Battlefield Tours - A Trip for Everyone by Sharon Thompson

The Battlefields – A Trip for Everyone!

I am often asked why I am interested in the WW1 & WW2 Battlefields.  As a youth, history was not my best subject, in fact, I recall my history teacher Mr Maxwell, telling me that I was a lovely girl, but rubbish at history.  I knew a little of both wars, but nothing of great significance. Most of my knowledge of WW2 came from the persecution of the Jews and my visits to the Holocaust Memorial in Israel, and Auschwitz in Poland. The one thing that struck me was the absolute horror of both wars, how young soldiers were,  and that I felt it important that we should always remember and know.  Many nationalities fought in both wars, and religion didn’t play a part in the campaign against evil.  WW1 was supposed to be ‘the war that ended all wars’.

I knew that many travellers to Belgium and France went to see graveyards and commemorate particular individuals or relatives who gave their lives.  The touching story of Flanders Fields and the story of the poppy were known to me, and I always knew enough to pay respect. As a granddaughter of a PT Instructor in the Army who fought in Durban and many other countries, I always admired the dignity and humbleness of my grandfather, and also his quietness around those friends he lost.  About 12 years ago, I joined a trip by invitation from the Mayor of Ypres to visit the sights of the WW1 battlefields.  At this point, I understood it.  I wanted people to know.    Right there, I promised to organise tours to the Battlefields, starting with WW1 & now WW2.

Many sights stood out to me on my first visit -  including Thiepval, Menin Gate, Tyne Cote, Ulster Towe, Irish Peace Tower and the German graveyard of Langemark.  They all touched my heart, but I met a man called Johan Vandewalle. He grew up amid the stories of the Great War and as a child played on the former battlefields, often stumbling upon bunkers, dugouts and remains of trenches. Johan developed a passion for the so-called underground warfare, and did magnificent work as an amateur archaeologist excavating tunnels and dugouts from the First World War. He worked on television documentaries, such as The Underground War / Zero Hour, Vampire Dug Out, Lost In Flanders and several Belgian documentaries. He has found over 200 bodies and has helped families, up to 100 years later, know where they lost their loved ones.  The Brothers In Arms Project, just beside Polygon Wood is testimony to his work.  Many families lost more than one son on the same day.  Mrs Hobson from my local town in Lurgan, lost 3 sons on one day!

One of the things that struck me about current tours to WW1 were that they were up to 7 days with coach travel throughout the UK, crossing to France by ferry with stops along the way, taking 2 days out of the tour.  Our tours are by flight under our license, meaning less time to travel and maximum time to enjoy our 4 or 5 day tours. We have the full ATOL license protecting flights and making travel much easier than coaches from NI or Dublin. I am certainly no expert on the in-depth itinerary, but our guides are.  They offer a balanced commentary and on every trip, I learn something new. Tours aren’t too ‘in-depth’ unless you want a specific study tour on an aspect of the war.  They are intended to be enjoyable, informative and give you, your evenings to relax with your partner or group.

Tours to the Somme are commemorative, poignant and a lasting memory for all of us, but they are also a story of rebuilding, survival and respect and should be a lesson to us all on the tragedies of war. 

Most of our tours are based in the town of Ypres or Arras.  My favourite is the town of Ypres (or Wipers as called by the troops – it was easier to pronounce that way).  When the day of touring is done, the cobbled streets are filled with the hustle and bustle of visitors enjoying a Belgian beer, hot waffles or Belgian chocolates before they make their way the short distance to the Menin Gate. The sound of the bugle  of the Last Post has the power to stop everyone in their tracks, just to take moments to thank all for their ultimate sacrifice.  I joined the Last Post Association after visiting many times, to assist with the wonderful work that they do.  We all have a role to play in remembrance.

Join us for one of our tours to WW1 Battlefields.  They book up fast and 2025 is already on sale with bookings coming in.  I have added an extra date to our program for 21 November 2024, due to the request of clients. There are some places remaining.  People have said that it might be too cold.  It can be. I have been there before, but I always remember that we are much better equipped to withstand that cold than those who lay in trenches, regardless of the weather.

Our WW2 battlefield tours seem to come secondary to WW1 - that is probably the best order, in order, to understand.  From Pegasus to Omaha to Ver Sur Mer, there are many stories to tell….. 

Contact our office for further details.  If you wish to take your own group to the Somme or D-Day Landings we can arrange a special itinerary for your group.