US GROUP TOUR 19^th April to 1^st May 2009

By Paul Guthrie

 

 

Here is a final itinerary for the trip. You will see it's changed and Maginot Line visit is in, it's fascinating. Also a great tour of Thiepval Wood, the new Zonnebeke Museum recently voted best museum in Flanders, a visit to Champagne caves, lots of good stuff. Day 2 is partly new to all of you, and the 1915 battles are in more detail than ’03. Day 3 also. Day 4, well, Brugge is the best medieval town in Western Europe for those who go. Day 5 entirely new as are 6 and 7, Day 9 has not been done since ’98 and there are only a few of us who were on that one, 10 entirely new as a group as is Day 12. We need more people, so recruit! If 15 people have not paid deposits by Sept. 30, it’s a no go.

 

Day One – 19^th April

            Group arrives in Brussels

            Introduction

            Travel to Ypres area                           

            Establishing the Front

            Players in position

            Opposing Armies

            Early Battles (1914)

            Last Post Ceremony

            Overnight 4-star Hotel Ariane

 

Day Two – 20^th April

            Lecture on the orientation of 1915 battle areas

            Leave the hotel to visit Neuve Chappelle (March 1^st)

            Aubers Ridge 

            Festubert

            Le Touret — talk by Dickie Bird on the 6^th Bn Seaforth Highlanders

            Loos areas (Sept 25th)

            Vimy — Notre Dame de Lorette; French battles

 

Day Three – 21^st April

            Lecture on gas and its uses

Leave hotel to visit

Dixmude areas

Pilkem Ridge (2^nd Ypres)

Langemark

            Vancouver Corner

Zonnebeke museum and walk Australian battlefield route

Poperinge Medical areas

 

 

Day Four – 22^nd April

Free day in Ypres or Brugge

 

Day Five – 23^rd April

Leave for Cambrai hotel, visiting  

Monchy le Preux

Roeux

Fampoux

Telegraph Ridge

Vis en Artois cemetery and Memorial

Oppy Wood

Chemical Works and Gavrelle

 

 

Day Six – 24^th April

Visit Cambrai Memorial

Louverval Memorial area

Moevres         

Canal du Nord defences

Havrincourt

Walk advance of 51^st Highland Division to Flesquieres

Visit Tank Deborah

Orival Wood Cemetery — talk by Dickie Bird

Ribecourt

Anneux

Bourlon Wood

Fontaine Notre Dame

                                                                       

Day Seven – 25^th April

Visit Somme areas

Flers (effects of early tanks)

Walk from Sunken Road to Thiepval via Beaumont Hamel, Newfoundland Park,

Y Ravine, St Pierre Divion, Ulster Tower

Guided tour of trenches in Thiepval Wood

Thiepval

 

Day Eight – 26^th April

Leave hotel (check out)

Travel via Nery to Vienne le Chateau

With visits to include

Compiegne

Champagne caves near Reims

 

Day Nine – 27^th April

Visit Mont Blanc

Sommepy areas

Crown Prince bunker

Vauquois (French mining areas walk)

 

Day Ten – 28^th April

Verdun areas to include

Bois des Cueres (walk the woods)

Flabas

Trench of Bayonets

Memorial Museum and lost village of Fleury

Ouvrages ( Froid Terre, Thiaumont, 4 Chimneys etc)

Citadelle in City

Overnight Sedan Hotel

 

Day Eleven – 29^th April

St Mihiel Salient areas to include

Les Eparges, US V Corps

Montsec American memorial

Bouillionville American cemetery

Bouillionville

Flirey

Fey en Haye

Overnight Sedan Hotel

 

Day Twelve – 30^th April

Check out and travel to the Longwy area full day’s visit to a Maginot Line site

Fort de Fermont.

Travel to overnight hotel near CDG

 

Day Thirteen – 1^st May

Leave early for airport and flight home.

 

Time to talk money

 

Costs are now as follows:

15 guests - £2510 per person

20 guests - £2200 per person

25 guests - £2010 per person.

There is a single supplement of £20 per person per night.

 

 

I need your deposits now but no later than Sept. 30. I have to pay in pounds, so send $517.50 to me at 109 N Mill Lexington Ky 40507-1209. If you need to call 859 233 1426. Email paulguthrie@qx.net

If there is a surplus as I hope after final payment is made next year, it will be returned, the US Branch WFA will make no profit and certainly I won’t. If we don’t reach at least 15 by Sept. 30 a full refund will be paid. The reason I hope for a surplus is I’m being cautious about the exchange rate although it seems to have stabilized lately.

Please make check to US Branch WFA.