I had an absolutely unbelievable time. It is without doubt, one of the best things I have ever done in my life. Simply stunning.
I will be going again next year to learn some more.
While we were there, I mangaed to find in on small area near just one cemetry, one British .303 bullet, 2 x British Shrapnel Balls & 1 x German Shrapnel ball. These all went in the pocket. My mate Tim however, found a British Hand Grenade! For obvious reasons, he didn't do the same as me! You are not meant to go looking, but these items were right on the edge of a field.
I also purchased the following, the base of a 1918 British Howitszer Shell, the fuse head from a British Shrapnel Shell but the best thing of all, while in Ypres, I purchased a 1916 German Helmet, found in Flanders. I will post pics at some point.
With regards to what we did on this tour, the following was our itinery:
Day 1
• Travel to the farmhouse from pre-arranged pick-up point via:
• Vimy Ridge (Canadian Memorial Park nr Arras) tunnel and trench visit
• Notre Dame de Lorette (French national World War I memorial and cemetery)
• La Targette and Cabaret Rouge cemeteries and Neuville St. Vaast German cemetery
Day 2
Somme 1916 Tour
• The Lochnagar Crater at La Boisselle
• Mouquet Farm & Poziers (Australian sites)
• High Wood and The Caterpillar Valley
• Mametz Wood and Delville Wood (South African memorial)
• Fricourt German Cemetery
• The Thiepval Memorial & visitors' centre
• The Ulster Tower at Thiepval
• Newfoundland National Park (Beaumont Hamel)
• Auchonvillers trench visit
• Sunken Road
• Serre
Day 3
1915 Battlefields Tour, Fromelles (new cemetery the Cobber Memorial and VC Corner) and Flanders
• Loos September 1915 (Dud Corner and St Mary's ADC cemetery)
• Neuve Chapelle March 1915 Indian Memorial
• Fromelles including The Cobber Memorial, VC Corner and the new cemetery
• Messines Ridge 1917
• Passchendaele & Tyne Cot Cemetery
• Polygon Wood
• Zillebeke (Hill 60, Caterpillar Crater)
• Meal in Ypres
• Ypres Menin Gate Ceremony
Day 4
Somme 1918 Tour (Battle of Amiens)
• Albert 1914/1918 Trench Museum (in tunnels under the town) or Australian Museum in Villers Bretonneux
• Red Baron's crash site near Vaux
• Picnic lunch at Chipilly Ridge
• Villers Bretonneux (Australian Memorial)
• Australian Memorial at Le Hamel
• Adelaide cemetery
I will be posting pictures at some point soon.
If anyone was seriously thinking of doing this, I would recommend the guy we used, Mike Williamson, he was fantastic.
His website is:
www.williamsommetours.co.uk