Mark William Mills died sometime around 6am one hundred years ago today. He was following a creeping barrage from the British lines at Lempire, advancing towards the Knoll, nondescript save for it being a strategic bit of high ground between Tombois & Gillemont Farms. He was one of 25 men killed that morning. The action was classed a success despite the losses, as the Knoll was, temporarily, captured.
Today, Adam & I set off from Albert to visit our Great Grandad at the Knoll to say 'hello'.
We set off in fair conditions with the wind at our backs, but it didn't last long. The squalls started as soon as the terrain began to bite us. Constant hills & valleys, interspersed with us having to negotiate several km of rough (cart) tracks! The Garmin says 'Yes' 😡
The maps soon took over, but we still had to battle the weather, the terrain & a series of closed cafes. Shelter was occasionally sought in the most sacred of places.
It seemed to take an age, but we eventually arrived at Lempire & quickly found the Knoll. We walked to it up the graveled farm track:
There's nothing there to even hint at what had happened all those years ago, save for the odd bit of corroding ordnance in the adjacent fields. I knew not to expect anything. That Mark William Mills died within a few hundred metres of where we stood was enough.
The view from the Knoll toward Lempire village. He would have been advancing towards us.
We spent half an hour or so in contemplation. Then started back. I wasn't looking forward to 30 miles straight into a strong headwind. We decided to return via Peronne, using the better roads, but it still proved to be a brutal slog. We refuelled in Peronne and arrived back at camp in Albert around 6.30pm. A long hard, but incredibly rewarding day.
A quick shower & we walk into Albert for dinner. I'm ready!!
Albert is quite pleasant in the evening sun.
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