Wormhoudt Massacre

[Ali Hollington]

Following on from the BBC programme on Dunkirk and having read some of the other threads on this subject, could anyone provide directions to the site. I believe it isn't actually in Wormhoudt, I have found a reference to a place called Esquelbecq.
I'm about to venture on to the www but thought I'd try here first.
Ali

[salientpoints]

Hi Ali,

Try
http://www.ph012b2086.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk...y/wormhoudt.htm

http://mackillers.8m.com/wormhoudt.html

http://www.silentcities.co.uk/cemeteryw/Wo...ery,%20Nord.htm

Ryan

[Ali Hollington]

Hi Ryan,
Thanks for the links, found the first two myself whilst surfing but Silent cities escaped me.
What I'm trying to find is any guidance on driving to the site, directions, parking etc. I would be particularly interested in hearing from anyone who has recently visited the site.
Ali

[salientpoints]

You can always try http://www.theaa.co.uk website for routes and you may be interested to know that chapter 3 in the pen & sword book 'Dunkirk' in the channel ports series of battleground europe is all on this...

ISBN 0850527015 £9.95

I forgot I had this on my shelf!!!

Its probably best getting a copy yourself anyway but here is a map of what you are after.



Ryan

[Ali Hollington]

Ryan,
Thank you for the map and addition info and thank the lords above for the battleground series of books. Without them there would be even more clueless people like me wandering about.
Ali

[salientpoints]

No problem Ali,

Please let us all know how the trip goes and post some photos?!

Ryan

[Mark Hone]

I found the site very easily from the directions in the Battleground Europe 'Dunkirk' book in 2000. It is possible to walk from the centre of Escquelbeq on a similar route to that taken by the prisoners, passing the 'official' memorial which is actually some distance from the actual massacre site. A reconstruction of the fatal barn has just been built on the original location. The dramatization of the massacre (which I watched again on the BBC4 repeat of the series) is pretty accurate, but of course told from the point of view of Alf Toombs. The death of Captain Lynn Allen is described differently by other witnesses, notably Bert Evans. You might like to visit the graves of some of the men, including the two heroic NCOs who attempted to smother the grenades, at Esquelbeq Cemetery.
On a lighter note Escquelbeq features its own local brewery.

[Mark Hone]

I forgot to recommend the most detailed account of the massacre based on numerous eyewitness accounts: 'Massacre On the Road To Dunkirk' by Revd. Leslie Aitken.

[Ali Hollington]

Hi,
Thanks for all the information provided, especially Ryan for the map.
The visit was on the homeward leg of a Somme visit over this weekend, when we visited the site on Monday the area was deserted. As many of you may already know there is a memorial on the road/track from Esquelbecq and a barn has been reconstructed to mark the site of the massacre. Unfortunatetly the Union Flag flying beside the barn is looking a bit ragged, does anyone know who would be responsible for the upkeep of this?
I have hopefully attached a photo showing the area, apologies for the poor camera work, I will get better.

One note is that the site in general is looking well cared for and some new planting appears to be going on, a raised mount has been built roughly between the two ponds, about 70m NE of the barn. As it has steps leading to a flatten summit (approx 5m) it could be a viewing platform but I'm not sure.
In the barn is a number of memorials, there appears to be some connection with Llanduno, does anyone know the reason for this?
Regards
Ali.

[Ali Hollington]

A few more images, again sorry about the dodgy style.
Ali