FROMELLES – POZIERES CENTENARY TOUR 2016 “From defeat to victory”
From
Lille TOUR CODE: FP166DLIL
When The Great War came to an end in 1918, Australia was left to come to terms with a war where in 2 ½ years over 46,000 men died on the Western Front with over 215.000 total casualties. Militarily however by the end of the war Australians were regarded as among the best fighting troops in the BEF. On this special tour we follow in their footsteps where this fearsome reputation was forged. Highlights: • Fromelles July 1916 – we commemorate the 100th anniversary of this bloody catastrophe • The Somme 1916 – Pozieres – where “Australian troops … fell more thickly on this ridge than on any other battlefield of the war”. Also Mouquet Farm • Wellington Tunnels, Arras – a tribute to the work of New Zealand tunnellers • The great 1917 battles for the ANZACs at Bullecourt, Messines and Passchendaele • Villers Bretonneux – where Australia saved the day in 1918 • The Last 100 days – Follow the ANZACS as they spearhead the Allied advance to victory through Amiens, Peronne and the St Quentin Canal.
Dates & Codes
18 – 24 July 2016 (REF: FP166DLIL) From
£1159 per person
DAY 1 – MONDAY 18 JULY 2016 9.00 – Meet Guide and coach at Lille Europe Station.Depart for Ypres . Lunch at own expense en route. We shall visit scenes of notable Australian actions in 1917. Messines Ridge – 3rd Australian Division attack 7-10 June 1917. Pool of Peace – A flooded mine crater with a spectacular view of the battlefield. Ploegsteert – Known to the troops as Plugstreet. We visit the new Interpretation centre. Toronto Avenue Cemetery – The cemetery contains the graves of officers and men of the 9th Brigade (3rd Australian Division) who died in the Battle of Messines. Lunch at own expense with time to explore Ypres. Hill 60 – Australian Tunnelling Corps Memorial Menin Road & Polygon Wood – 5th (Australian) Division Memorial – 3rd Battle of Check in to hotel in Kortrijk area. 19.00 Walk to Menin Gate.
20.00 Last Post Ceremony – An experience that will linger long in your memory. 20.30 Dinner in local restaurant in Ypres. Accommodation: 4 star: Sandton Hotel, Kortrijk Meals: D
DAY 2 – TUESDAY 19 JULY 2016 Depart hotel after breakfast with packed lunches for Fromelles area in France. Battle of Fromelles – 19 July 1916 – 20 July 1916. Fromelles was the first major battle fought by Australian troops on the Western Front. On 19th July 1916 two newly arrived infantry divisions, the 5th Australian and British 61st attacked a 4,000 yard section centred on a notorious strongpoint called the "Sugar Loaf". Advancing without cover, they suffered terrible casualties in a matter of minutes. The action was a bloody catastrophe for both the British and the Australians with over 5,500 casualties. The action still remains the worst day in Australian military history.
We will see the 1916 battlefield, including: VC Corner Australian Cemetery and ‘Cobbers’ Memorial Pheasant Wood cemetery – Completed in July 2010, Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery contains 250 Australian and British soldiers, whose remains were recovered in 2009. Visit to Fromelles Museum (admission included) Official Centenary Commemorations – The day’s activities will be flexible for us to participate Le Trou Aid Post Cemetery Rue Petillon Packed lunch provided. Return to hotel for dinner in local restaurant and overnight in Kortrijk. Accommodation: 4 star: Sandton Hotel, Kortrijk Meals: B L D
More itinerary on the following page
FROMELLES – POZIERES CENTENARY TOUR 2016 DAY 3 – WEDNESDAY 20 JULY 2016 Check out of hotel after breakfast with packed lunches. Our morning programme in the Ypres area includes: Essex Farm Cemetery – Dressing station where a Canadian surgeon wrote a famous poem and the story of the Poppy was born. Langemarck German Cemetery – A contrast in styles. Broodseinde – Scene of ANZAC success in October 1917. Tyne Cot War Cemetery – on Passchendaele Ridge (the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world). Two Australian VCs are buried here. Passchendaele Memorial Museum, Zonnebeke Wellington Quarry, in Arras – an underground museum, which incorporates parts of the tunnel system. Admission included. Check in to hotel in Gosnay. Dinner at own expense in Arras. Overnight in Gosnay. Accommodation: 3 star: Best Western Hôtel, La Métairie, Gosnay nr Bethune, 4 star upgrade option: Chateau le Domaine de la Chartreuse Meals: B L DAY 4 – THURSDAY 21 JULY 2016 Breakfast in hotel. We first drive to Bullecourt to visit the battlefield, the Digger and Slouch Hat Memorials and Bullecourt War Museum. Picnic Lunch. We move on to Mont St. Quentin – Learn about the bitter battle in 1918 and see an inspiring Australian Memorial. Peronne Historiale Museum – A magnificent museum in Peronne. Drive to St Quentin Canal area. Visit: The American & Australian attacks on the St Quentin Canal line The mouth of the St Quentin Canal tunnel Return to hotel. Dinner in hotel. Accommodation: 3 star: Best Western Hôtel, La Métairie, Gosnay nr Bethune, 4 star upgrade option: Chateau le Domaine de la Chartreuse Meals: B L D
Franco-Australian Museum – Admission included. Australian Corps Memorial Park – Le Hamel, including trench system. 3rd (Australian)Division Memorial – Return to hotel Dinner provided in local restaurant. Accommodation: 3 star: Best Western Hôtel, La Métairie, Gosnay nr Bethune, 4 star upgrade option: Chateau le Domaine de la Chartreuse Meals: B L D DAY 6 – SATURDAY 23 JULY 2016 *Our day will be flexible to fit in with the plans for the official Poziéres centenary ceremony. Depart after breakfast with visits to: Newfoundland Park – The tragic experience of the Newfoundland Regiment on 1st July 1916 Ulster Tower – Coffee Break. The Memorial to the 36th (Ulster) Division and visitor centre. La Boiselle – Mining and tunnelling operations. Packed lunch provided. Thiepval Memorial – Lutyens’ imposing memorial to the Missing of the Somme and visitor centre Pozieres – Windmill Memorial & Tank Memorial & 1st Division Memorial. Join the local commemorations. Pozières, a small village in the Somme region of France, was the scene of bitter and costly fighting for the 1st, 2nd and 4th Australian Divisions in mid-1916. Mouquet Farm – Mouquet Farm was the site of 9 separate attacks by 3 Australian divisions 8 Aug – 3 Sept 1916. Return to hotel Gala dinner and overnight in hotel. Accommodation: 3 star: Best Western Hôtel, La Métairie, Gosnay nr Bethune, 4 star upgrade option: Chateau le Domaine de la Chartreuse Meals: B L D
Breakfast in hotel. Check out and depart for Villers Bretonneux. Visit: Scene of first tank versus tank action Adelaide War Cemetery – Original burial place of Australia’s Unknown Soldier The action that led to the VC for Lieutenant CWK Sadlier Australian National Memorial – Commemorating 10,797 Australians who have no known grave.
TWIN / DOUBLE ROOM PP
SRS*
Best Western Hôtel, La Métairie, Gosnay nr Bethune
£1159
£295
per person
UPGRADE TO CHATEAU CHARTREUSE (subject to availability)
£156 plus £85
plus
Deluxe Room Privileged room
+£141 +£78
• Subject to currency fluctuation & confirmation at time of booking • Per person based on twin/double share & subject to a minimum of 25 passengers *Single room supplement
INCLUDES • Highly experienced and knowledgeable military historian and guide throughout • Executive standard coach used throughout the tour • 2 nights’ accommodation in the 4 star Sandton Hotel, Kortrijk • 4 nights’ accommodation in 3 star Best Western Hôtel La Métairie, Gosnay nr Bethune • Breakfast daily • 5 lunches • 4 dinners, 1 gala dinner • Museum entrance fees • Fromelles WW1 Museum • Wellington Quarry • Passchendaele Museum • Peronne Museum • Franco-Australian Museum (Memorial School), Villers-Bretonneux • Plugstreet Interpretation Centre • Commemorative Polo Shirt • Donation to SoldierOn Australia Please note: the itinerary is subject to change
COSTS DO NOT INCLUDE • Lunches, dinners and beverages not detailed above • Tips, porterage and all personal extras • Trains to and from start and end point
EXTRAS We are pleased to arrange the following: (Subject to additional charges) • Pre or post tour accommodation in Europe
DAY 7 – SUNDAY 24 JULY 2016 DAY 5 – FRIDAY 22 JULY 2016
BASIC PACKAGE
Tour ends. Check out of hotel after breakfast. (Included) Transfer to Lille station for your onward journey. Accommodation: None Meals: B
• Single supplements
TERMS & CONDITIONS • £100 Per Person deposit required to confirm booking • Final Payment 10 weeks prior to departure • Please see website for full Terms & Conditions
For enquiries or booking please contact:
operations@spiritofremembrance.com or call +44 (0)1634 233785