Fromelles

We eventually arrived at the hotel on Sunday night after a traumatic journey through the north of France. Thank goodness for data roaming!

Up early-ish on Monday and off to Fromelles. It was the hottest day of our holiday so far and of course we were not kitted out with hats or enough sunscreen - we had packed more with a view to the rain of Ireland (this worked to Sarah's advantage as she was able to sit under her umbrella!) But it was a wonderful moving ceremony (possibly the hats we wore made out of newspaper were not as solemn as the occasion but they were memorable!) If you did not see the tv coverage the ceremony was attended by Prince Charles and the Governor-General, Kate and Iz were filmed by Channel 9 but we have yet to find out if they were shown on the news - how could they overlook those 2 stars? We all, even Kate, returned to the hotel pink, but happy to have been part of a historic day.

The next day we went back to Fromelles to spend some quieter time exploring. We also found the area of the battlefield that my great grandfather was killed in - now a field of corn so peaceful it is impossible to imagine the brutality of World War 1. We met my family in Ypres for dinner and listened to the Last Post at Menin Gate with getting on for a thousand other Australians!