Méteren

We were slow leaving the shade of Grenay today, delaying our departure by finding things to do before we left. We walk to the neighbouring village of Bully-Les-Mines and did some shopping. On our return we proceeded with other housekeeping which needed to be done.   

Late morning we set out for the large supermarket in Lille, and for the first time a large supermarket had a 2m height barrier preventing vans from entering! Initially frustrating, but we did find an adjacent business that allowed vans of our height to park. We eventually did our shopping before leaving for Méteren. 

At Méteren we visited the grave of my grandfather, William Samuel Sayer, who was killed fighting to capture the village in 1918. This is the centenary of his death (d. 23 April 1918), and so it fitting that we pay our respects to him for having sacrifice so much. He was 41 on his death, leaving a wife and three small children at home in Wynyard, Tasmania - one of these being my mother. 

The small village of Méteren was totally destroyed in 1918 from the bombardment and fighting that took place around this area. Prior to the war it had been a thriving market town for a basically rural area. 

Having paid our respects, and having reflected on the motivation of men like William Sayer, we drove onto Esquelbecq for our overnight stop. We were joined by five other motorhomes - all Belgiums. Flemish was the language across the aire during the evening.