Fascinating stuff. Now you can visit the secret underground WW1 city built by British Tommies | the Daily Mail - some interesting pics in link. An underground city where thousands of British soldiers were housed in the First World War has been partly rebuilt and opened to visitors. Situated deep beneath the town of Arras in the Artois region of France, it was used to protect up to 24,000 troops from constant German artillery bombardment. Ten miles of tunnels linked a command centre, dormitories, kitchens and even a hospital. Going underground: Visitors can now explore the facility which housed up to 24,000 troops The area was already riddled with mine shafts and cellars, some dating back to the Middle Ages, when British High Command ordered the "secret city of Arras" to be created. Miners from the North of England and Londoners who had built the Underground were joined by Maoris on the 18-month project. A surprise attack on German lines was launched from the underground city on April 9, 1917 but it ended in stalemate after casualties reached 4,000 a day. The area was sealed until local authorities raised £3million to reopen sections as a tribute to fallen troops. From next Saturday, visitors will descend 70ft by glass lift into the Carrière Wellington Museum, which contains artefacts including helmets, bullets removed during operations - and 3,000 examples of graffiti.
Some more but in French: Carrière Wellington à Arras, souvenir de la guerre sous terre : notre dossier, avec vidéo :: LA VOIX DU NORD
Kitty, how many disused Tube stations are there? I keep seeing reference to disused ones in New York etc so are there many that are ust bricked up etc?
Fascinating! This sounds like it's going on the list of places to see in France! (Not that the list isn't long enough already) Cheers Owen
My only visit was about 48 hours in Paris 5 years ago and I walked my legs off! Since then I've written "Down to Earth" and I have a list of significant places relating to Kenneth's journey that I would love to visit. Not least of those being his crash site and subsequent trek at Dunkirk. Cheers Owen
So how do you reach the rudder pedals? :becky: As you walk along the beach at Dunkirk, you can look out to sea and wonder where those Spitfires went down!
Mate, At the time of writing the book, as Kenneth recounted the tales so vivdly, I could see them in my mind's eye. To have the actual geographic 'backdrop' would be amazing and, I would imagine, moving at times. He was an amazing gentleman in all aspects of the word and my life is certainly richer for having known him. View attachment 1472 Cheers Owen
Hi all, I thought this link maybe of interest. No. 1 Fighter Sector Headquarters RAAF, later known as No. 101 Fighter Control Unit RAAF My Mum served a stint with the WAAAF at St.James Underground in Sydney during the war. Cheers Owen
Andy i understand there are a hell of a lot of smaller underground stations no longer in use. And as some were used for stuff int eh war they are possibly still listed as secret
maybe so. I recall seeing a repeat on Sky3 of some ghost hunting programme thingy and they visited an abandoned station in London, still complete with 1930's painted signs and posters, and the remnants of the communications center set up in the War and the remnants of aircraft manufactoring down there.
