So fall the flowers of Scotland - Contalmaison 1916

Send us Fan MailIn our final episode of Season 3, we travel to the village of Contalmaison on the Somme battlefields and begin by visiting the magnificent Contalmaison Cairn, the memorial to the 16th Royal Scots.  Known as McCrae's Boys, the regiment was a Pals Battalion, with many members of the Heart of Midlothian football team making up its first members.  They paid a heavy price on the opening day of the Somme for their desire to do their bit. We hear about the fighting for the village, how the geography created endless problems for the British, and how the actions of Donald Bell VC are commemorated with a memorial at Bells Redoubt.We look at a British tactical masterstroke that saw the successful capture of Bailiff Wood, discover the origins of the "Gospels and Gaspers" Club and hear about the remarkable heroism of a terribly wounded Middlesborough steelworker, whose bravery saw him awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.We will be back with Season 4 on Sunday 1st May 2022!Support the podcast:https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallenhttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog