We started off today’s adventures with something very
different – a German cemetery. Walking into ‘Langemarck’, we had to enter
through a tunnel which played the sound of war heavily in our ears. The dark, somber,
defeated mood of this cemetery was something we had not yet experienced on this
trip from mainly visiting Commonwealth cemeteries. As we entered the actual cemetery,
the first thing we could see was a mass grave. Over 24,000 bodies buried there,
was something just so difficult to comprehend… The contrasts between our Commonwealth
white headstones, one for each individual soldier, to these German black
headstones, some with up to 10 men in one grave, just sent a shiver down our
spines. The opportunity to be in a place of the so called ‘enemy’ was an image
that will forever be etched in our minds for sure.
We then moved onto Menin Road South Military Cemetery where
I was to make my Adopt-A-Digger Commemoration. This was an eventful
commemoration, as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission was resurfacing the
whole Cemetery so it was practically a field of mud around the mens’
tombstones. Due to the weather being freezing, and the rain from last night,
the conditions were not fantastic! However, as good ANZACs, we all did our best
by making the speech for my digger at the front of the Cemetery, then a couple
of us brave ones went to my digger, Lieutenant Leonard George Prentice Errey’s
grave to place a poppy for him and his family. This commemoration is something
that made this whole experience so personal. Even though the Errey family is
not my family, I felt as though it was my duty to go and visit this grave no
matter how bad the circumstances were. This whole concept of ‘Adopting a Digger’
is something that I will never forget, as many of us wish we could do it for
every Australian that fell throughout wartime. Also, having the Minister of
Veterans’ Affairs, Hugh Delahunty, present at my commemoration was again something that was truly special.
We then made our way to Tyne Cot Cemetery which was the
largest Commonwealth cemetery. Walking into this area became very confronting
as a voice read out the names of the men who were buried there. Hearing ‘age 18’
and hearing the names of these men called out in a peaceful, yet haunting
voice, was touching. We came to this place of resting and heard the story of a
Victoria Cross winner, and saw the original German blockhouses from the Great
War which are now incorporated into the Cemetery.
With Bruce changing the itinerary for the 50th
time, we made our way to Polygon Wood where we were informed we were to meet
the Governor of Victoria and the President of the RSL!! We got taken cross country
through the woods (by Bruce of course) and we heard some stories, and saw some
pictures from the men who were part of these battles at Polygon Wood. Heading
back to the 5th Division Memorial we met the Governor Alex Chernov,
who was a little late due to being escorted by a tractor -haha! This experience was amazing, as many of us
never thought we would use the words ‘Your Excellency’, I have to admit we felt
very honored J
Due to this action packed morning we had to head off after
some group photos with our guests, where we got into formation in under 30
seconds (yes we have had so many group photos that it’s starting to become a
strange habit). We travelled back to the city of Ypres to the ‘In Flander’s
Fields Museum’. This was an awesome experience, even if we only had an hour
there. Our interactive bracelets may have been the excitement for most, however
the information and artifacts, along with the interactive displays were so
interesting and really summed up what we had been learning about the Western
Front over the past few days!
Off to another amazing lunch we went, and sitting down after
a very, very jam packed morning, was such a relief! Many laughs were shared
over the meal, and after getting teased by everyone telling me that there was
meat in my soup, we made our way to NEVERLAND!!!!!!
Not really, we made our way to The Netherlands!! It may not
have been as exciting as Peter Pan turning up at our windows, but the bus trip
was always a joy, with majority sleeping or journaling. Stopping for a break
was another experience as we got a ticket to go into the toilets through like
beam gates!! The strange experiences we have had….
Crossing another European border between countries, we found
ourselves in the 4th country of this trip!! Wow!! Arriving at Van
Der Valk Hotel we all were gobsmaccked at how massive and exciting the hotel
was, we were addressed by our new tour guide, Hans (sorry Bruce you’ve been
replaced) and the Mayor of Barendrecht. Dinner was fantastic once again,
besides Kate’s shoelaces being mysteriously tied together, my vegetarian meal
containing fish for the second time...
Now we are off to bed, as there is a very action packed day
planned for us by the Barendrecht community. We are all very tired, very
excited still, and we all so very much do not want to come home (sorry
parents).
This may not make sense as my eyes are continuously closing,
but time for a good night’s sleep!!
P.S we are having the times of our lives!!!!!!!
Bye bye for now :p
Love Jasmine Davis
To link to the Governor's website to see his report of the visit go to
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