Today was a big day for the 10th Dunblane Pals an even earlier call saw us on the road to the Somme at 0745 local time. While Company A made straight for Newfoundland Park, Company B took some time out to pay their respects to Major Christie a resident of Dunblane whose home is now the Westlands Hotel, Major Christie was the OC of the 101st Labour Company whose positions were attacked by the Germans and himself and many others were subjected to poison gas, dying 4 days later, we laid a wreath in Foncquevillers where he was attacked.

Company B then moved on to Newfoundland Park where we followed in the footsteps of the Newfoundland regiment and learned of the terrible losses they took at what is now a tranquil park.

We heard how the 51st Highland division earned their fearsome reputation in taking the German trenches at Y Ravine some 4 months after the original attack on the Somme and our company ppipier L/Cpl Deakin played a lament.

After this the day became monumental with a visit to Thiepval memorial to the missing of the Somme, crosses were laid where relative of company members are commemorated.

We moved on to Dartmouth Cemetery where we saw Henry Webber reputed to be the oldest man killed on the Western Front age 67, and the Lees a Father and Son killed on the same day and buried side by side.

This was follwed by another commeoration for the family of the McLean brother at Poziers which is a tragic story and deserves it’s own page!

We said the day had been monumental little did we know!

The Canadian National War memorial at Vimy Ridge.