WAR HORSES A BATTLEFIELD TOUR
SAMPL ITINERA E RY
Visiting: Retreat from Mons 1914 • The Battles of 1915 • The Ypres Salient For thousands of years the Horse has been a soldier's steed, beast of burden and companion in war. In this unique tour Spirit of Remembrance honours the relationship forged between man and horse in the "War to end all Wars". Come with us to France and Belgium, walk the ground, visit the memorials - and the clatter of hoofs, whinnying of horses and the laughter of the soldiers will echo back to you from nearly a century ago. We wish to bring you a comprehensive itinerary with images and information regarding the places you will visit, so wherever there is a red highlight there is additional information and images. To learn more about the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemeteries in the area please click here to see an interactive Google map, (you may need to download the maps interface software)
Sample itinerary for personal & group tours
Dates
Available year round
£POA per person
DAY ONE: THURSDAY We depart from London in our executive coach and travel to Dover for the P&O Ferry crossing to Calais and travel on to Mons. The remainder of the day and evening is at leisure to discover the beautiful town of Mons which is full of delightful restaurants and bars. Check in to hotel Dinner provided in hotel Accommodation: Mons Meals: D
DAY TWO: FRIDAY Breakfast in the hotel. Check out and depart with packed lunch for: Maisières-Casteau - “C” Squadron, 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards (4DG) 22 August 1914
DAY THREE: SATURDAY Péronnes - “C” Squadron, 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) held up a whole German cavalry division for 4 hours later that day Saint-Syphorien cemetery at Mons where the first British soldier to die in the War and the last are buried among many others Packed lunch Audrégnies - 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers (9L) and 4DG charged the German guns. Moÿ-de-l’Aisne - 12th Royal Lancers (12L) defeated a squadron of German cavalry that had been surprised by the Greys earlier Stories - 3rd (King’s Own) Hussars (3H) mobilisation, deployment & incidents at Solesmes and Frétoy - The myth surrounding the Greys and the Black Watch at Saint-Quentin. Dinner included at the hotel Accommodation: St Quentin Meals: B L D
Breakfast in the hotel Check out and depart with packed lunch for: Néry - 1st Cavalry Brigade defeated a whole division of German cavalry Masnières - Fort Garry Horse – 20 Nov 17. Story of Lt Harcus Strachan, VC, MC La Bassée and Neuve Chapelle - Indian Memorial and the Portuguese cemetery Le Gheer - 9L made a successful counter attack on 21 October 1914 Packed lunch Gapaard - 3H and one squadron the 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers) held off a determined attack by 3 battalions of German infantry - 1914 Wytschaete – 9L faced an overwhelming attack at the end of October 1914 & counter attack of 12L 25 Oct 14 More itinerary on the following page
WAR HORSES A BATTLEFIELD TOUR Mont des Cats, taken by 3rd Cavalry Brigade on 12 October 1914. Passchendael Memorial Museum, Zonnebeke and restored trenches Check in to hotel Dinner at own expense
Hill 60 & the “Caterpillar Crater” where 53,500 lbs of Ammonal – detonated on 7 June 1917. “Aristocrats’ Cemetery” in Zillebeke where cavalry officers buried range in age from 19 to 51 “Last Post” ceremony at the Menin Gate Dinner provided in hotel or local restaurant
Accommodation: Ypres Meals: B L
DAY FIVE: MONDAY Breakfast in the hotel Hollebeke - 4th (Queen’s Own) Hussars (4H) held up an enemy brigade for 24 hours and prevented the Germans from getting to the city of Ypres, itself Zandvoorde to see where the 7th Cavalry Brigade was overwhelmed on 30 October 1914 and to visit the Household Cavalry Memorial Lunch at own expense in Ypres Klein-Zillebeke – 2nd Life Guards action which Sir Morgan Crofton described so vividly in his diaries
TWIN / DOUBLE ROOM
SRS
Year round
£POA
£POA
per person
• Per person based on twin/double share • Subject to currency fluctuation & confirmation at time of booking.
Accommodation: Ypres Meals: B D
DAY FOUR: SUNDAY
Visits to:
DATES
TOUR INCLUSIONS
• Experienced and knowledgeable military historian and guide throughout
Breakfast in the hotel
• Luxury mini coach with DVD and air conditioning throughout tour
Check out of hotel
• Dover to Calais return aboard a P&O ferry
Geluwe – 1st Life Guards action on 14 October 1914 – death of Corporal Leggett, the first Australian to die in the defence of Ypres (if time)
• 1 night accommodation in Mons area
Tyne Cot cemetery
• 2 packed lunches
Poperinghe – lunch at own expense
• 3 dinners
Vlamertinghe – Grave of Frances Grenfell VC
• 1 museum entrance
Calais - Dover and back to London Accommodation: None Meals: B
• 1 night accommodation in Saint Quentin • 2 nights accommodation in Ypres • Breakfast daily
COSTS DO NOT INCLUDE
• Lunches, dinners and beverages not detailed above • Tips, porterage and all personal extras TERMS & CONDITIONS • Deposit of £100 per person to confirm booking • Final Payment 10 weeks prior to departure • Please see website for full Terms & Conditions
For enquiries or booking please contact:
tours@spiritofremembrance.com or call 01634 233785 Donations on these tours are given to Blue Cross (click here for more information) Blue Cross is a registered charity in England and Wales (224392) and in Scotland (SC040154).