Vimy Ridge Video Battlefield Tour

[cigar_man]

Man, I must be bored.

I'm on holidays for 3 weeks and spending it on the Nutz.

I am kind of hesitant to post this on the Nutz.

I have a Youtube Channel which is ;

http://www.youtube.com/user/cigarman2001?feature=mhee

I will be posting videos and what ever I find from battlefield Tours that I have done in Western Europe.

England, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstien and Italy.

Some where done years ago. (picture quality less)

This what it is all about.

This site is Dedicated to Canadian Veterans and Serving Member's of the Canadian Forces, past and present.

A heartfelt, Thank You and ever lasting Gratitude to our Lost and Wounded Heroes.

The Flag that I am holding in the background picture has been carried at the many of Highway of Hero's pilgrimages that I made and to the Battlefield Graves of our Brave Canadians across Western Europe that made the Supreme Sacrifice.

We put Poppies supplied by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 551 on all the Canadian Graves that we visit.

This Vimy video is pre-rebuild of the monument.
[youtube]BWQmPa0IPy8[/youtube]

 

[diopter]

Very appropriate.

 

[Nabs]

Amazing video, thank you for sharing.

I am curious what the names of the songs you used during the video are ?

 

[John Sukey]

Very well done and very sad.
Just curious, why did you use "taps" instead of "the last post"?

 

[Suputin]

Every Canadian should visit Vimy once in their lifetime. It is an amazing experience.

 

[cigar_man]

I am curious what the names of the songs you used during the video are ?

I will have to look.
Some of these video's where done a few years back when music was not easy to find.

Hey Nabs, we have something in common, great pictures and appreciation to the Fallen.

This Vimy video is pre-rebuild of the monument.

Just curious, why did you use "taps" instead of "the last post"?

Same about Taps.
No last Post at the time.

Youtube used to erase allot of the music on these kinds of videos for what they thought was infringement.

Not any more and the length of time the video's are longer now than allowed before.

I gave up at one time.

Keep in mind, some may date back ten years.

These video's where made only for family, not perfection.

I am just trying to share with those who may have an intrest to visit the Battlefields.

I put time in when I can.

I could do allot more now with the technology of today.

I literally have 1000's of digital pictures that I have taken over the years.

Something has to be pretty special now to pull out the camera.

I have been battlefield touring every year.

I have been approached to do tours for agencies on the ground.

I do my own thing.

My French is pitifull at best.

France and Belgium is like a second home at times.

You get a feeling like you have never felt before.

I swear the place calls me back.

It inspires me to write, which intern is on the Veteran Affairs website.

Here is one.

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/sub.cfm?source=collections/prose_poetry/po_detail&article_id=522

KNOWN UNTO GOD

CAST NO SHADOW UPON THIS LAND

MY SOUL HAS BEEN COVERED FAR TOO LONG

MANKIND HAS ALL BUT LEFT ME

THIS EARTH SHALL BE MY BED FOR THE REST OF TIME

I SHALL NEVER SLEEP FOR I GUARD THIS LAND FOREVER MORE

MY ONLY LIGHT WILL BE THE SUN ABOVE

MY LIFE WAS MY ONLY LOVE

A MOTHER CRIES OUT,
FOR I FEEL NO SHAME

LIFE WAS CRUEL,
BUT I FELT NO PAIN

IT IS I,
A SOLDIER OF THE GREAT WAR

YES,
THE FORGOTTEN ONE

KNOWN UNTO GOD

 

[Nabs]

Maybe you can show me some of the hidden spots when I go back to the sites in the near future ?

French maps are spotty at best.

 

[cigar_man]

Maybe you can show me some of the hidden spots when I go back to the sites in the near future ?

Like this one.

This area is so near Vimy Ridge, but it is on private land.
Total area, as it was left in 1918
Trench line, wire and so on and so on.

Next up,

Have you ever seen the Norm Christie show (Battlefield Mysteries | Who Killed Michael Wittman?) - August 8, 1944,
near Cintheaux, France

Remember that fellow in the movie with the remains of Wittmann's Tiger No.007 in his barn.

My visit with him.
You know, I just may have a piece of that sucker, Tiger No.007 in my room.

 

[Nabs]

Wow, very cool! I was very tempted to venture into the little forests around the Somme July 1st 1916 that dot the landscape near Mametz and Schwaden redoubt for instance but I was unable to do so during the first trip.

Imagine the untouched wonders, and dangers, that still lie there ?

 

[cigar_man]

This stuff!

Don't worry, before anyone goes off half cocked.

I am well versed with these puppies.

I go out with "Diggers" a group from Belgium.

I know when to back off.

 

[Nabs]

I saw a bunch of the larger caliber artillery shells laying next to the road along various farmer's fields in France, especially around the Somme area for disposal and pick up by the Det squads. Makes me wonder how many farmers actually strike an old shell the wrong way.