Forgotten Battlefields of WW1
Forgotten Battlefields of WW1
Forgotten Battlefields of WW1
5 Days Starting and ending in Béthune, France
Visiting: Béthune, Loos, Fromelles, Arras, Cambrai
Tour operator:
Tour code:
bfb
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Age range:
0-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
The battles of 1915 and the fighting at Arras and Cambrai in 1917 are important, but often forgotten battles of WW1. This battlefield tour helps explain their importance and take us off the beaten track. We begin with an in-depth look at the Battle of Loos and visiting the site of the Hohenzollern Redoubt. We move on to pay our respects at the Loos Memorial to the Missing before a day in northern France looking at the Battles of Fromelles. We spend our final day learning about the battles of Arras and Cambrai.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Bethune
Location: Béthune
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3-star Ibis Styles Bethune Bruay
Meals Included: No Meals
Local departure by coach, then to our hotel in Bethune, where we stay for four nights.
Day 2 : Loos
Location: Loos
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3-star Ibis Styles Bethune Bruay
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we look at the Battle of Loos in September-October 1915. We visit the site of the Hohenzollern Redoubt, seeing Quarry Cemetery and the 46th (North Midland) Division Memorial.
At St. Mary’s Cemetery, we examine the story of Rudyard Kipling’s son, Jack, seeing what may be his grave, we will then then visit Le Rutoire Farm.
In the afternoon we visit Vermelles, see the Loos Memorial to the Missing and Dud Corner Cemetery. The day will end at the Lens 14-18 Museum which commemorates the fighting in this region of northern France.
Day 3 : Fromelles
Location: Fromelles
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3-star Ibis Styles Bethune Bruay
Meals Included: Breakfast
We begin with an in-depth look at the Battles of Fromelles. We see VC Corner Cemetery and the Australian Memorial Park, a 1915 British Memorial. We will also visit the Fromelles Museum and Pheasant Wood Cemetery, which was created after the discovery of a mass grave here, many years after the war.
Lunchtime is spent in Bethune. In the afternoon we visit the Le Touret Memorial, see the Indian Corps Memorial at Neuve-Chapelle and the Portuguese Cemetery, remembering this often forgotten ally.
We end at Givenchy, where we look at the war underground and remember Yorkshire Tunneller Hero, William Hackett VC. Hackett was the only tunneller to be awarded the Victoria Cross, and we will be seeing where his action took place and visiting the memorial.
Day 4 : Arras & Cambrai
Location: Arras, Cambrai
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3-star Ibis Styles Bethune Bruay
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our final day is spent on two of the battlefields of 1917. We start in the Arras area and see the memorial to the Hull Pals at Oppy, then follow the story of the Royal Naval Division at Gavrelle.
In Roeux we see a German bunker and then look at a disastrous cavalry attack and the role of Newfoundland troops at Monchy-le-Preux.
Following lunch in Arras, we see the Arras Memorial to the Missing, and then follow the road to the Cambrai battlefield where tanks were used in November 1917.
We see the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing, visit the new Tank Museum with an original Mark IV tank recovered in 1998, and end on the Flesquières Ridge Battlefield.
Day 5 : Return Home
Location: Béthune
Meals Included: Breakfast
Return home.
What's Included
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Accommodation
As detailed in the itinerary
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Additional Services
Travel from a wide range of convenient joining points across the UK is included within your coach holiday price; some carry a supplement. Please contact us for our full list of joining points.
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Airport Transfers at Destination
This trip includes coach travel from/to a local UK joining point
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Fully Guided
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International Travel
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Meals
As detailed in the itinerary
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Transport
Comfortable, air-conditioned motorcoach
What's Not Included
Accommodation
You will stay for four nights at the 3-star Ibis Styles Bethune Bruay.
Check out our Q&As
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
Low
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Fully escorted by our experienced drivers/crews. And in most towns and cities we either include or offer optional sightseeing tours with expert local guides to help you get the most from your visits.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?
On Leger Coach Holidays, your allowance is one medium sized suitcase per person, which should weigh no more than 20kg when full.
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What type of coach will be used?
You will travel on either our Luxuria Coach or our Silver Service Coach
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
Some tours carry a supplement for solo travellers, please ask for details if the Single price is not shown
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How long has the tour company been trading?
40 years
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Sole use of your own room on all Single Traveller holidays: means you still get your privacy and time out from the group.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Battlefield Tours - Will it be possible to visit a particular cemetery whilst on the tour?
Please contact us and we will check to see whether you can visit a particular cemetery on any of our Battlefield Tours, if we are not able to fit it into our itinerary then you could take some time out of the tour and do this independently by taxi or public transport.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
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Low Deposit
Leger Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of leger holidays charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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