Pilgrimage Private Neagle 2018

"I am always looking for the story behind the name on a grave or memorial. A picture on the grave of the soldier J.M.C Neagle at the CWGC Buttes New British Cemetery put me in touch with Julie Reece. On October 23rd, 2018 I followed her in the footsteps of her great uncle." 

GREGORY VERFAILLIE, Zonnebeke, Belgium 

In 2018 I received an email from Gregory Verfaillie wishing to make contact with me to learn about the story of my great Uncle Marty Neagle. Greg lives close to Polygon Wood where Marty is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Buttes New British Cemetery. While walking through the woods and the cemetery over the years, Greg has taken great interest in those who are buried there. As relatives and other battlefield tourists visit these hallowed places, messages, cards and other commemorative items are often left at the graves and memorials to acknowledge those who lie in these cemeteries. 

Over the years of taking groups to Marty's grave, the cards left at his grave, would have a personal message accompanied by an email address and details of the Connecting Spirits project. This is where the young man from Flanders enters the narrative: Greg took note of the email address after the 2017 tour and his first contact was initiated last year. Friendly conversations over social media flourished and a friendship had its beginnings. In 2018 after a tour to Italy, I decided to fly over to Belgium for a short visit to catch up with friends. While in Ypres I had the opportunity to meet Greg and also his friend Frank Mahieu. Both were generous with their time and they kindly took my friend Jo Kirlew and me to Polygon Wood for the day. The story of that day and the very special links that came from our meeting, have been well documented on this blog and other social media platforms.

That warm friendship has now gone to yet another level, with the work of the volunteers at the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 (MMP) with the launch of their new exhibition  'Reflection 1914-1918' on display until December . 

One of the key projects of the MMP 1917 is developing the archival records of soldiers who fought and died in Passchendaele such as Private James Martin Clement Neagle. The work of people like Greg and Frank and all those at the Memorial Musuem Passchendaele, is extraordinary as much of it is done on a volunteer basis. For those of us whose family members never returned home from the worst conflict of the 20th century, our thanks can not be expressed enough times and we are forever in your debt for all you do in the name of Remembrance. Thanks must also go to the photographers whose work made the exhibition possible. 

To quote their website:

'The Third Battle of Ypres in 1917, also called Battle of Passchendaele, was one of the largest and most bloody battles of the First World War. In a few months of fierce fighting, an estimated 245,000 Commonwealth soldiers (British, Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders and South Africans ) and 215,000 Germans are taken out of battle for just eight kilometers of ground gain.

Regardless of how impressive a visit to CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery, the German military cemetery in Langemark or one of the many numerous other cemeteries or monuments is, one can often only find a name there. 

With 'The Passchendaele Archives' the MMP1917 wants to give a face to and tell the story behind these names. Not only missing data is supplemented, but the memory of a fallen family member is kept alive. Karen Derycke and Lee Ingelbrecht are the driving forces behind this project. Historian Karen Derycke is responsible for the investigation of the casualties. Lee Ingelbrecht offers, through his training in landscape development, cartographic support.'

Go to : www.passchendaele.be 

'Pilgrimage Private Neagle 2018' by Gregory Verfaillie (part of the 'Reflection 1914 -1918' exhibition at the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 in Zonnebeke, Belgium. )

Where it all began: the Reece family visited the grave of James Martin Clement Neagle on our first European trip in 1987, over 30 years ago. At this time, the niece of Martin Neagle, Cathy Royal (my mother), was still alive. If only she knew of the many Australians who have since visited the resting place of her favourite uncle, I know that she would have finally gained closure on the grief that never left her on the loss of her beloved Uncle Marty.  

Thank you to Eric Compernolle for your photography. (2018/19)