Old Contemptibles

The port of Southampton was the main embarkation point for the British Expeditionary Force soldiers leaving UK for the western front in France and Flanders at the beginning of 1914. Through this geocache you will discover one of the places that links Southampton with the First World War, specifically the role of Southampton Docks during the war. You will also find out who the ‘Old Contemptibles’ were and why this location is important in their history.  This geocache will take you to one of the historical buildings of Southampton: the former Docks’ Post Office and Telegraph building, dating from 1902.

Find out more at:
BBC Radio about the role of the Port of Southampton throughout WW1
Further information about BEF and Beatrix Brice Miller:
Further information about BEF

Lost at Sea 

The War Memorial in the village of Netley Marsh, on the edge of the New Forest, commemorates the 30 men from the Parish who fell in the Great War. Finding this Geocache will allow you to discover the stories of the 7 who were lost at sea. 

See also our news article which contains a link to the Geocache listing to get you started! 

The Ponus 

The location of this cache overlooks the wreck of the British Cargo Steamer SS Ponus. Caught in a storm off the coast of Cornwall in November 1916, The Ponus was driven ashore on Gyllngvase beach where it’s cargo of oil caught fire and burned for three days. Thanks to several daring rescues, all hands were saved.

We are grateful to Cornish Maid and Rudger for creating this Geocache on our behalf, adopting it as the 6th Cache in their Wreck and Rescue series

Find out more at Atlantic Scuba

SS T.R Thompson

This cache commemorates the loss of the the WW1 cargo ship SS T.R Thompson which was torpedoed and sank on 29th March 1918, 7 miles South of Newhaven. 33 of the 36 crew onboard were lost, many of whom were Indian (Lascar) sailors.   

We are grateful to Nick LostInTheWoods! for creating this Geocache on our behalf, adopting it as the part of his WW1 series: 

WW1 Submarine UB-130's Deck Gun   
WW1 Royal Naval Air Station (Newhaven)   
WW1 The Gas Chamber at Seaford (Capt. F.A. Varley) 
WW1 RIP Willie Elijah Tshabana (East Dean)  
WW1 UB-121 Submarine (Birling Gap, Seven Sisters) 
Archived, but the web page is still viewable: WW1 RNAS Polegate (Willingdon, Eastbourne)  
WW1 CWGC Headstones - DESTROYED (Eastbourne) 
WW1 TOC H Plaque (War Memorial, Uckfield)   
WW1 German Howitzer (Cranbrook War Memorial)