Tag Archives: Western Front Association

Then and Now: Tom Cheche in the Footsteps of J.S. Cartier

April 23, 2016 by Randy
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Interest in the Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel and Verdun battlefields and regions is very much alive; and the webmaster enjoys meeting others who conduct research or other projects in those regions.  Several weeks ago, the webmaster met American fine art photographer Tom Cheche.  Tom and his wife travel to France for extended periods; photographing rural France, the Western Front of WW1 and Normandy.  (In the Meuse-Argonne he generally stays at Le Coq D’Or, a bar and chambre d’hôte in Montfaucon.)  Tom maintains a website, tchechephotography.com, and Continue reading →

Exploring the Battlefields Through the Years

April 12, 2016 by Randy
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Clarence to George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life: “Strange, isn’t it?  Each man’s life touches so many other lives.  When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”   In the summer of 2013 the Webmaster celebrated his 50th Birthday with family and friends at the Hotel du Commerce in Aubréville.  For that occasion Randal put together the slide show below (in .pdf format) that outlines many of his trips to the battlefields and many of the resulting friendships.   Birthday Slides–Through the Continue reading →

New Feature Article: Photo Essay: Western Front Association–USA Branch 2007 Tour

January 23, 2016 by Randy
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The webmaster added a new page under the Features / Articles section of the website.  It’s titled “Photo Essay:  Western Front Association–USA Branch 2007 Tour” and it includes a collection of twenty photographs taken by tour participant Kevin Drake.  Readers who travel to France regularly know that the country is both a place of great devastation (during the war) and great beauty.  Kevin has captured this wonderfully and artistically in the pictures included in the photo essay.  A link to the page is given below: Continue reading →

Travel Tips: New Luxury Hotel, Les Jardins du Mess, in Verdun now Taking Reservations

January 1, 2016 by Randy
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Readers Stefan Schweitzer and Christina Holstein report that Verdun’s new luxury hotel, Les Jardins du Mess, is now accepting reservations.  The hotel’s Facebook page advertises the property as a hotel, restaurant, bar, spa and arboretum (parc arboré).  A quick look at the website, http://www.lesjardinsdumess.fr/, and the room prices suggests that this will be a luxury hotel in the heart of Verdun.  As a reminder, the building was the former French officers’ quarters, situated right along the Meuse River.  Travelers looking for luxury reservations in the heart of Verdun should Continue reading →

News & Events–Stateside: WW1 Symposium: 1915–Warfare Evolution, New Strategies and Tactics

August 13, 2015 by Randy
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  The WW1 Historical Association and the League of WW1 Aviation Historians is holding a WW1 Collaboration Symposium in Lisle, IL on 2-3 October.  The theme of the Symposium is “1915:  Warfare Evolution; New Strategies and Tactics” and presentations will cover a wide range of topics under that theme.  The Symposium will also feature a tour of the First Division Museum at Cantigny in Wheaton, IL; as well as vendors, reenactors and wargamers.  The event is also being structured to allow plenty of time for Continue reading →

In Memoriam: Stephen Matthews

December 31, 2014 by Randy
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The webmaster lost a dear friend and battlefield enthusiast to Alzheimer’s:  Stephen Matthews of Doylestown, PA passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014 at the age of 82.  Stephen was an active member of the Western Front Association; taking part in meetings and in battlefield tours.  He served as Tours Officer of the U.S. and East Coast Branches for several years; keeping members informed of travel opportunities.  He and the webmaster also worked with Tony and Teddy Noyes of Flanders Tours to plan the first Continue reading →