Friday 9th - Monday 12th November; Artists Rifles Association tourFrom a group size of 4 in October to one of 40 for our latest! This was a specialist tour formulated specific to the Artists Rifles Association. A Regiment with a fine pedigree stretching back to the original Volunteer Corps of 1859. The tour would centre on the weekends Armistice comemorations in Ypres, allowing members of the Artists to march to the Menin Gate and lay wreaths, as part of the poppy parade. The second objective was to follow in the footsteps of the Artists Rifles by organising battlefield walks over the ground where they fought and died. 
Top left: Fundamental to organising a battlefield tour for large group is to listen to what the group want from a tour and work the tour around these requirements. A member of the tour party who acts as co ordinator is essential. Here, Adrian and myself talk through any last minute changes. Top right: We liased very closley with Adrian months leading up to the tour; it was very important to target the tour at the right level. To achieve this each day started with a briefing which included a presentation of the battles/battlefields which we intended to visit. The image shows our presentation at the Hooge Crater museum. Three days of the tour were spent in and around the Salient and I deemed it essential that the "Artists" had a basic understanding of why the British fought in Belgium and how the Salient was formed. The briefings were supported with battlefield commentary and handouts specially prepared for the tour. The highlight of the tour was the battlefield walks, in the footsteps of the Artists Rifles. We followed in their footsteps on the lower ground of the Passchendaele Ridge, where 90 years ago they suffered their heaviest casualties of the war in their first action. The following is an extract from the Corps commanders report on the ground over which the Artists were to advance: “Only men of the strongest physique had been able to move forward at all; and these had fallen easy victims to enemy snipers, owing to their inability either to move their limbs, or to use their rifles freely. Although their rifles had their covers on, when the men lay down to fire they were so gripped by the mud that they were practically defenceless.” The Artists suffered 334 casualties from a strength of 500; 6 officers and 143 other ranks were killed on this day. Bottom left: The Artists lay a wreath on the grave of 2/Lt. Rupert Hallowes V.C, M.C. He was the first of 8 men who had previously served with the Artist Rifles to gain the Victoria Cross. Bottom right: The group enjoying Belgian cuisine at its best. Getting the "domestics" right - accommodation, transport and meals etc. can make a good battlefield tour great! A pre tour visit was organised to ensure the hotel was suitable and reservations were made for meals that required pre arranging. Although our key business is small group tours, we can organise battlefield tours for much larger groups and make them tailored to your own requirements. Sunday 21st - Wednesday 24th October; 4 day 3 nights Western Front TourTwo couples accompanied us on our October tour; for Chris and Yvonne from Essex, this was their second visit to the battlefields and have been with us before. This time it was more personal, Yvonne wanted to find out more about her two Great Uncles, both killed in 1918. Our other couple were Australian and wanted to see the main Australian battlefields in both France and Belgium.  The left hand image shows Yvonne at the grave of private Abram Warman who was killed in action serving with the Canadian Corps, 16th battalion (Canadian Scottish) Manitoba Regiment. The following is an extract from our research: "The Canadian Corps was at the cutting edge of the advance of the 1st Army; by the end of September having crossed the Canal Du Nord, the 1st Division received further orders for the continuation of the advance; their 3rd Brigade was in the front line with orders to capture Sancourt; the 16th Battalion would then advance through the leading battalions to capture the village of Cuvillers. The attack commenced at 05.00 hours in misty conditions with good artillery cover, by 07.45 the 16th Battalion had entered Cuvillers and began to consolidate on their final objective. However both flank battalions had failed to keep up and soon the 16th Battalion found themselves being attacked from the rear, forcing first a withdrawal to the sunken lane in Blecourt, then further back towards Sancourt. They were withdrawn from the line on the 2nd October having suffered 335 casualties." He is buried in Sancourt military cemetery, way off the beaten track, north west of Cambrai. The centre image poses by the grave of an unknown Lancashire Fusilier, buried at Tyne Cot cemetery. He was the last man to be buried here; July 2007. His remains were found whilst exavating the old railway track, now a public walk way. The right hand image was taken at the excellent museum at Villers Bretonneux; housed in the rebuilt school from money donated from Australia. The Australian flag is the one used to cover the coffin of the unknown soldier during his journey back home. Sunday 23rd - Wednesday 26th September; 4 day 3 nightsOur tour centred around personal research completed on behalf of our customers, who wanted to follow in the footsteps of a Great Grandfather and a total stranger, whose medals had been purchased from an antic shop in Orpington, Kent. Our tour took us to some of the lesser visited areas of the Ypres Salient and the Somme battlefields; Glencorse Wood, retracing the actions of the 56th (London) Division during the Battle of Langarmarck, during August 16th, 1917. And a short but fascinating walk following the footsteps of the 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent's. They took heavy casualties in the 13th Brigades many attempts to capture Falfemont Farm.  The right hand image shows the group at the private memorial to Captain Ewan Brodie (Cameron Highlanders). He was killed in action at the Battle of Nonne Boschen Wood during the later stages of the 1st Battle of Ypres. Although his grave was marked it was lost during later fighting. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate. It is not until you visit this part of the Geluvelt plateau that you begin to understand why the Germans wanted to hold it at all costs; it completely overlooked the left flank of the British advance of the 31st July. It was finally captured by the Australian's during the Battle of the Menin Road, 20th September 1917. It was close to here on the 16th August 1916 that the 5/London Regiment (56th Division) attempted to push the line forward to the west side of Polygon Wood. C.S.M Herbert Searle was killed in action and is commemorated on the Menin Gate. The second image shows the group "grubbling" the ground around Maltz Horn Farm en route to Falfemont Farm and Leuze Wood, on the lesser visited parts of the Somme battlefields. Laying close by are two unexploded artillery shells. As the crops had been harvested we were able to walk up the high ground from Wedge Wood to the site of the original Falfemont Farm. Only by walking the ground can you really understand the difficulty which faced the units of the 5th Division in their attemps to capture this strongly defended position within the German second line. Thursday 16th - Sunday 19th August; 4 day 3 nights Poet's TourThis was our first venture in to the Great War poets and we wanted to offer something different than just the big names. My accomplice, Mrs. Anne Pedley, retired English literature lecturer, added another dimension to the tour with her great understanding of how poetry “went to war, developed and eventually how the war poets mirrored the images and feelings of the majority”.
The structure of the tour attempted to follow the chronology of poetry from the outbreak of war and so we started around Etaples and the huge camps which occupied the coastal regions of northern France. We included Montreuil, where G.H.Q was established soon after Douglas Haig became commander of the B.E.F. We included Agincourt and this worked exceptionally well in understanding the relationship between war and poetry.
Our battlefield visits on days two, three and four followed the next three years of the war; 1915, we visited the battlefield of Loos. 1916, we spent a day on the Somme. 1917 and 1918 was spent in the Ypres Salient.
Top left shows the group in animated debate on the roll of “The Generals”. Note the name of Le Pub! Top right is the impressive visitors centre at Agincourt, designed in the style of the long bow. The field where the English defeated a much larger French army still exists and is well signposted from the visitors centre. Here, Anne read the inspiring speech by Henry V to his men on the eve of battle.
Bottom left at the grave of John Kipling (or is it?) during our day on the battlefield of Loos. Included was a guided visit on to the double Crassier slagheap, giving a superb view over the battlefields.
“One of the three poets of great importance killed during the war,” (quote from Robert Graves), Captain Charles Hamilton Sorley took centre stage during our visit to Loos. Sorley was one of the first war poets to capture the truthfulness and horrors of war. He was killed on October 13th 1915 and is commemorated on the Loos memorial at Dud Corner cemetery. His sole work was published posthumously.
Bottom right is me attempting to read a poem by Harry Fellows at his commemorative headstone in Mametz Wood. A former Northumberland Fusilier, Harry wrote about his experiences of war to relieve the boredom of old age. He witnessed the death of close friends at Loos and during the fighting in Mametz Wood. He returned to the battlefields 4 years before his death and wrote a very moving poem about his experiences of the fighting in Mametz Wood and his return visit. After his death, his family were authorized to spread his ashes in the wood. I remember one of my earliest visits to the museum in Peronne. It had a short film show of a veteran’s funeral; it was Harry Fellows and it was dubbed over with Harry reading his own poem about Mametz Wood. The final words always bring me close to tears…
“Come the day of reckoning who will carry the can for mans inhumanity to man”
Friday 3rd - Monday 6th August; 4 day 3 nights Western FrontTwo families, the Horsley’s from Southampton and the Stringers from Feering, Essex made up our latest battlefield tour; both families on a pilgrimage to pay their respects to fallen relatives and ancestors. Our tour took us to Ypres, the Somme, Cambrai and the 1918 battlefields south of St. Quentin.  The first part of the tour included attendance at the commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the death of Noel Chavasse V.C & Bar, M.C. The commemoration took place at Brandhoek New military cemetery on Saturday 4th August.
The left hand image shows Edgar Chavasse, (Noels brothers’ son) meeting Michael Horsley, who’s Great Grandmother, was Emily Chavasse. The centre image is the Horsley family preparing to lay a wreath at the Menin Gate to Aidan Chavasse, who was listed missing presumed dead on the 4th July 1917. In the shadow of the great man; the right hand image depicts the grave of Private Charles Rudd, who was Noel Chavasses servant; he was mortally wounded by the same shell which claimed the life of Noel. Private Charles Rudd died of his wounds on the 10th August 1917. The left hand image shows Jan Stringer looking out towards Frieres Wood from the confines of Viry Noureuil German cemetery. Our research indicates that it was close to here that Private William Murphy, 7th East Kents, went missing, presumed dead, during the German Kaiserslacht offensive. The centre image shows Ollie Stringer (aged 14) laying a poppy cross in memory of his Great, Great Uncle. Private Murphy has no known grave and is commemorated on the Fifth Army memorial, on the walls of Pozieres military cemetery. 13th - 16th July; 4 day 3 nights Western Front Our customers included a keen family historian on her third Western Front Battlefield tour and a retired Australian on his first visit to the Western Front. It's not often we run a tour which does not include visits to Newfoundland Park AND the Thiepval Memorial! Fromelles, Loos, Villers Bretoneaux, aswell as a day on the Somme and the Salient completed our tour itinerary. Our base for three nights was the northern French town of Arras. Although only 60 miles from the channel ports, we were able to eat "alfresco" every evening, in beautiful Summer sunshine!
The left hand image is Terry (never leaves home without his uniform) demonstrating his newly purchased 1915 Lee Enfield rifle at the Tyne Cot visitors centre. Terry has become a good friend and when space dictates will often accompany me, helping to share the costs when the tour is under subscribed. The Queen was in Belgium this week to officially open the Tyne Cot visitors centre. Judging by the crowds there on Sunday, Tyne Cot is going to prove more popular than ever! The centre image shows the group at the Australian Corps memorial at Le Hamel. Our Australian, Jim requested to see many of the Australian sites across the Western Front, but was particularly interested in areas where his father fought, as part of the Australian 39th Battalion, 3rd Division. Jim followed his father into the Army and served for a total of 50 years! (34 regular and 16 Territorial) The memorial is currently undergoing renovation and will be re-dedicated on the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Le Hamel (4th July 1918). The battle was a complete success and became a blueprint for the allies advance to victory through 100 days commencing 8th August 1918. The right hand image shows Dorothy at the Grave of 2/Lieutenant Herbert Leyland, 179th Tunneling Company, who died of wounds during the later stages of the 3rd Battle of Ypres. He was promoted to 2/Lieutenant in September 1917; on joining his new unit Herbert was given leave to England to purchase his officers uniform. Herbert returned on the 12th October but was mortally wounded just 5 days later whilst working on the Poelcapple to St. Julian road. He was taken to Dozingham casualty clearing station but died the following day. Dorothy brought a piece of slate (shown as an inset) from the quarry which the Leylands once owned and where Herbert learnt his trade. 1st - 4th July; 4 day 3 nights tailor made tourWe left the rain in the U.K for the rain of Flanders! although we did manage to dodge the heaviest of the rain. Our customers were a group of doctors who all trained together around West Yorkshire and had remained good friends. With the exception of Stuart, this was the their first time to the Great War battlefields and they wanted a guided tour which included the Somme and Ypres; Steve Fletcher, the group organiser also asked for "some decent restaurants"!
The left hand image shows the group in the German trenches on the Messines Ridge, Ypres. These trenches were painstakingly reconstructed several years ago, but have now collapsed twice due to the very wet conditions and the use of concrete filled sandbags. This image shows part of the refurbished section. The right hand image shows the floral wreaths laid at the Thiepval memorial on the 91st anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. One of the real benefits of a small group battlefield tour is that any itinerary can be changed quickly to take advantage of any unexpected inclusions. We discovered at short notice that there was to be a funeral service held, in respect of three Great War soldiers whose bodies had been found close to Ploegsteert wood, near Ypres. Two of the men were unable to be identified, however the remains of Private Richard Lancaster had been identified and his Grandaughters were able to attend his funeral.For further information follow the link to the Commonwealth War Graves site and click news.
7th - 9th June; 3 day 2 nights 90th anniversary Battle of Messines RidgeThe commemorations formed the major part of this tour, however our customers had additional areas of interest which we included. Central to the commemorations were the New Zealanders and a strong cross border party from Ireland. The New Zealand commemorations included the unveiling of a V.C memorial to Lance Corporal Samuel Freckleton (N.Z Rifle Brigade).
The left hand image shows the group on the banks of Zillebeke Lake. It was here that units of the 84th Royal Field Artillery had their duggouts and their guns in the adjacent field in the lead up to the opening of the 3rd Battle of Ypres, in July 1917. Ann Pedley is currently writing a book on Lt. Christian Creswell Carver and wanted to pinpoint the locations where he was mortally wounded on the 15th July 1917 when the battery duggout received a direct hit. He died several days later at Remy Sidings casualty clearing station and is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, along with the battery commander, Major Bowen.
The central image is the Great Grandson of Samuel Freckleton. Some excellent pictures of the ceremony are available on the following link
The left hand image shows Marietta at the grave of Private Albert Shoemake; the first man of the 6th Welsh Regiment to be killed in action. He was shot through the head whilst talking to Sgt. Rowbotham. He had just shown him a picture of his wife and three children; his last words were, "Will,(his Sgts. christian name) I have four to be proud of and if I was hit now, I've done my bit anyway". He is buried in Lindenhoek Chalet Cemetery, on the slopes of Mont Kemmel, along with several other casualties of the 6th Welsh, who were holding trenches around the Spanbroekmolen in July/August 1915. Marietta's Grandfather was the battalion commander.
26th - 29th May; 4 day 3 nights Western Front tour
Although the weather threatened to turn nasty for our lastest tour over the bank holiday weekend, luck favoured the brave and we stayed dry! Although the tour was from our scheduled calendar, each of the tour party had their own personalised reasons for their pilgrimage.
Top left shows Stephen Burford on the site of the 8/Glosters failed attack on the Germans intermediate trench, which lead from their infamous switch line. His Great Uncle, Alfred Burford was one of sixty other ranks killed during the attack and like most of the men killed, was denied a known grave. His name is inscribed on the Thiepval memorial. High Wood dominates the skyline. Top right is Geoff Inglis at the grave of Brigadier General Barker (picture inset), Albert communal cemetery extension. The Brigadier was killed by shell fire having just taken command of the brigade. Barker had been the commanding officer of the 22nd Royal Fusiliers, the Kensingtons and a major interest of Geoff. Already the joint editor of the adjutants personal diary with Gary Sheffield, he has just completed his own book on the history of the Kensingtons. Geoff has not been to the battlefields for 13 years and was reaquainting himself with the changing faces of battlefield tourism, particularly the increase in visitors centres.
Bottom left is father and son Murray and Ian Smith at the grave of Private Earnest Horley, 4th Middlesex. He was killed in action on the 8th October 1916 close to Vimy Ridge. Both Murray, a retired member of the Para's and his son Ian have wanted to visit the battlefields of the Great War for many years and were late additions to the tour group. Unfortunately we were unable to carry out comprehensive research into their Great Uncle before the tour. We keep in contact with all our customers through our newsletters and have vowed to carry out further research on our next visit to the National Archives. The final image shows the group on the site of Shamrock corner, near Feuchy, Arras. Ian Robertson (white jacket) wanted to visit the battlefields where his father had fought with the 7/Cameron Highlanders. On the 28th March 1918 close to this spot the Camerons as part of the 15th (Scottish) Division were heavily engaged by the Germans as part of their Mars offensive. The Camerons suffered over 300 casualties; Private Robertson however lived to fight another day. He was wounded when the 15th Division moved south as part of the French 10th Army. Ian, who had travelled over from Australia had already spent a week in Scotland visiting relatives and carrying out his own reseach, before joining our tour. Ian stayed in France to continue his research by travelling down to Soissons and the battlefields near Buzancy. 17th - 20th May; 4 day 3 nights Tailor made tour
The group consisted of five London men; their friendship linked through rugby. Each had their own personal reasons for wanting to visit the battlefields of the Great War; indeed only one of the group had been to the Somme battlefields before. The tour included visits to the Somme, the tank at Cambrai and the Ypres Salient. An additional visit to the 1918 battlefields of Arras had been organised to follow in the footsteps of the 56th (London) Division and the exploits of the 1/Queen Westminster Rifles.
The left hand image shows Rhory Robertson, the tour organiser at Naval Trench cemetery, Gavrelle, Arras. It was in this sector in March 1918 that 2/Lt. Stitt, Queen Westminster Rifles was posted as missing during the German Spring offensive. Centre image was taken during a "working lunch", outside Norfolk cemetery, Becourt, Somme. The headstone is that of Lance Corporal William Hundy, 2nd Birmingham Pals. He was killed by a German rifle grenade explosion in the Arras sector on the 21st May 1916. He was dug out and carried back by his brother, a stretcher bearer in the same battalion. His brother failed to recognise him due to his injuries! Lance Corporal Hundy had the service number of 15/1 and was the first man to be attested in to the 2/Birmingham Pals. The reason for the visit to Lance Corporal Hundy's grave at the Fauborg D'Amien cemetery was through the connection of one of the group. His wife was related to Frank Horace Liddell, the battalion adjutant. He rose through the ranks from private to major, surviving the war. Many of the photographs in Terry Carter's book, Birmingham Pals, feature Frank Liddell.
Research can be included within tours for surviving soldiers as well as those who died. Their stories can be of great interest and be very poignant. Several other soldiers stories came to light whilst we were on tour; hopefully these will formulate the cornerstone for another battlefield tour! 5th - 8th May; 4 day 3 night Western Front
Six members of the Wycombe House sports & social club, from Isleworth made up our early May tour. The group was interested in a general tour of the battlefields and memorials of the Western Front, with a specific interest to attend the Last Post Ceremony in Ypres. Other members of the group had a more poignant and personal reason for their visit to the Western Front. Betty Baker(pictured at the 62nd Divisional memorial, Havrincourt) wanted to visit the places where her father had won a D.C.M (Bourlon Wood November 1917) and bar (Bouquoy March 1918.) Although Betty and her husband Peter had researched Sergeant Still's medals, they needed to be able to put them into context with a general battlefield tour. We carried out further research and supplied copies of war diaries and maps which helped with understanding of the actions he was involved in.
The trademark group photograph! with yours truly in the normal crouching pose. This was taken outside Tincourt British Cemetery, between Peronne and Cambrai. We were there to pay our respects to Private Robert George Cole, 8/Royal Fusiliers,36th Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division, who died of wounds on the first day of the Battle of Cambrai (20th November 1917.)Les, (standing furthest right)always remembers seeing pictures of his Great Uncle outside the recruiting barracks at Hounslow and also what he thought was a large medal; it transpires that this was the "death penny", given to relatives of the fallen.
19th - 22nd April; 4 day 3 night Western Front.
The fine weather continued both in France and Belgian for our latest tour. Our customers were, husband and wife Lorraine and Steve, researching their family tree, and on their third battlefield tour; Graham, a recently retired accountant on his first tour; Terry from Crewe, who has become a personal friend after several previous tours, completed the group. The itinerary included the battlefields of Arras, the Somme and the Ypres Salient. The highlight of the tour included a nine mile walk across the Somme battlefields including Bois Francais, Fricourt, La Boiselle and Pozieres.
The left hand image is Lorraine laying a poppy on the grave of one of her distant relatives, Garnet Wolsey Fyfe 20th Northumberland Fusiliers (4th Tynside Scottish). Lorraine is a keen family historian and is currently mapping her family tree with a particular interest in all those who served in the Great War. As with previous tours it has been possible to interwind their stories into our battlefield tours. Centre image is the group pictured at the Morrocan memorial at Vimy Ridge. As part of the French 10th Army during the 2nd Battle of Artois (May 1915) the Morrocans managed to gain a foothold on the Ridge, but unsupported they were forced to withdraw. After all the pomp and ceremony of the Canadians over the Easter weekend, only one wreath had been laid to remember this extraordinary advance, some two years before the Canadians! The right hand image is Terry in full kit after our nine mile walk, posing outside Pozieres British cemetery. Terry is planning to walk the retreat in 2014 and is already in training!
On a sadder note, our first stop was the French ossuary at Notre Dame de Lorrette. Unfortunately during the previous night vandals had desecrated the headstones of those brave Moroccans who had laid down their life for those vandals!
8th - 10th April; 3 day 2 night 90th anniversary Battle of Arras.
The Battle of Arras is perhaps best known for the Canadian Corps exploits in their capture of Vimy Ridge. The battlefield surrounding, what was known as Hill 145 (named after the hills height in metres) was given as a gift from France to Canada after the Great War. This is perhaps the most popular site for British & Commonwealth visitors to the Western Front battlefields.
It came as no suprise that the majority of events commemorating the battle of Arras would centre around the Canadian and French "alliance". Central to the commemorations was the re dedication of the newly refurbished Vimy memorial and the freedom of the city of Arras.
There was further wreath laying services involving the Australians at Bullecourt and a new memorial to the New Zealand tunnellers. Other events included exhibitions in the town halls in many of the villages and suburbs around Arras. The evening of the 9th April was marked by a torch light illumination of the Arras front line, by the residents of Arras.By far the greatest force involved in the Battle of Arras was British. So the lack of British involvement was disappointing. A Brigadier and the mayor of Ipswich were in evidence at the wreath laying service at the Arras memorial. Our tour followed in the footsteps of all the Commonwealth countries involved in the Battle of Arras and the early actions of the French 10th Army before they were relieved by the British in March 1916. The first image is the statue of General Barbot, 77th Division. He was killed in action on the 10th May 1915 during the second battle of Artois. Two days later his replacement was also killed! The statue looks out over the village of Souchez, itself awarded the Croix de Guerre in 1920.
The central image shows the refurbished Canadian memorial. The right hand image features our group at Nine Elms cemetery; all had relatives killed during the Battle of Arras. The Hopkins from Derby had come to walk in the footsteps of Lance Corporal Arthur Fletcher (8th South Staffs.), who died of wounds in a trench raid close to Greenland Hill on the 27th May. The Gagens and son, Tim, came to pay their respects to Private George Bland, 24th (Tyneside Irish) Northumberland Fusiliers. He was killed in action on the 9th April and probably buried in "King crater", before being re buried in Roclincourt Valley cemetery, after the armistice. Charlie Briden had come to pay his repects to his wifes Uncle (D. Blackhall) and his own Uncle, Private J.J.Briden. Both soldiers went over the top on the 9th April 1917 with the 5th Western Cavalry Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Canadian Division. Both were killed in action; Private Blackhall is commemorated on the Vimy memorial and Private James John Bridden is buried in Nine Elms cemetery, close to where he fell.This was our second visit of the day to Nine Elms cemetery. At 05.20 (zero hour 90 years ago) earlier that morning several of the group had gathered to pay our respects to Private Bridden and all the other fatalities 90 years on!
One of our customers, Richard has loaded his photographs and the tour itinerary on to Google Earth. Enjoy a virtual tour by following this link 14th - 17th March; 4 day 3 night tour.
Coincidentally two of the tour customers had relatives who served in the 2nd Salford Pals, and both sustained wounds on the 1st July in the ill fated attack on Thiepval. Arthur Hardman, aged 89, had for many years wanted to visit the grave of his father, who was mortally wounded in February 1918 whilst holding trenches on the Passchendaele Ridge.
The left hand image was taken at the Salford Pals memorial in the village of Authuille. The centre image shows Arthur Hardman with the buglers from the Last Post Ceremony. The right hand image is the group at the grave of Lance Corporal James Hardman, who died of wounds on the 13th February 1918. He is buried at Nine Elms cemetery, in Poperinge. Our first tour of 2007The first weekend in March featured a two day tailor made tour to the battlefields of the Somme. The tour was organised for a group of American students from the prestigious Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. They are in their second year of a two year European history course. 
Lawrenceville has stong links with Brighton College and it was from Brighton that the group of 17 students, teachers and helpers was picked up. After a mid morning crossing, we arrived on the Somme for 11.30 and commenced the tour at Sheffield Park. The group were already quite well read on most aspects of the Great War and with the Brighton Colleges Somme course work material, helped to concentrate the detail of the tour on the terrain of the battlefields, the tactics employed and the roll of the Generals. We took a selection of weapons, uniform and equipment to help the group understand and bring history to life. As well as the usual organising of the itinerary, travel and accommodation, we also organised lunches for the students and an evening meal in Arras. The two days was not about visiting as many of the tourist sites as possible, which is the usual script for battlefield tours connected with school groups. Because this is not our usual clientele, we were able to offer something different and individual. If you would like a quote for your school or college, please use the enquiry form. |
