MT western front somme

The Western Front 1914/18: France
The Somme & Arras Sectors
Mini-Tour - Three days / Two nights

This, one of two short tours of the Western Front, concentrates on the Somme and Arras sectors.

1st July 1916, the Somme. A day and a name that will never be forgotten as long as English is spoken.

The battle for the ground around the Somme and Ancre rivers was a long one, engaging the French from the early years and seeing allied troops, including the Americans from 1917, sacrifice tens of thousands of their young men there right up until 11th November 1918.

In the company of one of our knowledgeable battlefield guides, you'll visit some of the most important sites of the action and perhaps gain an understanding of the daily horrors that dominated life on the Western Front.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY	NIGHTSTOP

DAY ONE - WEDNESDAY
Departing London early (07.00) we drive to Dover and cross the Channel and drive the short distance to the front line. Our morning will be spent exploring the region around Armentieres, with the Australian memorials and museum at Fromelles, the Indian memorial at la Bombe and sites connected with Hitler's First World War service providing our initial focus. Then, across the Loos battlefield, passing a variety of regimental memorials, Dud Corner and the Loos memorial to the Missing. Depending on time, we'll seek the crash scene of air ace, Captain Albert Ball VC, DSO, MC. Highlight of the day will undoubtedly be Vimy Ridge, scene of the Easter 1917 battle that virtually forged the Canadian nation. You'll not only walk the much-cratered, hill-top battlefield but descend into the tunnels beneath the ridge. This is a remarkable site.	The Somme or Arras
DAY TWO - THURSDAY
Today, we'll tour the Somme, visiting individual battlefields, memorials and museums and choosing from those most relevant to tour participants. Amongst the sites we shall not miss, however, will be the Delville Wood South African memorial, the Australian battle-sites of Pozieres and Moquet Farm, the Tank memorial, the New Zealand memorial at High Wood, the Lochnagar crater, The Ulster Tower, Mametz Wood where the Welsh fought (and included both Robert Graves and Siegfreid Sasson amongst their number) and the Theipval memorial to the Missing. An undoubted high point of our visit, whatever your nationality, will be the Newfoundland Memorial Park at Beaumont Hamel with it's incredible preserved battlefield.	The Somme or Arras
DAY THREE - FRIDAY
Our final day will be determined by the weather and the interest of tour participants. Amongst our choices will be the fine underground museum at Albert, the Notre Dame de Lorette French national Memorial and Cemetery and Ossuary, or Bullecourt and the Australian memorial there. We'll be visiting Cambrai, the site of the first great tank battle, and if open, the BBC trench, a perfect recreation of a 200 metre section of trench and used in a BBC 2002 documentary of trench life for the 'Hull Pals'. Finally, before returning to Calais, we'll stop at Arras where it is hoped that a new, recently discovered section of the underground tunnels beneath the city will be open for viewing. We cross the channel and return to London by approximately 7pm but your three days on the Somme will undoubtedly stay with you for some time.
NOTE: Includes: three days touring, two night's accommodation with breakfasts and dinners, all entrance fees including channel crossing, and services of driver/guide and companion. Can only be booked with Back-Roads Touring Co. directly.