2017 Battlefield Tour Page 32

BAYERNWALD

The Allies called it Croonaert Wood but because the occupying soldiers were from the Bavarian Army it soon became known to the Germans as Bayernwald - ‘Bavarian Wood’ - regardless of who were the actual tenants. Across a field 200 yards away is the small British Croonaert cemetery.

The 300 mtrs of trenches have been restored to the original 1914 plans with wicker sides around 4 original bunkers and two counter mine listening shafts.

End of trip meal in Ypres, I hope we have not bored you to death with all these photos. If you ever get the chance to do a battlefield tour then do so. It is well worth it.

Spanners, PK, Nobby and Loll

Adolf Hitler served at Bayernwald in Nov 1914 as a Company runner with 1st Coy, 16th Bavarian Infantry Regiment. It was in this area that he gained his Iron Cross 2nd Class. He returned to visit the wood in June 1940 after the fall of France.

The wood was captured by the 19th (Western) Division on the 7th June 1917 on the first day of the Battle of Messines Ridge. At the start of the battle, the Hollandscheschuur Group of three mines were exploded a short distance away surrounding the German strong point ‘Gunther’ at Hollandschuur Farm. Troops of the 7th Loyal North Lancashires and the 9th Cheshires captured the wood after meeting little resistance.

Anyone planning to visit take note that Bayernwald is an unmanned site and bar-coded tickets for entry have to be purchased from the Tourist Office in the town of Kemmel.