Western Front Remembrance
Day Tour
& Normandy Extension
Day 1 Friday 6th November 2009
Brussels (D)
On your arrival in Brussels you make your own way to the hotel.
Tonight there is a group welcome dinner.
Day 2 Saturday 7th November
Brussels – Waterloo - Ypres (B L)
This morning you board the coach and travel to the battlefield
of Waterloo. On the 18th of June 1815, 191.300 soldiers fought
one of the most decisive battles in the history of Europe
in only one day. The Wellington army had 67,000 soldiers,
Blucher's army 52,300 and Napoleon's army 72,000. A total
of 48,500 men fell or were severely wounded on this day. After
visiting the battle site you lunch in the township of Waterloo
and visit the Museum. You then travel to Ypres and after booking
into your hotel your evening is at leisure.
Day 3 Sunday 8th November
Ypres (B L)
Commencing your tour of the battlefield and Memorials of the
Ypres Salient you visit the Ploegsteert Wood Memorial, Shot
at dawn soldier Pte McBride, Christmas Truce site, The Peace
Tower, Messines and the Mine Crater, the reconstructed German
Trenches at Bayonwald, Hill 60 Australian Tunnel Coy Memorial
and the Hooge Crater and museum. Lunch is at Mount Kemmel
and this evening you attend the Last Post Ceremony at the
Menin Gate.
Day
4 Monday 9th November
Ypres (B L)
After breakfast you visit Polygon Wood, the 5th Australian
Division Memorial, Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth
Cemetery in the world, where two Australian VC winners, Capt.
Jeffries and Sgt McGee are laid to rest, Broodseine where
gas was first used and Poelkapelle where the youngest known
soldier who was 13 years and 310 days old is buried. You lunch
at Langemark and then visit Essex Farm, where the poem “In
Flanders Fields” was written, Poperinge, the 'Shooting
Post' and 'Toc H' and Lijssenthoek, the second largest Commonwealth
Cemetery in Belgium. You return to Ypres and later walk the
ancient Ramparts and visit the Flanders field Museum.
Day
5 Tuesday 10th November
Ypres - Amiens (B L)
After breakfast you depart Ypres for Amiens stopping on the
way to visit VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Fromelles Australian
Memorial Park. The central feature of the park is the statue
of an Australian soldier bringing in a wounded comrade. This
statue recognises the heroism of the many unknown soldiers
who ventured out into no-mans land to bring in the wounded
cobbers. The statue is by Peter Corlett of Melbourne and was
inaugurated on 5 July 1998. It stands on the old German front
line captured by the 14th Brigade and held overnight. It is
a depiction of a 40 year old ex farmer from Victoria: Sergeant
Simon Fraser of the 57th Battalion AIF. The Allied Command
had refused to enter into any negotiations to bring in the
dead and wounded. Over the next three days survivors of the
5th Division went out into no-mans land to retrieve their
comrades. Whilst he was out on the battle field Fraser heard
a wounded man shout out: Don't forget me, cobber. The injured
soldier was rescued on Fraser's next venture out. A boxed
lunch is provided and after booking into your hotel in Amiens
your time is at leisure for rest or sightseeing, tomorrow
will be a very early start.
Day
6 Wednesday 11th November
Amiens - Villers Bretonneux (B)
Remembrance Day
Today you depart for the Australian War Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux
for the Remembrance Day service. This magnificent structure
carries the names of 11,000 Australian diggers who lost their
lives and have no known grave. You then visit the Victoria
school noted for the sign over the playground…Do not
forget AUSTRALIA. You will also have time to visit the school
museum before return to your hotel.
Day
7 Thursday 12th November
Amiens (B L)
Late morning you return to Villers Bretonneux to visit the
Adelaide Cemetery and Australian Memorial Park at Le Hamel
and the 3rd Division Memorial at Sailly Le Sec. You will also
walk the Battlefields where Monash`s detailed tactics resulted
in all objectives being taken in just 93 minutes
Day 8 Friday 13th November
Amiens (B L)
After breakfast you retrace the footsteps of the 1st, 2nd
and 4th Australian Divisions who in 45 days, launched 19 attacks
and lost 23,000 men in an area of about two square miles.
You then visit Albert and Pozieres where you will see the
'Windmill', then onto Mouquet (Mucky) Farm, Fricourt German
Cemetery and the Thiepval Memorial and visitor's centre.
Day
9 Saturday 14th November
Amiens - Paris (B)
Late morning you take the coach to Paris and after booking
into your hotel the remainder of the day is at leisure to
discover this magnificent city.
Day
10 Sunday 15th November
Paris (B)
This morning you enjoy a half day city tour visiting the Eiffel
Tower, Champs Elysee, Opera, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame.
The afternoon and evening are at leisure to allow you to continue
your sightseeing.
Day
11 Monday 16th November
Paris (B)
Today your tour ends and you are transferred to the airport
for your flights home. Those continuing the tour to Normandy
will board their coach.
Normandy
Extension
Day 11 Monday 16th November
Normandy (B L)
This morning you board your coach to Normandy and book into
your hotel. After lunch you visit Ranville Cemetery, Pegasus
Bridge-the site of the British Glider and Airborne assaults,
and Sword Beach.
Day
12 Tuesday 17th November
Normandy (B L)
This morning you visit Juno and Gold Beaches, Arromanches
and the Mulberry Harbour. After lunch, your time is free to
explore Bayeux.
Day
13 Wednesday 18th November
Normandy (B L)
This morning you travel to Omaha Beach, where the casualty
rates in the early stages of the assault were some 50%. Then
onto the unforgettable Omaha Cemetery, Point du Hoc-site of
action of two ranger Battalions, then via Carentan to Utah
Beach and Ste. Mere-Eglise.
Day
14 Thursday 19th November
Normandy - Paris (B)
After Breakfast you return to Paris and after booking into
your hotel your time is at leisure.
Day 15 Friday 20th November
Paris (B)
Today your tour ends.
NB:
B Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner
Additional accommodation, sightseeing,
private transfers, insurance, visa or any other travel options
are available.
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