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The Somme and Vimy Ridge - Locations Visited |
 Northern Pals' Battalions at Serre - the 31st New Army Division consisted of units raised in Accrington, Leeds, Sheffield, Barnsley and Hull. No Man's Land is marked by their battlefield cemeteries and the front line trenches of the Accrington Pals can still be discerned. In view of the devastation caused to small communities like Accrington, the decision was taken never to raise units in this way again. |
| Newfoundland Park - preserved battlefield that is the site of the ill-fated assault by the Royal Newfoundland Regiment which was virtually destroyed as it attacked the German lines at "Y" Ravine. The opposing trenches remain and the ground between still bears the scars of shell-fire. |
| Ulster Tower - commemorating the 36th Ulster Division, the Tower stands on what was the site of the Schwaben Redoubt on the German front line. |
| Thiepval Memorial to the Missing - largest Memorial of its kind; Thiepval commemorates the 74,000 men who died on the Somme and who have no known grave. |
| "Mash" Valley - the 2nd Middlesex Battalion sustained over 500 casualties here as they were assailed by machine-guns from La Boisselle and Ovillers. |
| Lochnagar Crater - 90,000 lbs of explosives set off under the German lines created a crater 90 feet deep. Near here the Tyneside Irish Brigade advanced at a cost of nearly 3,000 casualties. |
| Dartmoor Cemetery - contains the oldest British casualty of the war, a father and son, a VC and a soldier "shot at dawn". As such it reflects a range of First World War experiences. |
| Danzig Alley & Montauban - the Liverpool and Manchester Pals' Memorial at Montauban commemorates their breakthrough on the 1st July which went unexploited by British reserves. |
| Vimy Ridge Memorial & Trenches - A section of front line trenches have been preserved complete with concrete sandbags, duckboards, firing steps, sniper shields and observation saps. Canadian guides describe the principal features of the nearby Grange Tunnel (open from April to November) including the water point and communications room. The Vimy Memorial was built on what was Hill 145; the strongest point of the German third line defences. The Interpretive Centre is the latest addition at Vimy Ridge and includes a short audio-visual display explaining the battle. Entrance to Vimy is free but pre-booking is advised and can be arranged by Galina. |
A typical 3-day tour |
| Day 1: Pick-up from school and travel by executive coach/cross-channel ferry to hotel for evening meal. |
| Day 2: Breakfast in hotel and Somme/Vimy Ridge battlefield tour. Return to hotel for evening meal. |
| Day 3: Breakfast in hotel, Vimy memorial visit and return to UK. |
| Itineraries can be tailored to your requirements. Contact us now by clicking here. |
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