WWII in the Ardennes - Day 3

[smallhobbit]

Our third and final day began in La Roche, a town which has been rebuilt since it was almost completely destroyed in December 1944, with only four buildings surviving intact.

   

And the memorial to the Black Watch nearby



From there we went to Hotton War Cemetery with British & Commonwealth graves



Every grave stone tells a story: Herbert 'beloved husband, daddy of Peter' and Stopforth 'darling husband of my dreams'

   

Ever grateful to those who gave their lives so that we can continue to live life to the full

   



And yes, this time it's me on top of the tank.

Comments

[meridian_rose]

Beautiful photos of the rebuilt La Roche. Sobering ones of the gravestones.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you - for me, it's all about the people involved, and those two of men from the Herefordshire regiment were particularly poignant.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Little umbrellas! Yay!

[smallhobbit]

We had to have umbrellas in our cocktails!

[adafrog]

Those markers are heart wrenching.

[smallhobbit]

They are. It's so sad.

[rusty_armour]

Only a week late... ;-)

It's amazing to think that La Roche had just four surviving buildings after nearly being destroyed in 1944. Of course, it could have easily lost all of them.

The Black Watch memorial is quite beautiful. The stories on the various grave stones in the Hotton War Cemetery really make you realize the huge sacrifices that were made by these soldiers -- and the loved ones who lost them.

That photo of you on the tank is wonderful!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much. The surviving buildings in La Roche were all outlying cottages. I'm delighted you like the photo of me on the tank :)