I was fortunate enough this year whilst visiting with my brother Alan Elsegood to have visited the sites in Belgium and France where my two grandfathers fought and where our maternal grandfather was captured, only 6 weeks from the end of World War I. Alan’s research and knowledge of the events and places that were key places and times helped me understand the hardships, courage and overwhelming loss of life in the War.
The war graves sites are so wonderfully kept, the trenches still intact in some places (see photo below of Hill 62/Sanctuary Wood) and the museums show and tell the story. The Menen Gate ceremony that takes place every evening at dusk is truly atmospheric.
This was a journey into the past I will never forget.
elsegoodfamily 