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Retreat from Mons

Mons witnessed the opening shots of the First World War: travel with us as we follow the story of the ‘Old Contemptibles’ including a visit to the key battlefield of Nery.

Tour Includes

4 nights hotel with continental breakfast
Specialist Battlefields Guide
Local joining points

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Itinerary

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Local departure by coach, then to our hotel in Belgium for a two-night stay.

We start on the battlefield at Mons where the very first British shots of the war were fired at Casteau in August 1914, when British and German cavalry clashed here. We then visit the superb Mons War Museum, and from here travel to the unique St Symphorien Cemetery, where British and German soldiers who fell at Mons lay side by side. Here, we also see the graves of the ‘First and Last’ British and Commonwealth casualties on the Western Front. After lunchtime in Mons, we travel along the battlefield where British units fought at Mons, seeing the Bridge at Nimy, where the first two Victoria Crosses were awarded, the station at Obourg defended by the Middlesex Regiment, and the 1914 graves in Mons Communal Cemetery.

Includes Breakfast

St Symphorien Cemetery Nimy Bridge Mons War Museum First Shots Memorial Obourg Memorial Mons Communal Cemetery

Leaving Mons, we follow the route of the ‘Retreat From Mons’ and see the battlefield at Le Cateau, where the British made a stand on 26th August 1914. We visit Le Cateau Cemetery, and the Memorial in the fields where the battle raged around positions held by the Suffolk Regiment. After lunch, we look at the story of the Royal Munster Fusiliers at Etreux, visiting their cemetery and memorial. We continue to follow the route of the Old Contemptibles as they marched towards Paris, and end our day on the battlefield at Nery – one of the classic actions of 1914. Here, British Cavalry and Gunners fought a rear-guard action – one of the guns from the battle is still preserved in the Imperial War Museum. From here we continue to our hotel in Compiegne for a two-night stay.

Includes Breakfast

Le Cateau Cemetery Etreux British Memorial, Le Cateau Nery Battlefield

After the Retreat From Mons, the British Army went on to fight in the Battle of the Marne and then the Aisne in September 1914. We begin at the Guards Grave in Villers-Cotterets, where the Guardsmen fought among the trees. We then visit the La Ferte sous Jouarre Memorial, which commemorates all those who died from Mons to the Aisne who have no known grave. We also visit the Royal Engineers memorial on the banks of the Marne river. After lunch at Chateau-Thierry, we move onto the Aisne heights looking at the fighting here, visiting Vailly British Cemetery, and then looking at the British involvement in the actions around Soupir, seeing the churchyard where the Old Contemptibles are buried.

Includes Breakfast