Fray Bentos

After Crisis Sam, James and I headed south to Ypres.

We've been discussing for a while the story of Fray Bentos, a WW1 tank that held out for nearly 3 days in no-mans land under German fire. The tank was commanded by Captain Richardson - a Nottingham grocer (we do like a local connection to games) who was the local agent for Fray Bentos tinned meat before the war, hence the name of the tank.

We wanted to have a look at the battlefield where the tank was stranded and also visit Ponds Farm Museum, very close to he site which contains many finds from the Passchendaele battlefields that surround his farm.

First, however we made our way to the Menin Gate to hear the Last Post.

There was quite a crowd and it made for a very moving and solemn moment. In addition to the buglers there was also a very good choir who hymned the fallen men beautifully.

The following morning we were up and out and off to Pond farm where Stijn the owner greeted us.
The farm was all but obliterated in the fighting and could only be located after the war by the presence of a single tree that had miraculously survived (and continues to thrive).

It's a small personal museum - really just a collection of finds rather than a carefully curated experience - but it's a testament to Stijn's passion for the period and commitment to telling the story of the horrors of 3rd Ypres.

This bunker stands on the outskirts of the farm. Many of these were blown up by the Belgian government (and Stijn's grandfather) after the war but this one survives. Stijn intends to drain it (it's flooded and excavate it next year).

On the way in to the farm itself Stijn showed us something he's just uncovered - a WW1 tank unditching beam. Tanks at this stage of the war carried these for use if they got stuck and Braedy (from Fray Bentos' crew) was killed trying to unfasten the one on the tank.
Given where this was found (near the nearby Somme Farm) it's entirely possible this came from Fray Bentos itself (although the splendidly named Fritz Phlattener also ditched in the vicinity in the same battle).

Outside the farm a reminder of the huge number of shells fired in the battle. These are all unexploded ones turned up in recent months on the farm.
Every few months the Belgian Army comes by and removes and disposes of them.
They're kept in a cage as that allows the lightning to be conducted away and avoid any chance of them detonating, apparently!

Some pictures from inside the Museum itself

This is part of a tank - probably not Fray Bentos, more likely a G tank that ditched a few weeks later that was found recently on Stijn's farm.

Some model soldiers, inevitably.

More pieces of shell.

The museum is small and we were only in there for 30 minutes or so =- and if you're not interested in Fray Bentos story, you may not even spend that long, but for us it was great. - Stijn showed us round himself and shared some wonderful extra information.
If you are ever in the vicinity it's definitely worth a short trip out from Ypres.

Stijn then pointed us off in the general direction of Hill 35 which is where Fray Bentos ditched, a few hundred metres from Gallipoli Farm.

From Pond Farm the "hill" doesn't look very imposing - this part of Belgium is rather like East Anglia - mostly very flat. However once you're on it you can see why the British wanted to take it - it gives relatively commanding views over the surrounding countryside.

The farm here is on roughly the site of Gallipoli - which is where Fray Bentos was heading toward when she ditched.

On the left is Somme farm - Fray Bentos and Fritz Phlattener subdued this before heading toward Gallipoli. Further off in the centre is Pond Farm.
Fray Bentos likely ditched somewhere toward the right of this picture.

James always likes to add authenticity to his games by including some dirt or sand from the actual battlefield on the terrain or bases.
So here he is with a bag - lifting some actual Flanders Mud.