Hi all who are coming or thinking of coming along we should have from 1030 Saturday to 1330 Sunday on the ground to see stuff so have come up with a proposed itinerary as follows:
Saturday 15 July 2017 1030 Stand I - Poperinghe Old Military Cemetery to visit Frederick Betts 1/RWK for David Pearce who is joining us 1130 Stand II- Gheluvelt Crossroads - First Battle of Ypres (October 1914) 1215 Stand III - Zanvoorde Horse Guards Memorial - First Battle of Ypres (October 1914) 1300 Stand IV - Lunch at Hooge Crater Cafe & Museum (sandwiches/soup/beer that sort of thing) I will take you around their small museum. 1415 Battlefield Walk - good ground/fairly flat to Railway Wood (about 1.5km) coach option for non walkers, this will follow the front line, look at the Second Battle of Ypres (April 1915) and tell the story of the Ypres from the terrain 1600 Stand V - Hill 60 to study the Second Battle of Ypres through the eyes of Fred Betts 1/RWK for descendant David who is joining us 1700 Check in to hotels and time for a beer 2000 Last Post Ceremony Menin Gate 2030 General socialising and merriment in the town
Sunday 16 July 2017 0900 Meet in the square and re-join coach having checked out of hotels 0930 Stand VII - Langemarck German Cemetery for a view of life from a German Perspective 1015 Stand VIII - Teall Cottage for the attack of 2/Rifle Brigade and the loss of Lt James Brooker for Marion who is joining us 1100 Stand IX - Tynecot CWGC, the largest British Military Cemetery in the world and the story of four battles in the Salient 1200 Stand X - RE Farm Cemetery and a visit to Charlton player Nobby Nightingale 1230 Stand XI - Lunch in Poperinghe (quick sandwich) and discover how the men spent time out of the line here 1330 Stand XII - Lijssenthoek CWGC to visit William Britt - 81st Siege Battery RGA who died 100 years to the day with Brendan who will be joining us on the trip 1430 Depart for Calais 1530 Arrive at Calais 1650 Crossing to UK
The idea is to provide you with a balanced overview of the Great War and the Ypres Salient in particular, we will be joined by the German Addicks which I am thrilled with so will consider both sides of the wire. The life of the soldiers and alongside their sacrifices and hardships their bravery and achievements.
The furthest hotel out of town is the Best Western but the driver and coach are staying there so you wont have to schlep in and out of the square each day.
Let me know if you have a relative who served in the Salient and we will make sure they are commemorated in some way.
have emailed you a letter from someone else attending whose relative died in action by Teall Cottage pillbox near Exert Farm, is that on our intended route?
have emailed you a letter from someone else attending whose relative died in action by Teall Cottage pillbox near Exert Farm, is that on our intended route?
Neal
Just added it Neal, we can also ask Marion to lay the wreath at the Menin Gate even her though her uncle is commemorated at Tynecot.
I understand @Imissthepeanutman is happy to entertain the 'troops' at Talbot House as long as the piano is in tune.
I have to say being serenaded on the piano by @Addicted at Talbot House does not rank as one of my most sensual of experiences. But there was tea and cake!
Really looking forward to this trip and big thanks to Clive and Large for getting it of the ground.
The early start has however probably put paid to any excess of alcohol on the Kent/Surrey oval 20/20 the night before. Or maybe not!!
Clive thanks for posting the programme for the weekend. I am really looking forward to being guided by someone with so much knowledge and experience.
Attending the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate will be quite emotional. My grandad's brother Private Arthur Seaby of A Squadron Queen's Bays is remembered there. He was killed at Messiness on 31st October 1914 during the First Battle of Ypres. He was a barrow boy from North End Rd Market Fulham before signing up for the cavalry in 1913. I have a picture of him with A Squadron before leaving Aldershot on 11th August. He was involved in the retreat from Mons, took part in a cavalry charge at Nery, fought through the Marne and Aisne before meeting his end at Messines. I have some detailed maps showing the Bays movements up to 1st Ypres and if it was possible to see where he died that would be amazing. He has no known grave and is one of the soldiers I use in a project I run each year at Westminster Abbey.
I am also involved in a commemoration event on the Embankment in June for two Westminster born V.C. holders, who both died on 31st July 1917. They are Captain Thomas Riversdale Colyer Fergusson and LtDenis Wyldebore Hewitt. If their graves are on our scheduled route I will be able to bring some epitaphs written by children from Westminster schools.
Thanks for the above Peter, of course we can look at the Queens Bays, I have a memorial book for one of Athurs officers 2/Lt Gavin Paul who is also on the Menin Gate havin fallen on the 31 October. Looking forward to the trip especially given all the personal connections we have thrown up, it shows what a siezmic event in history the Great War for us a nations.
I don't have any but by a bizarre chance I do have a modern connection to a PoW who was captured as part of the BEF following the battle of Le Cadeau (if that is the correct spelling) and his story is onthe Lives if the First World War remembrance site as follows:
Life Story profile image Brevet Major Alexander Edward Gordon Fraser 14/09/1881–13/04/1956 British Army, RAMC, Service #off/251/36
The story of the connection is one best told on the trip.
I have never been to the WWI sites and I am very much looking forward to the experience and thanks to all involved in organising.
Can someone give a brief idea what the itinerary will include please? I'm thinking of dragging my son along as I think it might be interesting for him. I don't need a full list just a bit of an idea.
Can someone give a brief idea what the itinerary will include please? I'm thinking of dragging my son along as I think it might be interesting for him. I don't need a full list just a bit of an idea.
Can someone give a brief idea what the itinerary will include please? I'm thinking of dragging my son along as I think it might be interesting for him. I don't need a full list just a bit of an idea.
Thanks.
See post about 6 up
Thanks Henry, I didn't realise there was a second page to the thread.
Can someone give a brief idea what the itinerary will include please? I'm thinking of dragging my son along as I think it might be interesting for him. I don't need a full list just a bit of an idea.
Thanks Clive and Large for arranging this. Now that I have seen the itinerary, I am looking forward to learning about a subject that I so sadly know little about.
No doubt we will get departure times/venues ex UK nearer the time. I have some way to travel to Charlton for an early morning stay and will probably stay over. Do you recommend that my wife and I visit "Millers" the night before as I have heard so much, on here, about it :-)
Thanks Clive and Large for arranging this. Now that I have seen the itinerary, I am looking forward to learning about a subject that I so sadly know little about.
No doubt we will get departure times/venues ex UK nearer the time. I have some way to travel to Charlton for an early morning stay and will probably stay over. Do you recommend that my wife and I visit "Millers" the night before as I have heard so much, on here, about it :-)
Can someone give a brief idea what the itinerary will include please? I'm thinking of dragging my son along as I think it might be interesting for him. I don't need a full list just a bit of an idea.
Thanks.
See post about 6 up
Thanks Henry, I didn't realise there was a second page to the thread.
If you are interested KHA message me and I'll send payment details. Only four spaces left btw.
Can someone give a brief idea what the itinerary will include please? I'm thinking of dragging my son along as I think it might be interesting for him. I don't need a full list just a bit of an idea.
Thanks.
See post about 6 up
Thanks Henry, I didn't realise there was a second page to the thread.
If you are interested KHA message me and I'll send payment details. Only four spaces left btw.
Thanks Large. I'm just waiting on his Mum confirming that she doesn't have anything planned for that weekend. According to the rota he's with me that weekend but she does have a tendency to change everything with virtually no notice at all so I thought I should just check with her first.
Can someone give a brief idea what the itinerary will include please? I'm thinking of dragging my son along as I think it might be interesting for him. I don't need a full list just a bit of an idea.
Thanks.
See post about 6 up
Thanks Henry, I didn't realise there was a second page to the thread.
If you are interested KHA message me and I'll send payment details. Only four spaces left btw.
Thanks Large. I'm just waiting on his Mum confirming that she doesn't have anything planned for that weekend. According to the rota he's with me that weekend but she does have a tendency to change everything with virtually no notice at all so I thought I should just check with her first.
Comments
Saturday 15 July 2017
1030 Stand I - Poperinghe Old Military Cemetery to visit Frederick Betts 1/RWK for David Pearce who is joining us
1130 Stand II- Gheluvelt Crossroads - First Battle of Ypres (October 1914)
1215 Stand III - Zanvoorde Horse Guards Memorial - First Battle of Ypres (October 1914)
1300 Stand IV - Lunch at Hooge Crater Cafe & Museum (sandwiches/soup/beer that sort of thing) I will take you around their small museum.
1415 Battlefield Walk - good ground/fairly flat to Railway Wood (about 1.5km) coach option for non walkers, this will follow the front line, look at the Second Battle of Ypres (April 1915) and tell the story of the Ypres from the terrain
1600 Stand V - Hill 60 to study the Second Battle of Ypres through the eyes of Fred Betts 1/RWK for descendant David who is joining us
1700 Check in to hotels and time for a beer
2000 Last Post Ceremony Menin Gate
2030 General socialising and merriment in the town
Sunday 16 July 2017
0900 Meet in the square and re-join coach having checked out of hotels
0930 Stand VII - Langemarck German Cemetery for a view of life from a German Perspective
1015 Stand VIII - Teall Cottage for the attack of 2/Rifle Brigade and the loss of Lt James Brooker for Marion who is joining us
1100 Stand IX - Tynecot CWGC, the largest British Military Cemetery in the world and the story of four battles in the Salient
1200 Stand X - RE Farm Cemetery and a visit to Charlton player Nobby Nightingale
1230 Stand XI - Lunch in Poperinghe (quick sandwich) and discover how the men spent time out of the line here
1330 Stand XII - Lijssenthoek CWGC to visit William Britt - 81st Siege Battery RGA who died 100 years to the day with Brendan who will be joining us on the trip
1430 Depart for Calais
1530 Arrive at Calais
1650 Crossing to UK
The idea is to provide you with a balanced overview of the Great War and the Ypres Salient in particular, we will be joined by the German Addicks which I am thrilled with so will consider both sides of the wire. The life of the soldiers and alongside their sacrifices and hardships their bravery and achievements.
A quick bio here: http://www.staffride.co.uk/Academic-Support
The furthest hotel out of town is the Best Western but the driver and coach are staying there so you wont have to schlep in and out of the square each day.
Let me know if you have a relative who served in the Salient and we will make sure they are commemorated in some way.
have emailed you a letter from someone else attending whose relative died in action by Teall Cottage pillbox near Exert Farm, is that on our intended route?
Neal
Who's he?
Really looking forward to this trip and big thanks to Clive and Large for getting it of the ground.
The early start has however probably put paid to any excess of alcohol on the Kent/Surrey oval 20/20 the night before. Or maybe not!!
Attending the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate will be quite emotional. My grandad's brother Private Arthur Seaby of A Squadron Queen's Bays is remembered there. He was killed at Messiness on 31st October 1914 during the First Battle of Ypres. He was a barrow boy from North End Rd Market Fulham before signing up for the cavalry in 1913. I have a picture of him with A Squadron before leaving Aldershot on 11th August. He was involved in the retreat from Mons, took part in a cavalry charge at Nery, fought through the Marne and Aisne before meeting his end at Messines. I have some detailed maps showing the Bays movements up to 1st Ypres and if it was possible to see where he died that would be amazing. He has no known grave and is one of the soldiers I use in a project I run each year at Westminster Abbey.
I am also involved in a commemoration event on the Embankment in June for two Westminster born V.C. holders, who both died on 31st July 1917. They are Captain Thomas Riversdale Colyer Fergusson and LtDenis Wyldebore Hewitt. If their graves are on our scheduled route I will be able to bring some epitaphs written by children from Westminster schools.
I don't have any but by a bizarre chance I do have a modern connection to a PoW who was captured as part of the BEF following the battle of Le Cadeau (if that is the correct spelling) and his story is onthe Lives if the First World War remembrance site as follows:
Life Story profile image
Brevet Major Alexander Edward Gordon Fraser
14/09/1881–13/04/1956
British Army, RAMC, Service #off/251/36
The story of the connection is one best told on the trip.
I have never been to the WWI sites and I am very much looking forward to the experience and thanks to all involved in organising.
Thanks.
No doubt we will get departure times/venues ex UK nearer the time. I have some way to travel to Charlton for an early morning stay and will probably stay over. Do you recommend that my wife and I visit "Millers" the night before as I have heard so much, on here, about it :-)