes, whom Uncle Arthur saw decapitated during the German attack of March 23rd, 1918. An odd feeling to see his name on the stone.
Anyhow, we stayed at a B&B outside Amiens in a village called Vaux-en-Amiénois. The hosts were absolutely magnificent in ways too numerous to mention here - generous, erudite, amusing, and so many other things, although they did insist we went with them into the city centre to watch France v Iceland on the big outdoor screens. We were, naturally, the butt of a great many jokes. But that's not the point.
It was the memsahib who chose the place to stay - just somewhere reasonably close to Thiepval, although the very tasteful shabby-chic decor played a part. Other than that, it was completely at random. Could have been anywhere in the Somme area.
It was only the other day while doing a bit of reading that I realised that Vaux was where Mephisto was taken after being recovered from the battlefield, to 5 Battalion's training ground close to the village.
Now, it also turns out that Vaux has a website: http://www.vaux-en-amienois.net/le_village/guerre_14-18/guerre_1914.htm
If you scroll down to the map, the B&B is on the road top right, Rue du Bout de Magnier. And I suspect that the photo of Mephisto bottom left is where the training ground was. Can anyone confirm?
Our hosts, Alain and Corinne, had some bits of WWII German memorabilia, including the Kommandatur sign that hung over the farmhouse. But we never discussed WWI. We're going again this year, and I'll message him soon to see if he knows more than is shown on the website. If there's anything worth photographing, I'll get some pics. Maybe even if there isn't.
And anyone who wants details of the B&B is welcome. Can't speak highly enough.
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