Ovillers-la-Boisselle in Somme, Upper France, France — Western Europe
T'isnt worth it....
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 10, 2024
1. T'isnt Worth It.... Marker
Pte. Harry Patch
1898 - 2009
Harry Patch arrived in France and celebrated his 19 birthday in the trenches of Flanders. As part of a Lewis gun team, he was one of five men, who along with many thousands of others were sucked into that horror of mud, blood, and death - the Third Battle of Ypres, now better known as Passchendaele.
"If any man tells you he went into the front line and he wasn't scared - he's a liar. You were scared from the moment you got there. You never knew. I mean, in the trench you were all right. If you kept down, a sniper couldn't get you. But you never knew if the artillery had a shell that burst above you and you caught the shrapnel. That was it."
And it wasn't long before Harry did catch some shrapnel; in late September coming back to camp from the trenches one night with his comrades, a German shell exploded nearby killing three and seriously wounding Harry. His war was over.
For eighty years, Harry kept his thoughts to himself, never speaking to anyone about what had happened to him all those years before. He was one hundred
this page online
"It wasn't worth it. No war is worth it. No war is worth the loss of a couple of lives let alone thousands. T'isn't worth it... the First World War, if you boil it down, what was it? Nothing but a family row. That's what caused it. T'isn't worth it."
The Lochnagar Crater is privately owned by Richard Dunning MBE and is dedicated to Remembrance, Respect and Reconciliation.
www.lochnagarcrater.org
'The Lochnagar Promise For Peace'
“In Remembrance of all those who have suffered in conflict, and those who are suffering still may we live our lives today with more Compassion and Kindness. Understanding and Forgiveness Reconciliation and Unity. Let us now, in their honour, wage Peace.”
The Trustees are grateful for the generous bequest which enabled the refurbishment of these Visitor Information Panels.
www.lochnagarcrater.org
« Ca n'vaut pas la peine... »
Soldat Harry Patch
1898 – 2009
Le Soldat Harry Patch arrive en France et fete son 19 anniversaire dans les tranchées de Flandres. Membre d'une équipe à 5 hommes de fusil mitrailleur Lewis, qui, comme des milliers d'autres est entrainé dans cette horreur de boue, de sang et de mort - la troisième bataille d'Ypres, mieux connue aujourd'hui
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 10, 2024
2. T'isnt worth it.... Marker
« Si un homme vous dit qu'il est allé à la ligne du frent et qu'il n'avait pas peur-c'est un menteur. On avait peur des l'arrivée. On ne savait jamats. C'es à dire que, dans la tranchée ça allait. Si on gardait la tête baimée on ne pouvait pas se faire avoir par un sniper. Mais on ne savait jamais si l'artillerie avait un obus qui vous éclaterait au-dessus et que vous vous prendriez des éclats. Cen 'était fini pour vous.
En effet, Harry se prend bientôt des éclats d'obus; en fin septembre, un soir en rentrant des tranchées au campement avec ses camarades, un obus allemand explose non loin, tuant trois hommes et blessant gravement Harry. Sa guerre était finie.
Pendant quatre-vingt ans, Harry garde ses pensées pour lui, ne parlant jamais de ce qu'il lui était arrivé il y a si longtemps. Il a cent ans lorsqu'il commence à parler de la vie et la mort dans le maelstrom de la guerre.
« Ça n'en valait pas la peine. Aucune guerre ne vaut la peine. Aucune guerre ne mérite la perte d'une ou deux vies, encore moins des milliers de vies. Ça n'rau pas la peine... La Première Guerre Mondiale, si on la réduit à l'esentiel, c'était quoi? Rien de plus qu'une dispute de famille. C'en ça qui l'a commencé. Ça n'vaut pas la peine. »
Erected by The Lochnagar Crater Foundation .
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World I. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.
Location. 50° 0.924′ N, 2° 41.878′ E. Marker is in Ovillers-la-Boisselle, Hauts-de-France (Upper France), in Somme. It is on Route de la Grande Mine south of Route D20, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3 Rte de la Grande Mine, Ovillers-la-Boisselle, Hauts-de-France 80300, France. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony and also the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 15th and 16th Royal Scots (a few steps from this marker); An account by Pte. Billy Disbrey (a few steps from this marker); The Unseen Scars of War... (within shouting distance of this marker); Shot at Dawn (within shouting distance of this marker); Vera Brittain (within shouting distance of this marker); The Sacrifice of All Nations (within shouting distance of this marker); The Last Letter of Pte. John Scollen (within shouting distance of this marker); Pte. 1216 Charles R. Frankish (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ovillers-la-Boisselle.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 102 times since then and 4 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 1, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.
