*VIRTUAL TOUR - The Somme Offensive Continued* Auchonvillers

AUCHONVILLERS


Auchonvillers, known as Ocean villas by the British Troops, was a small village which was almost totally decimated by shell fire between 1915 and 1918. As it was close to the Front-Line, areas were utilised by the Allies; for example, the stable (part of Avril’s Guesthouse Complex) was used as an Advanced Dressing Station, and Casualty Collecting Post. Adjacent to the farm buildings, the Scottish Churches erected a large tent to supply nourishment for the wounded, stretcher bearers, and prisoners. The tented facility was also used by the Allies during their down time, it was a place of sanctuary and peace, a place they could pray, and a place they could escape the traumatic events on the Front-Line. Originally, the farm buildings were intact, but as the War progressed, shells caused detrimental damage, so the dressing station was moved into the cellar; with entry via the trench system outside. As the War drew on, the Dressing Station was moved, and the cellar was then used as a signallers control room, also as a short-term prisoner detention centre. 

Auchonvillers Communal Cemetery
The local Cemetery, was designed as a Civilian Cemetery for those who were killed in and around the village. However, from the summer of 1915, the Ancre Front was held by French Troops, and French Soldiers were buried in the North-West corner of the Communal Cemetery. Further along the North side, 13 Non-Commissioned Officers and Men of the 1st Border Regiment were buried in April 1916, together with two other British Soldiers who died in August 1915, and August 1918; they were buried sporadically around the Cemetery; however, they are now buried together in one row.

The common story about the untimely death of those Men from our Ancestral Regiment, states that the group were moving from the trenches around Saint John’s Road towards the Church Army Recreation Tent by the Dressing Station in Auchonvillers, when a stray German Artillery shell struck them near the Cemetery; hence the reason they were buried there. However, reading through the relevant War Diary of the Border Regiment, we found that the Men were killed when a German bombardment intensified as they were moving up to the Front-Line, along Tipperary Avenue Communication Trench, towards First Avenue where the South Wales Borderers were positioned on the Front-Line. The Diary lists those killed, wounded, or missing at the end of the week, suggesting the Men were killed on the 6th April 1916, during the heavy enemy bombardment (around 8000 Shells). They were then buried in the closest Cemetery, which happened to be Auchonvillers Communal Cemetery.

Ocean Villas



During your visit, you will quickly begin to feel at home, and enjoy mingling with a vast assortment of visitors. Some will be just like yourself, others will be characters in their own right, authors, artists and 'old coots' with vast Battlefield knowledge. Your fellow guests will be from all over the world, England, Australia, and the United States, to mention a few. Avril's Guest House features an original pre-WW1 basement, that was used by the French and British as a First-Aid Station; Avril is always willing to give guided visits, her tour will be a highlight of your lunch break. She will tell you about the British Soldier that was probably a guest in Avril's basement the night before he was shot at dawn. The Guest House has an original trench in its back yard, and it has been restored and maintained by archaeological volunteers. Avril also has an interesting museum, located over the road, again, speak to Avril, and she will open the doors for you to have a look around the marvellous relics from the Somme Offensive. 

One very pleasant surprise will be, the large breakfast available each morning. It starts about 08:00hrs, if you are up and the wonderful French bread has been delivered. The meals are based upon English cooking and you should not leave the table feeling empty; also, it is often quite hard to leave the discussion after eating.

Auchonvillers Authentic Trench


Original Trench Map From 1918

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