Ypres Tour - 3 nights
“I should like to acquire the whole of the ruins of Ypres-a more sacred place for the British race does not exist in the world”. Winston Churchill-January 1919.
More than 200,000 British and Commonwealth troops lost their lives in the 4 year defence of one small corner of the Western Front-the Ypres Salient. The area around the small Belgian city (known as Wipers to the British Tommy’s) saw some of the fiercest fighting on the whole of the Western Front including, in April 1915, the first use of poison gas. Today the city is one of the most beautiful in Belgium, however all around you are reminders of the horrors of a century ago. Within just a few miles of the city centre there are dozens of military cemeteries, memorials and museums making it possible to take in a huge amount, even in just a few days.
Day 1
Morning departure to France by ferry or Eurotunnel and check into our hotel. Visit "In Flanders Fields" museum in the Cloth Hall then the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate
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Day 2
Breakfast then the short drive to the 49th (West Riding) Division memorial and Essex Farm Advanced Dressing Station-the site where John McCrae wrote one of the most famous poems of the Great War- “In Flanders Fields”.
The Remainder of the Morning:
Railway Wood and the Royal Engineer’s memorial
Liverpool Scottish memorial stone
Hill 62 museum and preserved trenches
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Hooge Crater cemetery and museum followed by lunch in the museum cafe
The Afternoon:
Polygon Wood
Buttes New British cemetery
New Zealand memorial
5th Australian Division memorial
Canadian memorial “The Brooding Soldier”
Langemark German cemetery
End of Day 2. Return to the hotel. Evening at leisure
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Day 3
After breakfast drive to the Passchendaele museum and then on to Tyne Cot Cemetery and Visitor centre-the largest British and Commonwealth war cemetery in the world.
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Day 4
After breakfast check out of the hotel and spend the morning at leisure in Ypres (Last chance to stock up on chocolate!) until 1100 and then drive to Pheasant Wood (Fromelles) Cemetery and visitor centre.
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After Lunch:
Talbot House museum
Brandhoeck Cemetery and the grave Captain Noel Chavasse-the only man to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice in World War One.
Messines Ridge and museum
End of day 3. Return to the hotel. Evening at leisure
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Return home late afternoon by ferry or Eurotunnel |
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