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They came between 1914 and 1918, from across the seas in answer to the desperate call of the Motherland. They came as representatives of a dominion; they left as representatives of a new Nation. Then in 1939 they again heeded the call, this time to help liberate Europe from the Nazi horde.
This tour visits some of the most memorable and important sites where young Canadians fought and died for their new county's honour and the countries of their ancestors. Their ferocity and courage, on both land and in the air, earned them legendary status. They were often 'shock troops' who achieved victories where others had failed. The names of the various sites are etched into Canadian history for all time; Vimy Ridge, St Julien, Juno Beach, Coucellette are but a few. This is as much a pilgrimage as a tour, honouring those whose actions helped forge a nation.
Available at any date for private groups of 2 – 15 people. Price available upon application. Rates are based upon vehicle and guide hire per day; groups of 7 - 15 would have a per person rate same/similar to one of our scheduled tours of the same length.
If you do not have a group of traveling companions and are still interested in this custom tour itinerary, you are welcomed to join a waitlist…
If you would like to check on or join a waitlist for this itinerary, please email us for full information: specialgrouptours@yahoo.com
We have SCHEDULED Battlefield tours throughout the year to the Normandy D-Day Beaches and weekend tours to Ypres Salient, Vimy Ridge and the Somme. Joining these short tours covers much of the same points of interest as this Forging of a Nation tour.
Note: Vimy tunnels do not usually open for visits until mid May
This tour begins and ends in Lille, France. Lille is well connected via rail services, Eurostar trains from London and TGV trains from Paris and many other European cities. SGT is happy to assist you with securing rail arrangements. Please note that tickets are additional to this tour rate.
This tour departs from Lille Europe train station, Eurostar Terminal “Meeting Point” at approximately 09.30am.
TENTATIVE ITINERARY
DAY ONE - Amiens/Albert
We'll follow the western front trench line, across the Loos battlefield travelling the short distance to Vimy Ridge where it is generally agreed the Canadian Nation was forged over Easter 1917. Here you'll have a guided tour the underground tunnels, hear in detail how this tremendous victory was achieved, and see the magnificent memorial. Also on today's itinerary will be a visit to Courcellete, scene of savage fighting in September 1916 during the Somme, and finally the town and museum at Albert.
NIGHTSTOP Albert
DAY TWO - Bayeux
Today, we concentrate on the Somme battlefield. An undoubted highpoint, and one to be indelibly imprinted in the visitor's memory, will be our walking tour of the amazingly well-preserved battlefield at Beaumont Hamel (site of the Newfoundland Regiment's bloody loss of innocence).
Then we follow the battle lines to Amiens before continuing on through the Normandy bocage to our nightstop at Bayeux.
NIGHTSTOP Bayeux
DAY THREE - Bayeux
We commence our visits to the Normandy Beaches fittingly with a visit to the memorial and museum at Juno Beach. Then, follow the battle from the initial beach landing to Caen, finding memorials and plaques en route. Appropriate will include Bene Cemertary, Carpique, and the town of Courseulles-sur-Mer where troops engaged in house-to-house combat before liberating it. Also included will be Authie, just North of the Caen-Bayeux road, where the first tank battles took place against the 12th SS Panzer Division. The German tanks are far superior to the Canadians. You'll see where Kurt Meyer's 25th SS Panzer Grenadiers encircled the Royal Winnipeg Rifles at Putot-en-Bassin, and the terrible Abbaye d'Ardenne where Canadians prisoner, most of whom wounded, were shot or bayoneted to death.
NIGHTSTOP as above
DAY FOUR - Dieppe
This morning we'll see sites connected with Operation Spring which, other than the Dieppe raid, was the Canadians Army's costliest single operation of the Second World War. May-sur-Orne, Verrieres Ridge (the burial ground of the Black Watch where of the 320 that crossed their original start line, only 15 came back to be counted) and Tilly-la-Campagne are some of the evocative names of the day.
This afternoon we go to Dieppe. Here, on 19 August 1942 five thousand troops of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, along with a thousand British troops, many of them commandos, attacked the French port of Dieppe. The purpose was to make a successful raid on German-occupied Europe over water, and then to hold Dieppe briefly. The results were disastrous. We'll visit the Canadian cemetery and actual beach battle site.
NIGHTSTOP Dieppe
DAY FIVE - Ypres
Today we follow the Canadians as they fought tooth and nail along the Atlantic Wall through France to Belgium. Major stops will include the fortifications around Boulogne and Calais that were captured as Canadian forces moved up the coast line, such as the Citadel, Fort Neuilly, the Cathedral Bunker, Fort Lapi, Griz Nez, the museum at Todt Battery with its immense Railway Gun.
NIGHTSTOP Lille or Ypres
DAY SIX - Ypres
Today, we return to the Great War and Canadian involvement in perhaps the bloodiest of all Imperial held lines, the Ypres Salient. Here we'll visit the many sites that make this such a special area for Canadians, including Hoogt, John McRea's Essex Farm, Passchendaele, Hill 60, the Princess Pat's memorial, St Julien, site of the first gas attack of modern warfare, Vancouver Corner, Maple Copse and Passchedaele.
This evening, the moving nightly Last Post Ceremony at the Menen Gate. Dinner is not included tonight for flexibility's sake.
NIGHTSTOP Ypres
DAY SEVEN – transfer day
Today, it's time for some 'leave' as we trace the footsteps of soldiers on leave from war...you'll have a transfer to the Lille rail station so you can catch your train back to either London or Paris.
NIGHTSTOP Lille, London or Paris (not included in package; available for a supplemental fee.)
JOINING THE TOUR FROM LONDON: When using Eurostar, after purchasing your Eurostar ticket, you are given a self-ticketing reference number that you use to get your ticket at the station of departure. We advise all tour participants to call the London office a day or two prior to departure to ensure they have the correct ticket reference as we do not have a representative at the station on the morning of departure.
JOINING THE TOUR FROM PARIS: You can join this tour from Paris or another European city via TGV train.
Cost of train tickets depends on day of the week traveled and how much in advance tickets are booked. Please ask us for full details as we are happy to assist you with making these arrangements.
Please note: Some Paris trains arrive at Lille Flanders Station which is a 10 minute walk from our meeting point at Lille Euro Station. Do note which Lille arrival station you are confirming if booking tickets directly.
We have Battlefield tours throughout the year to Normandy, Ypres Salient, Vimy Ridge and the Somme. We also offer general sightseeing tours in Belgium and Northern France that compliment this Forging of a Nation tour.
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