Colour Serjeant Church entertains the ladies
John Greenacre with his ladies at the start of the event
John taking his guiding responsibilities seriously at Pozieres!!
On 21 October 2011 sixty ladies from Fallingbostel, Hohne and all over the UK met in a field in Mailly Maillet for an Army Benevolent Fund fund raising event labelled as ‘Wenches in Trenches’. The ladies were preparing to walk across the Somme guiding by four intrepid members of the Guild; Peter Hewlett-Smith (the group leader), Ed Church, Jo Hook and John Greenacre. In the evening the guides gave background talks to help prepare the ladies and Colour Serjeant Church made an appearance to tell about the life of the Tommy. The night was spent (mostly wakeful) in unheated army tents as the temperature plunged well below zero.
The following morning the ladies were bussed to Hebuterne where Ed explained the preparations for the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The walk began from Touvent Farm and took the ladies to Sheffield Memorial Park and then over Redan Ridge to the Sunken Road. The ladies were entertained by the guides while walking and during stops in the freezing conditions. Lunch at the Sunken Road was enlivened by the appearance by an Ulster pipe band provided by Rod Bedford!
After lunch the walk continued to Newfoundland Park via Auchonvillers and then finished at the Ancre Cemetery. The evening was spent in a large tent being entertained by a drag act who, if nothing else, should be commended for performing in minimum clothing in freezing conditions. Ed and Peter were singled out as the ‘Saga’ contingent. The night felt a little warmer, probably due to the red wine consumed.
The following day’s walk began at Dartmoor Cemetery and continued through Becourt to the Lochnagar Crater. On through La Boiselle the ladies walked cross country to Pozieres where a lunch break was taken at Gibraltar. As the weather improved a pleasant afternoon was passed walking past Mouquet Farm and up to the Thiepval Memorial where a service of remembrance was conducted by Peter and the group was joined by triple amputee Corporal Andy Reid.
This was a worthwhile and great fun event supported by the Guild. The ladies thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed the efforts of the guides and it is planned to be a repeat event, so watch this space!
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