[First World War Battlefields Tour] Story and Pictures: Patrick Cruywagen FIELDS OF BATTLE We join a 4x4 tour operator to experience the seldom seen views of the Arras battlefield 52 ||| LAND ROVER MONTHLY LAND ROVER MONTHLY ||| 53 [First World War Battlefields Tour] [First World War Battlefields Tour] t’s a grim Sunday morning but nowhere near as grim t’s a grim Sunday morning but nowhere near as grim as the fate suffered by Corporal Alf Razell during the as the fate suffered by Corporal Alf Razell during the advance of the 8th and 9th Royal Fusiliers on May 03 advance of the 8th and 9th Royal Fusiliers on May 03 1917. We are standing at the exact spot where he was 1917. We are standing at the exact spot where he was taken POW. That was probably the nicest thing to “Some say that modern taken POW. That was probably the nicest thing to “Some say that modern Ihappen to him during the attack. We all huddle in closely Ihappen to him during the attack. We all huddle in closely for warmth around our Battlefieldsby4x4 guide Nigel for warmth around our Battlefieldsby4x4 guide Nigel Stevens. The rain and wind are trying their best to force Canada was born in Stevens. The rain and wind are trying their best to force Canada was born in us back into the comfort and heated seats of our Land us back into the comfort and heated seats of our Land Rovers. Nigel begins to tell us what happened to Alf and Rovers. Nigel begins to tell us what happened to Alf and his small party of Fusiliers on that fateful day. these trenches of Vimy” his small party of Fusiliers on that fateful day. these trenches of Vimy” Upon reaching the outskirts of Pelves they found Upon reaching the outskirts of Pelves they found themselves cut-off from the rest of the attack, little did themselves cut-off from the rest of the attack, little did they know that they were right in the midst of the German they know that they were right in the midst of the German defensive positions. While digging in, a cluster of stick defensive positions. While digging in, a cluster of stick grenades fell amongst them and wreaked havoc, instantly grenades fell amongst them and wreaked havoc, instantly killing several of them. One by one the rest of Alf’s troops that he would come back for him. He later tried to killing several of them. One by one the rest of Alf’s troops that he would come back for him. He later tried to were picked off until only he remained, he took shelter in convince some German stretcher bearers he met that were picked off until only he remained, he took shelter in convince some German stretcher bearers he met that a shell hole, where he lay amongst his dead comrades. they should help him fetch Bill, but they refused. a shell hole, where he lay amongst his dead comrades. they should help him fetch Bill, but they refused. The long night came, eventually day replaced it, Alf says that not a day goes by that he does not think of The long night came, eventually day replaced it, Alf says that not a day goes by that he does not think of accompanied by a German digging party. They searched Bill. As Nigel told this part of the story he was in tears, so accompanied by a German digging party. They searched Bill. As Nigel told this part of the story he was in tears, so the British bodies for cigarettes. Much to their surprise was I. The rain and cold did not matter anymore. They the British bodies for cigarettes. Much to their surprise was I. The rain and cold did not matter anymore. They Alf jumped up with his hands in the air, he was led away seemed irrelevant. As I looked around I saw that we were Alf jumped up with his hands in the air, he was led away seemed irrelevant. As I looked around I saw that we were to a manned German trench about 50 yards away. As he not the only ones moved to tears by this story. When I got to a manned German trench about 50 yards away. As he not the only ones moved to tears by this story. When I got stepped in the trench a familiar voice greeted him. “Hello back to the UK at the end of the tour I read Cheerful stepped in the trench a familiar voice greeted him. “Hello back to the UK at the end of the tour I read Cheerful Razz, am I glad to see you.” It was Bill Hubbard, one of his Sacrifice – The Battle of Arras 1917 by Jonathan Nicholls, Razz, am I glad to see you.” It was Bill Hubbard, one of his Sacrifice – The Battle of Arras 1917 by Jonathan Nicholls, mates, lying on the trench floor. He had been injured it gives a detailed account of the story of Alf and Bill. My mates, lying on the trench floor. He had been injured it gives a detailed account of the story of Alf and Bill. My when the cluster of stick grenades fell between and he favourite part of the book is the black and white photos when the cluster of stick grenades fell between and he favourite part of the book is the black and white photos had been on the trench floor for a few days. The heartless found on pages 148 and 149. One of these is a close-up of had been on the trench floor for a few days. The heartless found on pages 148 and 149. One of these is a close-up of Germans had refused to help him. There was a massive Alf’s hand, it was taken May 3 1984 when he returned to Germans had refused to help him. There was a massive Alf’s hand, it was taken May 3 1984 when he returned to hole in his back and his intestines hung out of it. There the spot we're now standing. In the picture he is holding a hole in his back and his intestines hung out of it. There the spot we're now standing. In the picture he is holding a was earth and chalk in the wound and Alf tried to play cross in his hand and on it he wrote: “In memory of my was earth and chalk in the wound and Alf tried to play cross in his hand and on it he wrote: “In memory of my down the seriousness of the wound to his friend. He used dear pal Bill Hubbard.” He says that he did this to put his down the seriousness of the wound to his friend. He used dear pal Bill Hubbard.” He says that he did this to put his what he had to patch up poor old Bill. mind at rest. what he had to patch up poor old Bill. mind at rest. Two days later the Germans were relieved and they No one in our party says a word as we climb back into Two days later the Germans were relieved and they No one in our party says a word as we climb back into ordered Razz to carry the bigger and heavier Bill away our Land Rovers. I notice a pile of ammunition lying next ordered Razz to carry the bigger and heavier Bill away our Land Rovers. I notice a pile of ammunition lying next from the frontline with them. The craters made it almost to the path and not far away from my Range Rover Vogue from the frontline with them. The craters made it almost to the path and not far away from my Range Rover Vogue impossible for Alf while the pain made it unbearable for is parked. The local farmer must’ve found them while impossible for Alf while the pain made it unbearable for is parked. The local farmer must’ve found them while Bill. He begged Alf to put him down and leave him there. ploughing his fields. Ironically one of them is an Bill. He begged Alf to put him down and leave him there. ploughing his fields. Ironically one of them is an Razz found a shell hole and did just that but promised Bill unexploded stick grenade. It has been spray-painted neon Razz found a shell hole and did just that but promised Bill unexploded stick grenade. It has been spray-painted neon LAND ROVER MONTHLY || 5 5 LAND ROVER MONTHLY || 5 5 [First World War Battlefields Tour] Right: Any Land Rover will comfortably complete one of thes tours cameras. They are also useful when you have to go through tolls and you want to get really close to the ticket box without damaging the shiny 21” Delta Winged Diamond Turned Wheels on the kerb. Most Battlefieldsby4x4 tours are two half-days and one full day, so they start on a Friday afternoon and finish again at lunchtime on the Sunday. You could get back to work by Dean to the Monday if you have to. There are two types of accommodation types on offer supply pic on these tours, camping or a hotel. We were on the latter tour and found ourselves in the centrally located Hotel Ibis. From here it’s a short walk to the cities two ancient market squares, the Grand Place and the smaller Petite Place, referred to by the locals as the Place de Heros.