A forensic investigation into the archaeology and history of Hawthorn Crater

As part of the ongoing community research digitally capturing the World War One site in France this podcast by journalist Associate Professor Fiona Graham and the team at the Hawthorn Ridge Crater in France was published by the Western Front Association to mark the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

The Hawthorn Redoubt was an formidable defensive position for the Germans which was blown up on the morning of 1 July 1916 by a mine that had been placed beneath the German stronghold on the ridge. The explosion, ten minutes before the whistles blew at 7:30am, destroyed the position but the timing of the detonation and the lifting of the artillery barrage meant that the position was reinforced by the Germans, leading to massive losses among the attacking British troops.

In this podcast researched and created by producer Fiona Graham with historian Colin Winn they walk to the craters and tour their perimeter. While doing so they share with us the sights and sounds of the battlefield today and their stories behind their project into the crater and talk about the special relationship that has developed with the local community. Colin is a military historian and tunnelling expert and Fiona an associate professor on the project.