GHQ Montreuil Then & Now.

Using the book I bought published by La Violette , Montreuil-Sur-Mur au Coeur de la Grande Guerre I did these Then & Nows on holiday.
Then photos are from the book credited to IWM.

Entering Montreuil from the south to this Octroi .

 

Into the Grand Place.

 

Le Theatre



Statue of Haig is in the trees now, far left.

 

Officers club was in L'orphelinat, now a library.

 

The old Ecole Militaire Preparatoire , used as Indian Hospital until GHQ moved in.
See other thread.
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/prewar/28281-indian-hospital-cemetery-montreuil.html

 

American Military Mission building in La Rue Maurice Delannoy.



Should have cropped this one in really but you can see what I was after.

 

Porte du Bolougne.

 

Down at the station.
Couldn't get exact view as that required going up onto the road, climbing over a crash barrier, through some bushes to the parapet of the embankment, didn't fancy that.

 

Excellent as ever-You obviously take more time than me over them. I wonder what happened to the original building used as a hospital.

It was demolished in the 1980s so the book says [in French] and now apartment blocks & part of a college.

 

In the book on page 101 is a map of various locations of interest, those I've shown and some places where men were killed in air-raids.
On is marked as being killed in Grand Place, on 21 Aout 1918, Lt De Hees de la MMF.
Dunno anything about him.
This chap was killed here on 21st August 1918.
I don't know if was in the street or in the building.




CWGC :: Casualty Details

Name:BENSON
Initials:S F
Nationality:United Kingdom
Rank:Private
Regiment/Service:Northumberland Fusiliers
Unit Text:1st/4th Bn.
Age:21
Date of Death:21/08/1918Service No:235108Additional information:Son of Louisa Benson, of 94, Cobden St., Loughborough, Leicestershire.
Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:LXVII. G. 13.
Cemetery:ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY

Thanks to Drew for texting me info on where they buried.

 

Another casualty in an air raid was Sgt-Maj Collie.
Looking at dates, I asume he died of wounds.
Thanks again to Drew for help.







CWGC :: Casualty Details

Name:COLLIE, ALEXANDER
Initials:A
Nationality:United Kingdom
Rank:Serjeant Major
Regiment/Service:Royal Engineers
Unit Text:G.H.Q.
Age:42
Date of Death:03/06/1918
Service No:1644
Awards:M S M
Additional information:Medaille Militaire (France). Husband of L. Collie, of 398, Thorold Rd., Ilford, Essex.
Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:LXV. E. 26.
Cemetery:ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY