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'In Flanders' fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row … '
THE SOMME
First World War Trenches & Battle sites
One-day tour from London (or Lille)
Saturdays, March - November, 2012
Until the launch of this special package, it has been very difficult to organise single-day, short visits to the incredibly poignant Great War Battlefields of the Somme,Ypres Salient and Arras/Vimy sectors of the Western Front. This unique programme allows you to choose between a one, two or three-day tour at a reasonable price. We can also design a day for groups who might wish to have a special focus on family connections, a particular regiment, or particular battles. These tours are run in small groups, average 10 persons, and are accompanied by either ex-army personnel or Battlefield Guides with postgraduate qualifications. We will always try to include specially requested sites.
2012 Cost: $199 USD per person, inclusive of mini-coach tour and all entrance fees. Lunches and dinners are not included.
It is important to please ring the Back-Roads’ London office at least 24 hours prior to your tour to re-confirm your pick up point/time!
THE SOMME, France
To most people the Somme signifies one day - July 1st 1916. It was the day that the British Army suffered its greatest ever losses in a single day with nearly 60,000 casualties. But the actual battle for the Somme raged until November of that year, and saw massive fighting again in 1918.
What remains is truly awesome. There are sites seen today that will be etched into your consciousness forever. We tour the Somme battlefield covering major sites from the calamitous first day through the whole five months of the battle, and then look at some of the the events of 1918. You'll see Delville Wood, the Welsh memorial at Mametz Wood, the huge Lochnagar mine crater, the sunken road where the Accrington Pals were virtually wiped out, Sausage Valley, the Pozieres battlefield and Windmill Hill (both important site for Australians), Courcellette, site of the first major use of tanks supporting Canadian troops, and the nearby the tank memorial. We include Albert, the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing and the Ulster Tower. An undoubted highlight, however, will be our guided walk around the incredible preserved Beaumont Hamel battlefield site.
Those staying on for the weekend have the option of remaining in Ypres to attend the moving Menin Gate ceremony while those on the one-day tour are returned to the Lille rail station where you should have time for a meal before returning to London.
Tour Pick-Up/Drop-Off:
This tour starts at 09.30 am; meet your Battlefield guide at 'The Meeting Point' in the Eurostar rail terminal, Lille Europe station. Full details provided at time of booking.
JOIN THE TOUR FROM LONDON OR PARIS:
Eurostar service is available London to Lille and the TGV train from Paris to Lille. Add rail tickets to your package (subject to availability,) the cost of rail tickets is separate from the tour price.
Please note: Some Paris trains arrive at Lille Flanders Station which is a 10 minute walk from the meeting point at Lille Europe Station. Please note which Lille station of arrival if confirming your own rail.
When using Eurostar, 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 us 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.
Why not make it a 2-day or a 3-day Weekend on the Western Front?
Join us on a single day-tour, or combine several days to make a weekend of it. Each day focuses on a special sector of the Western Front. British, Anzac, Canadian, South African and Indian Army sites are all highlighted. We can often include visits to requested battlefield locations, memorials and cemeteries. These tours can be taken from London (on Eurostar), or from Paris (by local train) to Lille, where you're met by our mini-coach. If you're combining days, overnight accommodation is in Ypres and/or Lille.
TOUR EXTENSIONS
Combine a Weekend on the Western Front tour with one of our other great tours from Lille, visit the D-day Beaches or explore a general sightseeing tour in Belgium or Northern France
This tour is operated by Back-Roads Touring Co Ltd
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