Search Holidays

Behind The Lines – Women, Medics, Poets & Padres in WW1 - 5 days from £379

Your Holiday Itinerary

5-Day Break

  • Day 1 – Departure by coach then onwards to St Omer for a four-night stay.
  • Day 2 – St Omer – The Bull Ring – War Poets We begin at the Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery, looking at the role of pilots and observers who flew from St. Omer airfield. Later we visit the site of the infamous ‘Bull Ring’ training ground, where every soldier who came to France from 1916 onwards trained, and then go to the huge Etaples Military Cemetery. We visit Boulogne Eastern Cemetery for the grave of Julian Grenfell, one of the Great War poets who wrote ‘Into Battle’ and at Wimereux the grave of John McCrae, who wrote ‘In Flanders Fields. B
  • Day 3 – Rouen – McCudden VC – Haig’s Headquarters We travel to Rouen, stopping at the unique Chinese Cemetery for China’s labour troops. At Rouen, where thousands of soldiers were billeted going to the Battles of Loos and the Somme, we visit the huge St. Sever Cemetery, looking at the story of those who worked at the base camp and hospitals. Next we head to Wavans for the story of the flying ace, Major James McCudden VC MC MM, seeing his grave and at Montreuil, the site of General Sir Douglas Haig’s headquarters, we visit the Ramparts and see Haig’s statue. B
  • Day 4 – Cassel Hill – Talbot House – Mick Mannock VC We begin at Mont Cassel, the headquarters for French General, Marshall Foch. At Lijssenthoek, the largest behind-the-lines cemetery, we hear the story of Nurse Nellie Spindler, killed in Flanders, then visit Talbot House in Poperinghe, the original building taken over by padres Tubby Clayton and Neville Talbot and where ‘Toc H’ began in 1915. We visit the Death Cells and Shot at Dawn Memorial commemorating those executed by firing squad in WW1 and end the day looking at the story of air ace Mick Mannock VC, seeing the ground at Butter Lane where he was shot down. B
  • Day 5 – To Calais and return home. B

Included Meals: B=Breakfast D=Dinner

Please Note: Entrance fees to museums and places of interest are at extra cost

Notes

Prices are per person, based on two sharing

Extras:

  • Optional excursions
  • Single room supplement £89
  • Travel insurance from £31.95

Passengers :

Tour Includes

  • Free joining points
  • Travel by executive coach
  • 4 nights’ accommodation with continental breakfast
  • Specialist Battlefields Guide
  • Battlefield visits as described

Silver Service

Upgrade to Silver Service and enjoy these extras

  • Travel by Silver Service luxury coach which includes:
    • Extra legroom for your added comfort
    • Comfortable rear lounge to relax and chat
    • FREE personal headphones with a choice of music & DVDs
  • Porterage in all hotels
  • Smaller, more personal group

Tour Dates

Behind The Lines - Women, Medics, Poets & Padres (5 Days) - Silver Service
Tour Ref: 5FBLV/1

25 June 2012 - £419.00

22 October 2012 - £399.00

22 April 2013 - £429.00

24 June 2013 - £429.00


Behind The Lines - Women, Medics, Poets & Padres (5 Days)
Tour Ref: 5FBL/1

17 September 2012 - £379.00