Etaples Military Cemetery

In this latest Battlefield Vlog we visit Etaples Military Cemetery on the French coast in Northern France, where 11,000 burials make it the largest British and Commonwealth Cemetery in France. These were men who did not die on the battlefield, but in hospital behind the lines: of wounds, sickness and disease caused by frontline service. Here we see the grave of the oldest British soldier to die on the Western Front and the grave of one of the many women buried at Etaples.
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[@OTDMilitaryHistory]

Yet another excellent video Paul. You're ability to narrate is something I greatly admire.

[@OldFrontLine]

Thanks, Brad.

[@Team-fabulous]

Another very interesting video. I will be at the Somme again this year traveling by motorcycle and will visit this cemetery and pay my respects..

[@OldFrontLine]

It’s really worth it, as the size and scope of the burials is incredible. And Etaples town great for a lunch stop.

[@Jeffybonbon]

Belive me you get nowhere Besting soldiers in training I was an Officer at a Depot Regiment and if i ever caught an NCO bullying any solider i sacked them Men need encouragement and guidance and some strong words in training The Bully with a stripe is a despicable individual and the forces can do without them Rant over Great Video I have been there a number of times and its so worth seeing I am always surprised there is not a visitors center there the History is remarkable well done

[@OldFrontLine]

Thank you - and yes agreed, which is why those soldiers hated them.

[@Sambo77261]

Fantastic video again thank you. I travelled through all these areas when I was a young fella on the great kiwi OE. Now older and wiser and incredibly interested in military history I’m looking forward in the next few years to returning and tracing my grandfathers footsteps. Keep up the great work.
Cheers

[@OldFrontLine]

Thanks, and I hope you get to follow that journey.

[@daveglover6115]

No 'unknowns' buried here, or instant ending, just lingering sadness.

[@OldFrontLine]

Yes, that’s a very good point.

[@peterglynn5181]

This is superb. Thank you for filming this.

[@OldFrontLine]

Thank you, Peter.

[@lex1945]

I've visited Etaples a few times, and every time it amaezes me how big and beautiful it is.

[@OldFrontLine]

It’s just incredible isn’t it?

[@coops1964golf]

another great video.....didn't i read somewhere that the british tommy refererred to the place as eat apples?

[@OldFrontLine]

Thanks - yes, Eat Apples and also Heel Taps!

[@stevegoodall8498]

Nothing quite prepares you for the size of the cemetery at Etaples, it’s vast, and the expanse of the loss is staggering.

[@OldFrontLine]

It is indeed.

[@davefandango1303]

The town was known to the troops as Eat Apples.

[@OldFrontLine]

And “Heel Taps” too.

[@davefandango1303]

@@OldFrontLine I didn't know that. How did you find that?

[@OldFrontLine]

@@davefandango1303 I interviewed hundreds of WW1 veterans in the 1980s and 90s, and I've spent 40 years researching the subject! It's mentioned in quite a few memoirs.

[@lunn77]

Treated badly then sent out to die....same happens nowadays ! Why fight the wars!?

[@OldFrontLine]

Sadly the price of peace is often war.