Rats

• by josiepegg

  386 rats caught in 3 days - wonder how large an area these were caught in?

  Posted October 14, 2018 9:45 AM

• by cyngast moderator

  First time I've heard of this, although I've seen photos of rats caught by dogs and men. This page https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/trench-rats-killed-terrier-1916/
  has several. They're not very pretty.

  It sounds like they were caught in the 2nd Grenadier Guards section of Billon Camp.

  Posted October 14, 2018 4:47 PM

• by josiepegg

  I was wondering how large an area the camp would cover? I guess this would be about 1 rat for every 3 men

  Posted October 15, 2018 9:49 AM

• by ral104 moderator, scientist

  It looks like Billon camp was on a farm of the same name. I think it probably wouldn't have covered too large an area - it sounds like a rest camp a little back from the lines probably used by no more than a few units at a time.

  Posted October 16, 2018 9:11 AM

• by cyngast moderator

  If you find Bronfay Farm Cemetery, or Cimetiere de Ferme de Bronfay, as it appears on my Google Maps, and zoom in a bit, you should see a field labeled Plaine Billon to the northeast .North of that label, along the road running northeast from Bronfay Farm, you'll see a farm complex. I think that is Billon Farm. It shows up in this area on trench maps I have seen.

  Posted October 16, 2018 1:15 PM

• by josiepegg

  That's great - thanks

  Posted October 16, 2018 2:14 PM