Adam Wheeler
The Great War Centenary Walk
Fundraising for The Soldiers of Oxfordshire Trust
Story
On the
27th July, I will begin a 200 mile continuous walk from France through Belgium
to the heart of the Rhineland, Cologne.
I will carry 44lbs on my back (quite literally my home) for the 10 day duration. The route will follow in the footsteps of my great grandfather Matthew Rolls nearly a century ago. He was fighting there at the time of the German surrender in November, 1918.
I intend to visit several of the places he stayed en route, as well as pay my respects to the men of my Regiment, the Rifles, many of whom who lie in the cemetery at Ypres. I will also visit the cemetery and ground at nearby Passchendaele, where my other great grandfather George Henry Jessop, of the Essex Regiment, was severely wounded in what was dubbed “the Battle of the Mud”.
Given this is the centenary of the outbreak WW1, this endeavor honours the millions of soldiers, on all sides of the conflict, many of whom paid the ultimate price - for essentially nothing.
The walk intends to raise funds for The Soldiers of Soldiers of Oxfordshire Trust who are opening the SOFO Museum in late June this year. I would be very grateful for your supporting interest and sponsorship by joining this event. This will not commit you to coming along with me, but if you are interested in doing all or some of this walk, by all means drop me a line.
FYi - I aim to arrive at Cologne on the day of the declaration of war on Germany by Great Britain.
I will carry 44lbs on my back (quite literally my home) for the 10 day duration. The route will follow in the footsteps of my great grandfather Matthew Rolls nearly a century ago. He was fighting there at the time of the German surrender in November, 1918.
I intend to visit several of the places he stayed en route, as well as pay my respects to the men of my Regiment, the Rifles, many of whom who lie in the cemetery at Ypres. I will also visit the cemetery and ground at nearby Passchendaele, where my other great grandfather George Henry Jessop, of the Essex Regiment, was severely wounded in what was dubbed “the Battle of the Mud”.
Given this is the centenary of the outbreak WW1, this endeavor honours the millions of soldiers, on all sides of the conflict, many of whom paid the ultimate price - for essentially nothing.
The walk intends to raise funds for The Soldiers of Soldiers of Oxfordshire Trust who are opening the SOFO Museum in late June this year. I would be very grateful for your supporting interest and sponsorship by joining this event. This will not commit you to coming along with me, but if you are interested in doing all or some of this walk, by all means drop me a line.
FYi - I aim to arrive at Cologne on the day of the declaration of war on Germany by Great Britain.