Stuff One Might Find on a World War One Battlefield a Century Later

Varlet Farm, Ypres Salient, October 1917

When I was leading tours to the Western Front, one of my favorite stops was a Varlet Farm, near the village of Poelkapelle, north of Ypres. The site was on situated on the front line for most of the war until it was secured by the Royal Naval Division in late 1917.  In modern times, until about 10 years ago, its long-time owner Charlotte Descamps, operated the farm with a bed and breakfast she had added, with a museum showing all the war material—much of it dangerous ordnance— she and her workers had dug up over the years.

Charlotte Showing Her Collection to My 2009 Western Front Group

Eventually, Charlotte sold the farm and moved to New Zealand. She later prepared a terrific PowerPoint presentation to show the good people of Wellington what her former life in Flanders was like.  Below are a selection of a few of the 40 slides from that program along with some images from my visits there.  Her full selection can be found online HERE.  

Charlotte with One Season's Finds from Working the Farm

Note:  Removing, digging up, or possessing WWI artifacts from Belgian battlefields is strictly prohibited by federal and regional laws. However, under Belgian law, any archaeological artifact discovered in the ground remains the rightful property of the landowner. Special rules apply for unexploded ordnance and any potential war grave that may be discovered.

Sources: Life on the Battlefields Battlefields, 94 Years Later; Atlantic Monthly; Royal Naval Division Archives