The ''Lost Detachment'' of Celtic Woods

By Crusader1307

 There are many strange and unusual stories and legends which were born out of World War I. The ''War To End All Wars'' had it's share of tragedy and sorrow on all sides. But the very strange case of The 10th Battalion of The 1st Australian Division is still one of unknown factors (or perhaps Urban Legend, at best). It was at The Battle of Poelcappelle (Belgium) in 1918, that The 10th was detailed to lauch a moderate Raid against Imperial German Positions. The plan was to bombard the Enemy ahead of the assault. So disoriented, The 10th may perhaps breach German Lines. At least that was The Plan. When the Artillery Barrage began, naturally – smoke and dirt rained down upon The Soldiers – creating an eerie ''fog'' or ''mist''. With a lull in fire, The 10th (40 of them) – march into The Mist.....never to be heard from again. After The War, when investigation were started – The Germans stated that no such contact with The 10th happened. They waited for it...but The Soldiers NEVER arrived. What happened? Some cite that The 10th may have been captured ''en masse'' by The Germans who (while they were losing The War), may have executed each Man. It was thought that they may have buried The 10th in a Mass Grave to hide them. No such grave or proof was ever found (even today). Another accpeted story is that the so called ''lull'' in Artillery Fire – from which The 10th then assumed the advance was to begin, actually marched into their own Artillery.

The resulting and continued barrage not only killed each Man, but may have pulverized their remains as well. However, this does not explain two young Boys playing near The Wood in 1959. The Boys ''saw'' what appeared to be a ''glowing mist'' appear over the old battlefield. They both ''saw'' a ''Line of Soldiers, walking out''. One Soldier, who approached The Boys looked ''confused and lost''. ''He'' asked the children ''Where The German Where?'' The Boys said that there were none around. Looking perplexed, The ''Soldier'' turned and walked back into The Mist to ''rejoin'' the other ''forms'' in The Mist. Then suddenly, The Fog disappeared....along with the strange figures. Childhood fantasy? Perhaps. Or maybe The 10th in fact ''still on Duty'' – either confused Ghosts unaware that they are in fact dead. Perhaps The 10th ''walked into'' some form of ''Time Vortex'' and are ''forever trapped'', still searching for their exit from The Mist. Who will ever know?...........