Sanctuary Wood

We're  at that point in the Great War centenary where people are reflecting on Verdun and, a month from now, the Battle of the Somme.

In the Hooge sector, east of Ypres, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry was holding the line with other battalions. They were in an area called "Sanctuary Wood", so named because it was quiet at the start of the war. My grandfather, Grant MacLachlan, was there and took these photos:

He was a machine gunner. Here's another picture of him ready and waiting.

The line was held, but it was considered to be un-tenable with its strange indentations known as "The Loop" and "The Appendix". The understanding was that if attacked the line was to be withdrawn to staighter communication lines.

 Here is the view on June 2, 1916.

By this point in the war the Wood was anything but a Sanctuary, as can be seen by the blasted trees. And it is no longer a wood.

On June 2 the Germans opened up with a barrage. The Battle of Santuary Wood began. As planned the Allied line slowly retreated as the German advance began while still holding the Germans back. Each battalion had tales of successes and losses over the next few days. PPCLI was no exception. When they were finally relieved on the 5th they had taken a hard knocking.

My grandfather took this picture of No. 5 platoon after their part in the battle was over:

Knowing what happened on an individual level is hard to fathom. 

In 1922 my grandfather returned to visit the Front with his dad and his cousin Louise. Several photos show him at "The Culvert" along the old rail line.

I can only imagine that this is what he and his comrades fell back to, and where they were able to do their bit to hold the German advance. Here must be where he set up his gun and fell into exhausted sleep, if sleep was possible, while mayhem screamed around him for three days. He stands here reflecting on fears and relief that he survived where others did not.... But I don't know.

Meanwhile on this same pilgrimage his father, Alexander MacLachlan, and his cousin Louise look at a deserted tank. Was the crew blown to bits?:

And they photograph mountains of collected barbed wire:

And Louise makes a light hearted and dangerous gesture with a rusty German grenade. Lucky she wasn't blown to bits:

Meanwhile, back in Ypres, reconstruction begins