POLICE_WORLD_3_2016

Article

South East Essex Branch Visit to The Somme 2016. By Steve Hunt - 10 Region Secretary In March 2016 thirteen members set off for a re-visit

to The Somme in France for a visit to the WW1 monuments, battle-sites and cemeteries. A couple of ‘new faces’ in new IPA member Ali Rauf and ‘veteran’ Mick Hollis joined regular attendees on the journey to the base-camp, a large old house in a hamlet not far from Albert the nearest reasonably sized town. In this part of very rural France it is so quiet that most days seem to be Sunday. O nce again intrepid tour guide Ian Rayner provided his excellent knowledge of the area’s history and sites that we visited. As usual the weather kept us on our toes and on a couple of mornings we woke up to a covering of light snow, which luckily disappeared by mid-morning. Because of previous visits to the area a well organised and professional service was provide to the group with a great mix of both history sites and visits to recognised eating and drinking establishments to recover for the damp and blustery French weather!

French lifestyle and customs needed much planning ahead to arrange meals inside their restrictive trading hours particularly on Sundays where most places are closed. Welcome ‘de- briefs’ at The Three Pigeons pub in Albert allowed members to catch up ‘Servo per Amikeco’ style. Pierre the host, who speaks excellent English looked after us very well. The height of the visit was the laying of a wreath at the Thiepval Memorial, the Largest British War Memorial in the World. Four Essex Police Officers are named on the memorial so a wreath was laid in memory of all Essex Officers who were killed during WW1. Ian Rayner was resplendent in his ex- Guardsman attire along with ex-Royal Marine Phil Parker who wore his beret and others gave their police medals an airing.

Laying the wreath

New member Ali Rauf with James Panting at the rear – enjoying a ‘debrief beer’ after a ‘gruelling day’ of discovery and adventure.

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POLICE WORLD Vol 61 No. 3, 2016