Simon Verdegem
@SimonVerdegem
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Battlefield archaeologist, WW1 archaeology - works for @BAACVlaanderen - co-founder @skylarcs - head archaeologist @DigHill80
Assenede, België
Joined February 2013
The artifacts found with them were exceptionally well-preserved and sometimes showed the incredibly brutal force with which the artillery had struck their positions. The impact on some objects speaks for itself
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Private Joseph Patrickson MM, 11/NF, 24 Private Arnold Sanderson MM, 11/NF, 26 An Unknown Soldier of the Northumberland Fusiliers An Unknown Soldier of the Great War
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2nd Lieutenant Leslie Wallace Ablett, 11/NF, 20 2nd Lieutenant Edward Douglas Bruty, 11/NF, 21 Serjeant Thomas Feasby, 11/NF, 32 Lance Corporal Stanley Blakeborough, 11/NF, 21 Private Harry Miller, 11/NF, 28
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In 2021, these soldiers found eternal rest @CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery. They were reinterred with military honors, and their descendants, dignitaries, and even The Duke of Kent in attendance. photos @EricCompernolle
#FWW #History #Archaeology
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On-site identification of 2/Lt Ablett was a pivotal moment. A gold ring with an inscription and an id-tag led the way to discovering the identities of other soldiers. This extensive effort eventually identified 7 out of 9 soldiers from the 11/Northumberland Fusiliers.
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In 2018, a remarkable discovery unfolded during sewer construction in Oude Wervikstraat, Beselare. Human remains and #FWW artifacts were unearthed. The Flanders Heritage agency initiated on-site research, revealing soldiers interred in trenches and shell craters.
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Tragically, heavy artillery shelling struck their positions on 14 October. On the following day, the war diaries grimly noted: 'C Coy very heavily shelled in the early morning - 2 Lt L.W. ABLETT and 2 Lt E.D. BRUTY ‘C’ Coy killed – Batt HQ shelled heavily.
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In 1917, during 3rd Ypres, 11/Northumberland Fusiliers returned to the front lines after a brief rest and took over from the 13/Durham Light Infantry. C company, with 2/Lt. L.W. Ablett and 2/Lt. E.D. Bruty, went in support trenches near Reutel on 12 Oct.
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Today we laid to rest the South African soldier recovered during the @DigHill80 project. With his reburial, the last of the men we found has now received a final resting place. More than 100 missing soldiers have been recovered and honoured thanks to the support of so many.
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Today we laid to rest the South African soldier recovered during the @DigHill80 project. With his reburial, the last of the men we found has now received a final resting place. More than 100 missing soldiers have been recovered and honoured thanks to the support of so many.
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We wish to honour the last soldier of @DigHill80 with a wreath at his reburial. If you’d like to contribute, please send me a message.
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@holland_tom @TheRestHistory If you are interested in the Great War, you might like this interview with the brilliant archaeologist @SimonVerdegem of @DigHill80 and other #WW1 projects. Echoes from the Trenches: WW1 Unearthed - with Simon Verdegem https://t.co/bPHC6pze87
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If you're interested in the Great War, you might like this interview with the brilliant archaeologist @SimonVerdegem of @DigHill80 and other compelling #FWW #archaeology projects. Echoes from the Trenches: WW1 Unearthed - with Simon Verdegem https://t.co/bPHC6pze87
Today on @TheRestHistory, all's muddy on the Western Front, as trenches snake across Europe, the autumn rains fall, and the full horrors of industrial warfare stand revealed. Hitler, the 1st battle of Ypres, & THE MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS all feature. https://t.co/UUiTlhO9c1
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Our last man will finally be laid to rest. He was recovered during our @DigHill80 project, and while his exact identity could not be uncovered, the evidence was sufficient to determine that he had served with the South African Infantry. https://t.co/TXmCy2STl1
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Our last man will finally be laid to rest. He was recovered during our @DigHill80 project, and while his exact identity could not be uncovered, the evidence was sufficient to determine that he had served with the South African Infantry. https://t.co/TXmCy2STl1
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The chances of identification seemed very poor, until thorough historical research followed by DNA led to the identification of a young soldier from Newfoundland, Private John Lambert.
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For some men the delay was too long and they died of their wounds at the RAP. These men were buried on the spot in field graves. Their burial site, erased by heavy shelling, remained unknown, until a few years ago the remains of 8 soldiers were recovered #FWW #Archaeology
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