Ep 7. France's Western Front Part I

In this episode of Travels with Darley, viewers follow host Darley Newman as she explores the Western Front in France, the location of many significant World War I battles. The episode is divided into two parts, with Part I focusing on the Somme and Saint-Quentin regions.

Darley begins her journey in Amiens, a city that was heavily impacted by the war and later rebuilt. She meets with a local guide who takes her on a walking tour of the city, highlighting important historical sites such as the Amiens Cathedral. She also visits the Péronne Museum of the Great War, which houses an impressive collection of artifacts from the war as well as interactive exhibits that provide insight into the daily lives of soldiers.

From Péronne, Darley heads to the Somme Battlefields, the site of one of the deadliest battles of the war. She visits the Thiepval Memorial, a tribute to the British and South African soldiers who lost their lives in the Somme battles. The memorial is inscribed with the names of over 72,000 soldiers whose bodies were never found.

Next, Darley meets with an Australian historian who takes her to the nearby Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. The memorial honors the Australian soldiers who fought in the Somme and played a crucial role in the war effort.

Darley also visits the Lochnagar Crater, an enormous man-made hole in the ground created by a massive explosion on the first day of the Somme battle. The crater is now a site for remembrance and reflection, and Darley speaks with a local guide about the significance of the site.

The episode ends with Darley arriving in the Saint-Quentin region, where she learns about the impact of the war on the region and its people. She visits the Saint-Quentin Canal, which played an important role during the war and was the site of a significant battle in 1918.

Overall, France's Western Front Part I provides a fascinating look at the history and impact of World War I on the Western Front, highlighting important sites and artifacts and providing insight into the lives of the soldiers who fought and died in the war. Darley's passion for travel and history is evident throughout the episode, as she immerses herself in the local culture and meets with experts and guides to deepen her understanding of the region's history. Fans of travel and history will not want to miss this captivating episode.