The scars of the Battle of Messines discussion

GEHFileBot · 12-20-2006, 02:49 PM

This is a discussion thread for the following file:

The scars of the Battle of Messines

The Battle of Messines was launched on June 7, 1917 by British General Herbert Plumer's second army, which included the 16th (Irish) Division and the 36th (Ulster) Division, near the villages of Mesen (in French Messines, as it was on most maps at that time). The target of the offensive was the Messines Ridge (a ridge running north from Messines village past Wytschaete village, which the Irish Divisions overran, and beyond), a natural stronghold southeast of Ypres, a town in the West Flanders province of Belgium. General Plumer had begun plans to take the Messines Ridge a year before, in early 1916. The attack was also a harbinger to the much larger Third Battle of Ypres, known as Passchendaele, which began on July 31, 1917.

Over a period beginning more than a year before the attack, the attackers had tunnelled under the German trenches and planted almost 455 tonnes (1,000,000 lb) of ammonal there. A heavy bombardment of the German positions was initiated and then halted. The defenders returned to their positions expecting an assault to follow. The detonation of the explosives all timed for 3:10am, killed approximately 10,000 German soldiers. It said to have been heard as far away as London and Dublin, and was possibly the loudest man-made noise made up to that date. In Switzerland the explosions registered as an earthquake. The real attack then followed.

Not all of the explosives went off. Two of the original 21 mines failed to ignite due to one reason or another. On July 17, 1955, a lightning strike set off one of the remaining mines, the only casualty being a dead cow. The 21st mine is believed to have been found in recent years, but no attempt has been made to remove it. Several large water-filled craters still mark the original positions of the German trenches.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Messines

dennispro · 12-20-2006, 02:52 PM

This is an awesome overlay with links. It is too bad that the clarity of the satellite pictures is not better. I will continue to check back to see if better images are available.

Captain Hornblower · 12-20-2006, 05:21 PM

Thanks for your comment. Yes, it's pretty sad that this part of Belgium is still in lo-res. So let's cross the fingers that Google si going to update it as soon as possible...

McMaster_de · 12-21-2006, 06:53 PM

Hi Peter,

what should I say, I was first!

Look at my file. It's not so impressive then yours, but it shows the same.

http://www.googleearthhacks.com/dlfi...ines,-1917.htm

Captain Hornblower · 12-24-2006, 04:15 PM

They didn't appear in the network-links...

12-20-2006, 02:49 PM	#1
GEHFileBot Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,960	The scars of the Battle of Messines discussion This is a discussion thread for the following file: The scars of the Battle of Messines The Battle of Messines was launched on June 7, 1917 by British General Herbert Plumer's second army, which included the 16th (Irish) Division and the 36th (Ulster) Division, near the villages of Mesen (in French Messines, as it was on most maps at that time). The target of the offensive was the Messines Ridge (a ridge running north from Messines village past Wytschaete village, which the Irish Divisions overran, and beyond), a natural stronghold southeast of Ypres, a town in the West Flanders province of Belgium. General Plumer had begun plans to take the Messines Ridge a year before, in early 1916. The attack was also a harbinger to the much larger Third Battle of Ypres, known as Passchendaele, which began on July 31, 1917. Over a period beginning more than a year before the attack, the attackers had tunnelled under the German trenches and planted almost 455 tonnes (1,000,000 lb) of ammonal there. A heavy bombardment of the German positions was initiated and then halted. The defenders returned to their positions expecting an assault to follow. The detonation of the explosives all timed for 3:10am, killed approximately 10,000 German soldiers. It said to have been heard as far away as London and Dublin, and was possibly the loudest man-made noise made up to that date. In Switzerland the explosions registered as an earthquake. The real attack then followed. Not all of the explosives went off. Two of the original 21 mines failed to ignite due to one reason or another. On July 17, 1955, a lightning strike set off one of the remaining mines, the only casualty being a dead cow. The 21st mine is believed to have been found in recent years, but no attempt has been made to remove it. Several large water-filled craters still mark the original positions of the German trenches. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Messines

12-20-2006, 02:52 PM	#2
dennispro Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1	Awesome This is an awesome overlay with links. It is too bad that the clarity of the satellite pictures is not better. I will continue to check back to see if better images are available.

12-20-2006, 05:21 PM	#3
Captain Hornblower Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Koblenz, Germany Posts: 1,903	Thanks for your comment. Yes, it's pretty sad that this part of Belgium is still in lo-res. So let's cross the fingers that Google si going to update it as soon as possible... __________________ Software is like entropy. It is difficult to grasp, weighs nothing, and obeys the second law of thermodynamics; i.e., it always increases. Norman R. Augustine

12-21-2006, 06:53 PM	#4
McMaster_de Master Finder Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Munich, Germany Posts: 1,245	Hi Peter, what should I say, I was first! Look at my file. It's not so impressive then yours, but it shows the same. http://www.googleearthhacks.com/dlfi...ines,-1917.htm __________________ You search it, I will find it! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-24-2006, 04:15 PM	#5
Captain Hornblower Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Koblenz, Germany Posts: 1,903	They didn't appear in the network-links... __________________ Software is like entropy. It is difficult to grasp, weighs nothing, and obeys the second law of thermodynamics; i.e., it always increases. Norman R. Augustine

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