The Lochnagar Crater Memorial.

[The Devil's Bank]

Another place in Belgium that's a must for every one to see, is the massive crater at La Boiselle.

This place takes some beating and again it's hard to fathom out the events of yesteryear.

As you walk around this massive crater and look down into it's middle, the sheer depth is breath taking.

If you look at the rim of the crater, look at the size of the people walking around it, just to show how big it is.

You can't go down to the bottom, body parts are still in the crater.

The explosion on 1st July 1916, two charges of ammonal were used, 36,000 lbs and 24,000 lbs, 60 feet apart.

This was under a German position called Schwaben Hohe.

It's known locally as the "la Grande Mine".

The bottom picture isn't of Lochnagar, but a similar explosion, it's just to show what it would have looked like when it went off.

The Lochnagar Crater Foundation - Somme Memorial - History

[The Devil's Bank]

In October 1998 the remains of a British soldier were found in the land just behind the crater.

A cross now marks this spot, and the soldier was identified as Private George Nugent of the 22/Northumberland Fusiliers.

He was later reburied in Ovillers Military Cemetery.

Full remains are still being found to this day.

[Adravor]

Very interesting site, thanks for posting!
Its interesting that the German Position it was under was called "Schwaben Hohe" (Maybe höhe?) as that translates to "Swabian elevation"... it wasnt much of an elevation after the explosion.
May the poor souls that died in that explosion rest in peace, i hope their death was atleast quick.

[The Devil's Bank]

There is a large wooden cross made from Tyneside timber standing beside the crater.

In recent years, a new wooden walkway and an area for laying wreaths has been added to the base of the cross.

[The Devil's Bank]

All around the crater are little sign posts with stories of the people who fought here.

It was hard to photograph them, as the sun wasn't playing ball.

[The Devil's Bank]

I think this is where the picture is taken?

[The Devil's Bank]

More pictures of around the crater, memorials and warning signs.

[HARRY THE MOLE]

Hawthorn Ridge redoubt was the site of the first of the 19 mines to be blown on the opening day of the battle of the Somme. It lay to the right of Serre, and in front of Beaumont Hamel close to the infamous 'Y' ravine. Geoffrey Malins filmed the detonation of the mine from a specially prepared site on the British Lines opposite the redoubt. The mine was fired at exactly 7:20am... a full 10 minutes before the attack went in. The reason for the early detonation was to make sure that the men detailed to capture the crater would not get caught in the debris from the explosion. The light artillery (field) was also supposed to stop firing for those vital few minutes just prior to the attack going in. But due to a mix-up, ALL the guns fell silent for the full 10 minutes... it was even reported that it was so quiet that birds could be heard singing. To the left of the crater at Serre,the Accrington Pals moved in to their jump-off point in front of their trenches at 7:25am. The Germans, by now alerted to the imminent attack by the mine being blown, rushed out of their deep bunkers and manned their front-line trenches. Their artillery opened up and the 'Pals' battalion suffered appalling losses. Before the attack they fielded just over 700 men, and within just a few hours they had lost nearly 600.

[Narcis]

The movie: "Beneath Hill 60 " (2010)

[HARRY THE MOLE]

Hill 60 is in Belgium, and the fighting there was one of mining and counter mining. The 19 mines detonated on July 1st 1916 on the first day of the Somme in France were used to take out specific targets in the enemy front line prior to the attack going in.
Cheers,
Steve