Skip to content

In the footsteps of Pilgrims and Soldiers Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

Professor Xavier: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it. Please note that as this cache has now been archived by a reviewer or HQ staff it cannot be unarchived.

You can read more about that here - (click link)

Regards

Ed
Professor Xavier - Volunteer UK Reviewer
www.geocaching.com
UK Geocaching Policies Wiki
Geocaching Help Center

More
Hidden : 09/05/2019
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:


On this short tour (<0.5km) you will follow in the footsteps of the Pilgrim Fathers and and WW2 American Soldiers.

Easy parking is available at on-street meters at the first location. 1 hour should be plenty. It is only a short walk from here to the WestQuay shopping centre if you want to add more time for eating or shopping.  

At the first location you will find carved into the bricks close to 70 inscriptions left by American soldiers waiting to board vessels that would take them to the battles in Europe. Between D-Day and the end of WW2 over 3.5 million soldiers (2 million Americans) embarked from Southampton. There are more inscriptions on a small wall behind, in the car park, made from bricks saved from demolished houses nearby.

While at the wall you will collect the first digit for the final coordinates of the cache hiding place (A). 

A - FIND CURT HODGES. HOW MANY LETTERS ARE THERE IN THE NAME OF THE AMERICAN STATE HE CAME FROM?

(at this point you could pop into the hotel bar to see the free exhibition about the carvings on this wall and see photos of the soldiers who left them - or come back later for a well deserved beverage)

 

Cross the road and walk towards the waterfront. You will soon come to the WESTGATE where the Pilgrim Fathers boarded the Mayflower. To find the last two digits of the Northing Coordiate (B&C),count the position of the word DESIGNED.

B & C DESIGNED is the XXth word in the sign.

Continue towards the waterfront and follow the path round to the left. The taller memorial is the Pilgrim Fathers Memorial.  

To find the westing coordinate, solve the following puzzle:

D = The last year commemorated on the US Army Plaque minus the year the Mayflower sailed + 25. 

The final coordinates for the cache are N 50° 53.ABC W 001° 24.D  when you reach the final location climb up and imagine the sight of 3.5 million young men embarking here during WW2. You are now overlooking the cache smiley

If you have been unable to find the correct coordinates please see the hint.

Please replace carefully.

We would love to see some photos of your visit in the log!

 

 If you would like to see an interactive 3D model of the wall containing photographs and stories of the 67 soldiers identified from their carvings,  please search online for Maritime Archaeology Trust ddaywalls. With National Lottery Heritage Funding, the Maritime Archaeology Trust carried out a digital preservation of this wall, with the help of 75 volunteers in 2019/20.

 

 

 

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

A 50° 53.840 J 001° 24.350  pensgvyl uvqqra nybat gur obggbz bs gur byq jnyy va sebag bs lbh

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)