War Tours?

[allan harper]

just been asked by the folks if i could search for companies that do war tours around europe.

Any of you lot got any ideas?

 

[shadygiz]

yup >>>> <a class="postlink" href="http://www.battlefieldtours.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.battlefieldtours.co.uk/</a>

these guys are spot on ;)

went to the somme, vimy ridge (canadian war grave), delville wood (south african war grave) & ypres when i was in last year at high school many moons ago...we were studying war poetry for english lit at same time, so worked out....was feckin haunting mate, especially the somme

found loads of ammo & stuff

and never forget the sacrifices "there is a corner of some foreign land that is forever england"

 

[allan harper]

yup >>>> <a class="postlink" href="http://www.battlefieldtours.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.battlefieldtours.co.uk/</a>

these guys are spot on ;)

went to the somme, vimy ridge & ypres when i was in last year at high school many moons ago...we were studying war poetry for english lit at same time, so worked out....was feckin haunting mate, especially the somme

found loads of ammo & stuff

Nice one cheers mate, new i could count on you blues to help me out.

They've just got back from belgium on a war tour, somme, pasindale etc. they went with leger (sp) but there getting exspensive.

 

[law74]

I've been to the Somme twice and Torres verdras, both moving and well worth doing IMHO,the sight of row upon row of graves in loads of graveyards at the somme gives some sort of scale of the devastation that occured during WW1, Torres Vedras gave a insight of the tactics used during the Napoleonic campaign, and the thought of what the soldiers had to do in the heat of Portugal, before even having to fight.....

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.holts.co.uk/ht329.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.holts.co.uk/ht329.html</a>

 

[mcfc_ms]

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.skylarkbattlefieldtours.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.skylarkbattlefieldtours.co.uk/</a> is the one I have been on. Not sure if they only do large groups or schools though

Went on the Somme and Ypres tour with them through West Hill School about 6 years ago. Spent the days visiting various memorials, and even got to visit the grave of a distant uncle while there, with me being the first member of my family to ever visit the grave. Its very moving going on these trips

We also took part in the Menin' Gate Ceremony one night, where we were filmed by the local tv stations/newspapers etc laying a wreath at the memorial.

It was a top quality and interesting trip. The prices might seem steep, but they are well worth it

The tour guide we had was Andrew Spooner

In fact, I found a few pictures of some of the sites yesterday. I will dig them out and post them on this thread when I get chance tomorrow

 

[allan harper]

http://www.skylarkbattlefieldtours.co.uk/ is the one I have been on. Not sure if they only do large groups or schools though

Went on the Somme and Ypres tour with them through West Hill School about 6 years ago. Spent the days visiting various memorials, and even got to visit the grave of a distant uncle while there, with me being the first member of my family to ever visit the grave. Its very moving going on these trips

We also took part in the Menin' Gate Ceremony one night, where we were filmed by the local tv stations/newspapers etc laying a wreath at the memorial.

It was a top quality and interesting trip. The prices might seem steep, but they are well worth it

The tour guide we had was Andrew Spooner

In fact, I found a few pictures of some of the sites yesterday. I will dig them out and post them on this thread when I get chance tomorrow

Nice one, look forward to seeing them pictures.

 

[shadygiz]

i went with west hill back in 1984 ;)

 

[mcfc_ms]

Uploaded a few of the photos now. I have a got a few more somewhere but cant find them at the minute. I scanned 4 images at a time to save a bit of time

<a class="postlink" href="http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3514/img012w.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3514/img012w.jpg</a>

<a class="postlink" href="http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/1609/img009nng.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/1609/img009nng.jpg</a>

<a class="postlink" href="http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/9995/img010gak.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/9995/img010gak.jpg</a>

<a class="postlink" href="http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/6245/img011oak.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/6245/img011oak.jpg</a>


As you can see from a few of the pictures. Some of the memorials are very impressive. The huge Canadian Vimi Ridge memorial is truely stunning. The thing that struck me the most about visiting all these sites is how well they are looked after. Every single grave and memorial was spotless

 

[alib]

you can do these tours yourself far cheaper

I went with my son a couple of years ago on a DIY trip

we drove to Belgium and stayed 2 days in Ypres and did all the war sites/graves by driving round ourselves

then we drove across north France to spend 2 days doing the Normandy D-Day landings stuff including Omahagh Beach etc staying in Bayeaux (we also went to see the Bayeaux Tapestry)

great and moving trip

we did buy Major and Mrs Holt's Guide Books for both areas before we went which provided all the info we could need + great maps etc

 

[bluevillain]

If you know your relatives details and regiment this could help you locate where they are laid to rest or named on a memorial.
I stopped off at my Great Grandads grave on the Somme a couple of years ago.
http://www.cwgc.org/