New Zealand History Life on the Battlefields 94 years later
Oct 16, 2012
Belgian historian Charlotte Descamps, deeply rooted in the Ypres Salient, shares captivating insights from her lifelong research on World War I battlefields. She discusses the fascinating ‘iron harvest,’ where over 200 tons of live ammunition are unearthed annually. Charlotte reveals how modern technology aids in identifying remains of soldiers nearly a century later and recounts the engaging stories behind various artifacts, from helmets to undetonated shells, all while navigating the ongoing hazards of these historical remnants.
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How Shelling And Weather Broke The Land
- The Battle of Passchendaele devastated a narrow 10km strip with repeated bombardment that destroyed soil structure and drainage.
- Continuous shelling and heavy rain turned fields into mud, making the land agriculturally and socially difficult to restore.
Postwar Rebuilders Took Huge Risks
- Charlotte recounts her husband's great-grandmother moving into Passchendaele under Albert Fund incentives and facing empty, destroyed farms.
- Families received rent-free years and per-hectare payments but still had to build barracks and level fields from nothing.
Farms Were Rebuilt Nearby Using Recycled Bricks
- Many rebuilt farms were relocated nearby rather than on original foundations to reuse bricks and fit modern building needs.
- Recycled rubble formed interior walls while new bricks created exterior facades in 1920s reconstruction.