World War 1 Battlefield Tours – 2012 (page 3)

The tour list gives the full index of all of our battlefield tours, pilgrimage tours and war graves tours for the First World War. Expanded details of all tours is also available in our brochure, contact us for a copy.

WORLD WAR 1: Battles of the Woods

The attack on Mametz Wood, High Wood and Delville Wood

13th – 16th March
4 Days, 3 Nights

£480.00

We'd just like to thank you for the time spent taking us around the area in which my Grandfather fought and died. It was a very illuminating and moving experience. The whole holiday was the best organised we've been on.

Roy & Lynne Farmer

A truly memorable tour with visits to the Somme Battlefields. On this trip we cover the attacks on Mametz Wood by the 38th Welsh Division, using the trench maps used by RSM Charles Alexander of the 14th Welsh Regiment on the 10th July 1916, when he was severely wounded.

We will walk the ground, following the attack through the 'Valley of Death', down from White Trench, across the open ground and into Mametz Wood.

Here we visit the grave of veteran Harry Fellows, buried in the wood, where we have a short Service of Remembrance. After which we contine to follow the attack on High Wood, brilliantly described in The Hell They Called High Wood by the late Terry Norman, using his original maps to bring the battle alive.

From here we continue to the village of Longueval and the scene of the Battle for Delville Wood, with the 9th Scottish Division including the South African’s, so graphically described by Ian Uys in Delville Wood and Rollcall.

The walk will take place over two days, at a fine gentle pace with rest stops en route where explanations will be given at specific points. We also visit the battlefields around La Boisselle, Thiepval and Beaumont Hamel.

WORLD WAR 1: Battle of the Somme War Walk

Walk the Front Line of 1st July 1916 – our most popular war walk

25th – 28th August
4 Days, 3 Nights

£480.00

A big thank you for a wonderful weekend in France and showing me where my great uncle fought.

Kris Taylor

This tour visits the Loos Battlefield and Memorial on route to our Hotel. The next day sees us at Gommecourt, the most northerly part of the British Front Line on the fateful morning of Saturday 1st July 1916. With the assistance of trench maps that will be issued to you, we will follow the line down through Serre, visiting the Sheffield Memorial Park, along through Beaumont Hamel, through the Ancre Valley, and up to Ulster Tower and Thiepval, Leipzig Salient, Ovillers and La Boiselle.

On day three we start off at La Boisselle, visiting Sausage and Mash Valleys, Fricourt, Mametz, Mansell Copse, Carnoy, and eventually Maricourt, where we visit the start of the French Front Line Trenches.

Day four is taken up with a visit to Vimy Ridge, where we have a guided tour of the tunnels, and Special Visits. Our afternoon ferry then takes us back to Dover, where we continue our journey home.

The coach and courtesy car will be accompanying us during the walk, which will be completed at a leisurely pace, with regular breaks and battlefield presentations by the staff. Stout walking shoes are recommended. Special Visits can be undertaken in the car/coach during the walk.

WORLD WAR 1: Plugstreet Wood and Salient Points

Ypres and Somme tour; 'A Walk Round Plugstreet' and 'Salient Points' the excellent book by Tony Spangnoly and Ted Smith

19th – 22nd October
4 Days, 3 Nights

£480.00

Can't make a trip?
Want photographs of a Grave, Memorial or Battlefield site?
Contact Ian at the War Research Society.

This tour visits the Loos Battlefield and Memorial en route to our hotel. The next day we visit the Ypres Battlefields, visiting Ploegsteert Wood with a guided tour of the area. We will also cover several of the personalities included in the Salient Points, the highly acclaimed books co-written by Tony Spagnoly and Ted Smith.

We visit Messines, Hellfire Corner, travel the Menin Road, visit a museum and study the preserved trenches. Journey up to the infamous Passchendaele, visit Tyne Cot Cemetery, see Vancouver Corner, Langemark, Poelcapelle and stand at the dugouts where Lt. Col. John McCrea wrote that immortal poem In Flanders Fields at Essex Farm Cemetery. Finally we will witness the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. Special Visits to any Cemetery in Salient.

The following day we cover the Somme Battlefields, visiting Delville Wood, Longueval, Mametz, Lochnagar Memorial Crater at La Boisselle, Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Ulster Tower, Beaumont Hamel, Butte De Warlencourt, the town of Albert to visit the underground Museum and the Basilica with its Golden Virgin. During the day a fully guided tour is given with regard to the Battle of Somme 1916. Special Visits during the day.

On the final day we will visit the Cambrai and Vimy area, taking in Special Visits en-route home.

WORLD WAR 1: Armistice Anniversary, Ypres and Somme visit

9th – 12th Nov
4 Days, 3 Nights

£480.00

Didn’t know what we were letting ourselves in for! It was amazing! This was the best introduction to further tours we anticipate making. Thank you!

Day 1 – This battlefield tour departs from Birmingham for our visits to the Somme and Ypres, with Special Visits en-route to the Hotel.

Day 2 – We visit Albert, Thiepval, Beaumont Hamel, Delville Wood (Devils Wood), South African Memorial & Museum, Mametz Wood, High Wood, Lochnagar Memorial Crater, Pozieres, Ginchy, Guillemont and Butte De Warlencourt, taking in Special Visits and many other places of interest.

Day 3 – Armistice Day, we visit Ypres and participate in the Service of Remembrance at the Menin Gate, after which we have a tour of the Ypres Salient seeing such places as Passchendaele, Tyne Cot, Langemark, Pilkem Ridge, Essex Farm, Messines Ridge, Ploegsteert, The Cloth Hall, St George's Chapel and many other places of interest.

Day 4 – En-route home we visit Vimy Ridge, to see the preserved trenches and the Canadian Memorial.

WORLD WAR 1: Anniversary of Armistice at Thiepval Memorial

Somme and Ypres Battlefield visit

9th – 12th Nov
4 Days, 3 Nights

£480.00

Usual high quality, see you again soon ...

Norman & Anne Wilkinson

Day 1 – This tour leaves from Birmingham to visit Ypres and the Somme, with Special Visits possible en-route to our Hotel.

Day 2 – On our second day we visit Ypres and take a tour of the Ypres Salient visiting Ploegsteert, Messines Ridge, Passchendaele, Tyne Cot, Langemark, Pilkem Ridge, Essex Farm, The Cloth Hall, St George’s Chapel. We will also take part in the Service of Remembrance at The Menin Gate.

Day 3 – The third day is Armistice Day and we will attend the service at Thiepval. We will then visit Albert, Beaumont Hamel, Delville Wood (Devils Wood) and the South African Memorial and Museum, Mametz Wood , High Wood, Lochnagar Memorial Crater, Pozieres, Guillemont, Ginchy, Butte de Warlencourt and many other places of interest.

Day 4 – En-route to our ferry home we will visit Vimy Ridge to see the preserved trenches and Canadian Memorial.

Special Visits can be accommodated en-route to our Hotel and on the return to the ferry on the final day.