|
First World War - Ypres, Vimy Ridge, Somme
5 June-8 June 2004
 The battles on the Western Front, fought by the men of Britain and the Commonwealth in the Great War 1914-1918, have an important place in our heritage. By the standards of the early 21st Century, the events of ninety years ago are often hard to comprehend. So much suffering and sacrifice, such bravery and endurance in horrific conditions. The citizen armies learned new skills, supported each other in their difficult and dangerous tasks and through their sense of duty and comradeship have left us a legacy of which we can be proud.
 Many mistakes were made, many bitter lessons learned and the hundreds of thousands of graves and names on memorials bear witness to the scale of the war in human lives.
 In this, our introductory tour, we take you to some of the key areas of the Western Front. Our guides take you to many places on the battlefields, explaining the actions, the strategy and the tactics, so that you get a feeling for ground and history that will add immeasurably to what you have read. You will hear about the politics, the home front, the men who fought, from generals to privates. The use of letters home, contemporary magazines, audio and visual aids help to bring the period to life.
If you have a special grave or memorial that you would like to visit and maybe lay a wreath or poppy cross, these are always available on our tours.
| Itinerary |
Day 1 (Thursday):
Depart London 0845. Dover-Calais ferry. Drive through area of the Somme Battlefield for overview. Dinner, Battle briefing and overnight, Mercury Assevillers (2 nights).
Day 2:
Full day in Somme Battlefield area including Lochnagar Crater at La Boiselle, the Schwaben Redoubt and the 36th Ulsters. Newfoundland Memorial Park and preserved trenches. The Sunken Road and the Lancashire Fusiliers. Lunch in Auchonvillers. Delville Wood. The Tank Memorial and Windmill at Pozieres. Memorial to the Missing at Thiepval. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3:
The trenches, tunnels (if available) and beautiful memorial at Vimy Ridge. Through Plugstreet to Ypres for lunch break and 'In Flanders Fields' museum. Black Watch Corner and Polygon Wood, Sanctuary Wood museum and preserved trenches. St George's Memorial Church. To hotel Ariane, Ypres. Last Post at the Menin Gate. Dinner and Overnight.
Day 4:
Essex Farm (John McCrae's dressing station). The German cemetery at Langemarck. Vancouver Corner and the Brooding Soldier memorial. The great CWGC cemetery and memorial wall at Tyne Cot. Lunch break in Ypres. Brandhoek CWGC Cemetery (Noel Chavasse double VC Medical Ifficer). Talbot House (Toc H) at Poperinghe. 1745 Calais-Dover ferry. Arrive London approx. 20.30
|
Back
|
