Battle Honours Brochure 2011

• We walk the battlefields- in our viewunderstanding history is to get out onthe ground and walk in the footstepsof the men who fought in years past.These walks off the beaten track alsoenable discovery of quiet reflectiveareas inaccessible to large coachparties.

• Dynamics- our scheduled tour groupsdo not exceed 16 participants. Thisensures a quality Guide to Customerratio and helps promote a convivialatmosphere and foster lastingfriendships, with many customersreturning to tour together year afteryear.

• Our Guides are not just guides; theyare your host, tour leader andentertainer. All tours will be led bycompany founders Clive, Julian oranother badged member of the Guildof Battlefield Guides. This standard ofguide is now the benchmark forquality in the craft of battlefieldguides.

• No hidden charges and tour optionalcosts. We have a policy of Bed andBreakfast that allows you choice inthe evening, according to your budgetand style. Advertised museums areincluded.

10/14 April Western Front Walks £539:00 *Price as last year*

1/6 May Walking Gallipoli I £890:00 *Price as last year*

19/23 June Walking Arras to Cambrai £599:00 *New Tour*

10/15 July The War Underground £659:00 *New Tour*

24/28 July The Road to Rome £799:00 *Price as last year*

7/11 August Day of Days – 4 November 1918 £539:00 *New Tour*

4/8 September Redcoats to Khaki £539:00 *Price as last year*

18/23 September Walking Gallipoli II £890:00 *Price as last year*

25/29 September Walking the Vosges £659:00 *5 night tour*

14/19 October Walking the Peninsular War £890:00 *New Tour*

8/12 November Ypres Armistice Tour £539:00 *Price as last year*

Photographs courtesy of Mike Sheil from www.westernfrontphotography.com and Frank Toogood from the Guild of Battlefield Guides

AT A GLANCE TOURS

WHY YOU SHOULDCHOOSE BATTLE HONOURS

QUICKFIRER! Do you receive our monthly battlefield news e-letter “The Quickfirer”? If not, let us know.

With outstanding customer service andsuperb historic knowledge the BattleHonours team provide quality walkingtours to the battlefields of Europe andbeyond. All tours will be led by abadged member of the Guild ofBattlefield Guides, ensuring you havethe best possible quality learningexperience when choosing us. 2011sees us return to the haunting yetpoignant battlegrounds of Ypres,Gallipoli and the Somme. In addition wediscover new battlefronts followingWellingtons Peninsular Campaign andthe Tunnellers war on the WesternFront, a return to the ever popularVosges sector, the seldom visitedSambre Canal and a new tour studyingthe fascinating corridor between Arras& Cambrai. With the introduction ofguest speakers and guides, all

internationally renowned experts inthier field, there really is something forevery battlefield enthusiast in our 2011program. Lead Guides and DirectorsClive Harris and Julian Whippy arerecognised for their passion, enthusiasmand vast subject knowledge, with inexcess of 20 years combined guidingexperience you will be in safe handswhilst on tour.

Clive served in the Royal Signals andwith Hertfordshire Constabulary beforeembarking on a career in militaryhistory in 1998. In addition to thepublication of "Walking the LondonBlitz", “A Wander through WartimeLondon” and "The Greater Game" hehas contributed to Time Team, TimeWatch, Blitz Spirit and CBS's Legacy ofWar, his specialist battlefield subjectsare The Retreat of 1914, The Ypres

Salient, 1918, The London Blitz and theItalian Campaign of 1943/44 Clive is theholder of badge number 33 within theGuild of Battlefield Guides and hasrecently been elected onto theprestigious British Commission forMilitary History. Julian leads a numberof our bespoke groups and spends a lotof time in Normandy researching thebeach and inland battles of 1944. Heenjoys leading groups to uncover lostor seldom seen sites of battle from allwars. He has a military back groundhaving served with the Royal AnglianRegiment as a member of the TerritorialArmy. A published author, he is abadged member and validator withinthe Guild of Battlefield Guides. Julianlectures on Military history widelyhaving recently done so in Whitehall forthe Royal United Services Institute.

Battle Honours remain your bestoption when choosing aBattlefield tour.

WHATS INCLUDED Our scheduled tours include return travel from London, with additional pick ups atMaidstone Services and Dover Docks. We use 8 seat luxury MPV vehicles,

that with their comfort and leg and luggage space have proved extremely popular.Tours to Italy, the Peninsular battlefields and Gallipoli include return flights

from a London airport. Our Hotels are chosen to offer the right combination ofcomfort, value and convenience. Where possible our hotels are close to town

centres, on more remote battlefields however country hotels are chosen to afford themaximum time on the battlefield. Accommodation is typically based on Bed andBreakfast basis allowing

for flexibility in our own dining requirements. Throughout the tour a badged Guide ofthe Guild of Battlefield Guides is on hand to ensure the most hassle free, relaxed tourpossible.

BESPOKE BATTLEFIELD TOURSFrom groups of 1 to 100 our company has vast experience in arranging a tour to suityour needs. Be it following an individual soldier’s war to a particular regiment, actionor even studying the lads from your local village memorial, consider Battle Honours toplan an unforgettable battlefield experience meeting your expectations and budget.

WHO WE ARE

Battle Honours Limited, PO Box 74

Knebworth SG3 6TH Tel: 01438 816661

www.battle-honours.co.uk

This year we have combined our Ypres & Somme walking tours to provide more variety,this is an ideal tour if you have not walked with us before to experience a BattleHonours tour, limited to just 15 spaces our itinerary is as follows;

Sunday 10 April 2011 - Pick up ateither London Victoria (Eccleston Place,W1) Folkestone Services or DoverEastern Docks for a crossing to Calaisand onward to our first hotel the Beatus,Cambrai

Monday 11 April 2011 - A full daysSomme walking.

Walk 1: Carnoy to Montauban & beyond,following the advance of the 30th & 18th(Eastern) Division on the opening day ofthe battle, we learn of the capture ofMontauban and Danzig Alley Trenchbefore pushing onto Quarry Cemeteryand ending at Caterpiller Valley CWGC inthe shadow of the infamous High Wood.*Lunch can be taken in Pozieres before

Walk 2: Gommecourt, thiscomprehensive study of the 1 July 1916battle involving the 56th London and 46thNorth Midland Division takes us fromFoncquevillers to Hebuterne

Tuesday 12 April 2011 - leaving thehotel we visit Flesquieres and learn theincredible story of D51 "Deborah" astold by our host Philippe Gorczynski, wethen head up to the Ypres Salient wherea packed lunch will be taken on arrivalbefore

Walk 3: Zillebeke to Hellfire Corner,starting in Larch Wood Cemetery wewalk through the village of Zillebekefollowing in the footsteps of John Glubbbefore passing the location of China Wall

duckboard track and ending the walk atHellfire Corner to here the story of thismost infamous spot on the "old frontline", we then check into the verywelcoming Varlet Farm, a trip into Ypresthat evening ends our day

Wednesday 13 April 2011 - after ahearty breakfast we begin

Walk 4: The Frezenburg Ridge, one of ourfavourite walks, from Railway Wood (RETunnellers Grave CWGC) we cross tothe edge of Franzenburg Ridge, we headeast learning of the 1915 & 1917 battlesin this area visiting the isolated PPCLImemorial and ending at the ScottishMemorial atop the Ridge *lunch can betaken at Hooge Crater

Walk 5: following the 58th LondonDivision assault on Poelcapelle we alsocover tanks warfare in the salient, the29th Division & 63rd RND assaults in thearea eventually ending up back at VarletFarm. Evening visit to the Menin GateCeremony

Thursday 14 April 2011 - Free time inthe memorable town of Ypres beforeheading back to Calais and onwardjourney to the UK (London ETA17:00hrs)

Day 1

Scheduled flights from London toIstanbul. Transfer to Gallipoli by shortinternal flight, before arriving atCanakkale Hotel where a welcomedrink in our private garden awaits.

Day 2

Walk 1: From W Beach, Cape Helleswe see the cemeteries of LancashireLanding and V Beach. Crossing the fieldsaround Hunter-Weston Hill we arriveat the magnificent Helles memorial. Wevisit Sedulbahir where the substantialTurkish defences awaited the assaultfrom the famous RiverClyde.

Walk 2: Our walk heads “up the line”along the weather beaten Gully Ravineto Pink Farm allowing us to visit spotsthat once housed over burdened FieldAmbulances and countless billets in itsshelter, alongside wells sunk by theEngineers to quench the parched thirstof the troops.

Day 3

Walk 3: From Anzac Cove to LonePine. Here the AIF stormed ashore andscrambled past the “Sphinx” to breachthe Turkish lines. After visiting PluggesPlateau we climb Boltons Ridge via ShellGreen ending at the Lone PineMemorial with its breath taking viewsover the Aegean.

Walk 4: Clinging to the cliffs we chartthe frontline held by Anzac troops.Intimate burial spots at Parade GroundCemetery and Johnstons Jolly joinpreserved trenches and memorialsnamed after courageous and colourfulAustralian characters. We finish at thetragic site of The Nek.

Day 4

Walk 5: Twelve Tree Copse to theRedoubt. The heart of the Gallipolifighting, hear the story of the“Cigarette VC” and follow along WiganRoad and Oldham Street trench lines

before arriving at Redoubt cemetery tolearn the story of 2/Lt Duckworth.

Walk 6: The most spectacular of anybattlefield walks from the heights ofChanuk Bair to the beaches below.Focusing on Kiwi forces and New Armytroops we follow their battle along theRhododendron Ridge. This walk is onsteep, mountainous terrain along awinding trail and is enormouslyrewarding.

Day 5

Walk 7: After a stop at Chocolate andGreen Hills, we spend the morninglooking at the ill fated Suvla landings inmid August 1915. Our walk begins atHill 10 before we follow in thefootsteps of the 5th Norfolk’s anduncover the true story behind thevanishing battalion. Afternoon visits tothe French battlefield at Morto Bay andthe Turkish Monolith.

Day 6

Return to UK via Istanbul after a visitto the fabulous Naval Museum inCanakkale.

“Dear Clive and Julian, Just a short note to thank you very much for an absolutely splendid tour of Gallipoli. Itcould not have been bettered and you covered the whole campaign by a superb balance of anecdote, facts,personalities and terrain and always putting what you talked about or showed us in context. Thank you particularlyfor letting me go off and look at the Gurkha sites.” Major Gordon Corrigan MBE

WESTERN FRONT WALKS - SOMME & YPRES

No battlefield is as dramatic in setting and evocative inmemory as Gallipoli. Our ever popular walking tourcovers the full 259 days of the campaign. We feel this touroffers the most comprehensive tour available to thePeninsular, in an intimate group we reach seldom visitedspots via mule tracks, dried up gullies and quiet beaches.

WALKING GALLIPOLI

Tel: 01438 816661www.battle-honours.co.uk

KEY FACTSTour Dates:

10/14 April 2011

Price per person: £539:00 pp

Sharing a twin room B&B. Tour limited to just 15 places.

£100:00 Single Supplement.

Hotel: Hotel Beatus Cambrai & Varlet Farm Passchendaele

PRICE AS LAST YEAR!


1/6 May and 18/23 September

Price per person: £890:00 pp sharing a twin room

B&B + Packed Lunch£110:00 Single Supplement.

Tour limited to just 15 places

Hotel: Hotel Kervansaray, Canakkale

PRICE AS LAST YEAR!

A return to this popular destination in a tour led by MikeSheil studying the heavily fought over Vosges battlefields.Spectacular in their scenery, matched only by the sheerscale of the tangible evidence that still covers the groundthis is a tour not to be missed.

A contested region that had been part ofGermany since 1870, the French werekeen to regain lost territory as soon ashostilities began. The two armies pitchedsome of their most elite troops into thefighting, notably the proud Alpine Chassetroops coming face to face with GermanJager troops committed to defendingground they considered to be German.Largely undeveloped today the battlefieldis littered with trenches, bunkers, barbedwire, memorials and cemeteries on ascale not seen elsewhere on the WesternFront. Our tour is based in the charmingfamily run Hotel Roess perched on themountainside hamlet of Hohrodberg. Thetour will cover the three main battlefieldsof Le Linge, Tetes Des Faux andHartmannswillerkopf via a series ofcomprehensive walks.

Day 1/2 - Travel to France, leaving fromLondon via Dover to Calais this longerthan usual drive is broken up by anovernight stay and visit to the St MihielSalient before arriving on the Vosges forday 3

Day 3 - La Linge, just a short drive fromthe Hotel our walk starts behind theFrench lines, here we cross the shell tornno-mans-land up to the German wire,through densely wooded ground wediscover the numerous bunkers andtrenches that exist undisturbed whilstlearning of the stories of the men who

fought here and the actions that tookplace. We arrive at the Le Linge battlefieldpark 983 meters above sea level wherethere is a fascinating museum set amongperfectly preserved trenches bunkers andlook out posts before ending the day atthe nearby French Cemetery.

Day 4 - Tetes Des Faux, we climb higherto the wilderness of Tetes Des Faux. Firstcaptured by the Germans in earlySeptember 1914, it was recaptured by theFrench in December and then became agruelling fight for the summit over thecoming weeks before both sidesentrenched for the duration of the war.Our walk crosses very undulating land(mostly up), crossing bivouac areas,completely preserved trench systems andremote isolated cemeteries set deep inthe forest before we reach the summitand receive an awe inspiring view overthe region from atop a reinforced naturalFrench observation post. Continuingacross the mountain we descend via thecrumbling moss covered remains of aGerman cable railway system and largerbunker complexes before ending our day.

Day 5 - Hartmannswillerkopf, saving themost dramatic to the end, our walk todaystarts at the huge French Memorial andCemetery, continuing onto the summititself where the trenches and bunkersoverlook the Rhine plain, during a circuitaround the crest we uncover some

incredible memorials such as the Germancomrades memorial carved out of stone,a complete Minnenwerfer battery and thebreath taking memorial to the 152ndInfantry Regiment , the Red Devils whofought a furious action across this ground.Lunch at the memorable “Chez Dora” isfollowed by a feature unequalled on theWestern Front, via the Swiss Epique wedescend some 400 metres along a 8 footdeep trench blasted out of the rock, firesteps and loop holes still line the parapet,bunkers and barbed wire defences arealmost complete making for a memorableclimax to our tour of this incrediblebattlefield.

Day 6 - After a visit to an intimatememorial commemorating a bombercommand crew who flew into themountainside above our hotel we departback to the UK.

Day 1 - Travel from London to Calaisvia Dover and onward to our hotel, astop will be made at the Vis-en-ArtoisMemorial.

Day 2 - Walk 1: Heninel, through aseries of seldom visited cemeteries wevisit the line that was so heavily foughtover in 1917 & 1918 towards Cherisy,hearing stories of gallantry and sacrificealong the way Lunch can be taken in anearby estaminet Walk 2 - Monchy LePreux, one of the most importantstrategic villages on the Western Frontit marks the gateway to Cambrai forthe BEF as it approached theHindenburg Line and also the pin in thedefence of Arras in 1918. Our walkcovers cavalry actions, assaults inBlizzards and dogged rearguard actions.

Day 3 - Walk 3: In the shadow of VimyRidge, we follow the French advance of1915 and then the succesful Canadianassualt in the spring of 1917, we look atthe air war over the skies of Arrasstarting in the area around Thelus andending at the Memorial itself Lunch canbe taken in central Arras The afternoonsees us take a tour of the Wellington

Tunnel and visit the Arras Memorialbefore a short walk along the lines ofCroiselles that saw such heavy fightingin March 1918.

Day 4 - Walk 4: Canal du Nord, westudy the stunning crossing action ofthe canal as far as Moeuvres part of the36 Ulster Division line in December1917, we hear the story of Lt CharlesPope VC at Inchy, a Metropolitan Policeofficer and end back on the banks ofthe Canal Lunch can be taken in centralCambrai

Walk 5: Bourlon Wood, starting atCrest CemeteryFontaine Notre Damewe study the struggle for BourlonWood in December 1917, we thenfocus on the Canadian assault a yearlater and end at the imposing memorialto thier efforts that offers a clear viewback to Monchy Le Preux and the openground that lay between

Day 5 - After a visit to Flesquieres andD51 Deborah where we learn herincredible story as told by her finderPhilippe Gorczynski, we head back toCalais and onward to Dover thenLondon

“On behalf of Mick, Frank and myself, I would like to thank you for the great trip we had. I t waseverything we wanted and more. You gave us some good ideas when going to the Western Front.Personally I have been going to the Western Front every year since 1978, but I would love to walkwith you again.” Graham Gathercole - Merseyside WFA

WALKING THE VOSGES

We are pleased to announce this new tour and our guestguide, Jon Nicholls author of the most comprehensivebook yet written on the Battle of Arras, CheerfulSacrifice. The tour focuses on the 1917 & 1918 fightingalong the road between these two great cities through aseries of walks and is based at the comfortable andpopular Hotel Beatus, Cambrai.

ARRAS TO CAMBRAIWALKING TOUR


KEY FACTS

Tour Dates:25/30 September 2011

Price per person: £659:00 per person sharing a

twin room B&B£100:00 Single Supplement.

Hotel: 1 night in the St Mihiel Salient B&B

and 4 nights at the family run Roess Hotel B&B


19/23 June 2011

Price per person: Price per person £599.00 sharing a twin B&B & Museum entries.


Hotel: 3* Hotel Beatus, Cambrai B&B

NEW

NEW

This new and exciting tour is led by the popular MikeSheil, his passion for the Tunnellers stands alongside theknowledge he has acquired for the ground during hisjourney taking stunning photographs of the WesternFront. He has put together this fascinating itinerary thattakes us from Ypres to Vauquois. We shall be visitingfamous tunneling sites and some less well known caves antunnels along the way.Day 1 - Travel to Ypres via London,Dover & Calais, welcome lecture onarrival

Day 2 - The Ypres Salient & the MessinesRidge, both offensive and defensivetunnelling operations will be visiting RETunnellers Grave, Zonnebeke Museum &a number of the sites associated with theMessines Offensive as well as thePloegsteert Memorial and the site of theCatacombs under Hill 63

Day 3 - Arras & Vimy Ridge, we headsouth to study the underground war inArtois, with visits to the Sapper Hackettmemorial to here of his story of heroism,the Grange tunnel under Vimy and theWellington tunnel complex under Arrasare highlights as we continue our study ofJohn Norton Griffiths. We also plan tovisit a hitherto site with the DuranGroup not open to previous groups.

Day 1 - Fly from UK Airport to Romeand transfer to the Hotel La Pace,Central Cassino.

Day 2 - A full day study of the MonteCassino battles begins on the slopes ofMount Trocchio

Walk 1: The St Angelo Crossing, wefollow the 36 Texan Division crossing ofthe Rapido River & a visit to thespectacular Cassino War Cemetery inthe shadow of the abbey. The afternoonstarts with a visit to the Sherman tankin Cassino town before making our wayto Caira and the large German WarCemetery. Finally we visit the abbeyitself via Castle Hill & Monastery Hillbefore ending the day on SnakesheadRidge and Point 593.

Day 3 - We first visit the AmazonBridge site that opened access to theLiri Valley before learning the story ofthe Lancashire Fusiliers and their VCaction. A visit to the Garigliano River

crossing and Minturno War Cemeterycomplete our morning. After lunch wetravel to Anzio via the excellent pianadelle orme museum, with its hugecollection of vehicles and dioramas onthe Italian campaign *new for 2011*www.pianadelleorme.it and our hotelthe Lido Garda, Anzio.

Day 4 - Full day study of the Anziofighting, with a visit to the immaculateSicily Rome American War Cemeterybefore looking at Operation Shingle theBeach Landings, visits to the AnzioMuseum, and Anzio Town Cemeteryfollow.

Walk Two: Wadi Country, this walkincludes a visit to the Beach HeadCemetery and the site of the infamous“flyover” on the road to Aprilia.

Day 5 - Leaving Anzio we make ourfirst stop at the German Cemeterybefore reaching Orvieto. Here wediscover the stories behind the men in

the cemetery before Walk Four –Montegabbioni; here we have theopportunity to study a classic unitaction of the 5 Northants and WiltshireYeomanry. We then return to Rome foran early evening flight back to London.

“I had to drop you a mail to thank you for the tour, truly could not have been better, if you can put up with meagain i would love to join you another time soon, thanks again for a great tour” Nick Green, Surrey

THE WAR UNDERGROUND

Road to Rome – This popular tour follows the slog up Italy of our famous D-DayDodgers Barely three weeks before D-Day a lone Polish flag fluttered from the ruinousmountainous rubble of Monte Cassino. The preceding battles had involved the armies of18 nations and 74,000 casualties. At last the Road to Rome had been opened up yetvictory in the campaign remained a long slog away. Our tour studies the fighting forCassino, The Liri Valley, The Garigliano River, The Anzio Landings and Beach head beforecrossing the disputed spine of Italy to discover the smaller hilltop actions that typifiedthe campaign, through veteran’s accounts, contemporary records and exploring theground this tour sets out to provide a greater understanding of the achievements andsacrifices made during the Italian campaign.

THE ROAD TO ROME – MONTE CASSINO & ANZIO


KEY FACTSTour Dates:10/15 July 2011

Price per person: £659:00 per person sharing a twin

room B&B, Museum entries £100:00 Single Supplement.

*please note this is a 5 night tour*

Hotel: 2 nights in the Ypres Salient,

1 night in the Chemin de Damesregion, 2 nights in the Vauquios

area, 3* B&B through out

KEY FACTSTour Dates:24/28 July 2011

Price per person: £799:00 inclusive of flights and 4 nights B&B, Museum entry -


Hotel: 2 nights Hotel Le Pace, MonteCassino & 2 nights at the Hotel

Lido Garda, Anzio

NEW

Day 4 - The Chemin de Dames, as wehead to the often overlooked Aisneregion we will visit some of the famoustunnel and cave complexes that date fromthe opening moves of the war inSeptember 1914 through to the costlyNievelle offensive if 1917, we also have avery special location usually out of publicaccess that will be visited on this day, adefinite highlight of the tour.

Day 5 - Vauquios, some of the mostincredible underground sites of the GreatWar are visited on this final days touring,with some walking included we take an indepth look at the unforgettable destroyedvillage with its network of tunnels andhuge craters.

Day 6 - We head back to the UK viaCalais, Dover & London

PRICE AS LAST YEAR!

This new tour focuses on an often overlooked yet critical day on the Western Front,through a series of walks we follow the line as the British and New Zealand troopsattempt to forge a crossing over the River Sambre and force a conclusion to the GreatWar, one that had passed the same ground over four years earlier in August 1914. Cliveand Julian will be guiding the tour that is based in the Hotel Beatus, Cambrai and placesare limited to just 15.

Day 1 – Travel from London via Dover& Calais to our hotel in Calais, stop en-route at the Vis-en-Artois Memorialwhere the missing from the SambreCrossing are commemorated.

Day 2 – Walk 1: Chapelle Rouge Walk –from the village of Catillon where the38th Division assaulted and secured thecrossing point, to their left the 1stDivision, regular soldiers that hadcrossed the same ground in retreat inAugust 1914 advanced, crossed theriver, we learn of Lt Col DudleyJohnson VC commanding the RoyalSussex Regiment and end on theChapelle Rouge crossroads where thedivisional memorial stands today. Lunchcan be taken at a nearby estaminet

Walk 2: Ors, this most famous ofvillages connected with the battle iswalked thoroughly, we see the spotwhere Wilfred Owen fell and his finalresting place in the nearby CWGC, wealso learn of the three Victoria Crossesawarded within the village that day andend at the WFA memorial on thebridge.

Day 3 – Walk 3: Landrecies, weapproach the town as the 25 Division

men did on the day of battle, we alsosee the spot where Edward CampionVaughan was decorated before endingon the river itself Lunch can be taken inLandrecies

Walk 4: Le Quesnoy – the afternoonwalk follows the New Zealand RifleBrigade attack on the ramparts of thevillage, in one of the most dramaticactions of the war we follow theirassault through the town ending at thenearby CWGC

Day 4 – Mons and the Armistice, todaywe follow the final advances up toMons visiting isolated cemeteries andactions including Bavay & Maubeugebefore ending the day where the finalshots were fired and ending at StSymphorian Cemetery to visit the firstand last casualties of the war

Day 5 – Travel back to the UK fromCambrai via Valenciennes to learn ofthe battle of 2 November 1918 foughtby the 49th West Riding Division

Day 1 - Travel from the UK to our tourbase of historic Tournai.

Day 2 - Our full Waterloo day starts atWellington’s crossroads where we learnhow to form squares to meet cavalryand infantry attacks followed by a studyof the fighting at La Haye Saint farm.Next we visit Napoleon’s HQ followedby a walk across the field of battle fromthe Imperial Guard Memorial to theLion Monument. After lunch we climbthe Lion Mound for a spectacular viewof the battlefield. A visit to theatmospheric panoramic is followed by awalk around Hougamont Farm.

We end the day with a visit to theMuseum now housed in Wellington’sHQ and the church, now a movingshrine to the fallen of Waterloo

Day 3 - A comprehensive study of theBattle of Mons, starting at Casteauwhere the first shots rang out and

cavalry clashed we the head for thecanal bank at Nimy to learn of thedefence by the Royal Fusiliers. Next toObourg, here we study the Middlesexaction at the railway station followed bya visit to the small military museum inthe town centre. Our afternoon isspent at Binche Crossroads, the uniqueSt Symphorian Cemetery and finally amoving study of the rearguard action atElouges/Audregnies by the Norfolk’s,Cheshire’s and 9th Lancers.

Day 4 - Continuing the retreat wetoday walk the battlefield of Le Cateau,starting at Troisvilles we follow the lineheld by the 5th Division past the lonetree to the positions held by the KingsOwn Yorkshire Light Infantry where 2VC’s were awarded. We then continueto the Suffolk Regiment Memorialcommemorating the battle where overthe BEF suffered over 7,000 casualties.A far larger battle than Mons but often

overlooked we end with a visit to thelarge Anglo German cemetery on thecrossroads at the centre of thebattlefield. The afternoon includes astudy of the affair at Landrecies andends with a comprehensive look at theRoyal Munster Fusiliers stand at Etreux,one of the most gallant episodes inBritish military history.

Day 5 - Travel back to the UK.

“Battle Honours pitched the tour perfectly and their professionalism was evident at every stage. The personal anecdotesbrought colour and life to the history of the area and unscheduled visits were seamlessly included into the originalprogramme. The length of each walk was carefully chosen for the mixed abilities of the group and good humour was thehallmark of the 5 days we were together. I would have no hesitation in recommending Battle Honours to those who wishto learn more about our military heritage” Peter Steel Yorkshire Branch WFA Member

An ever popular journey through 99 years of history,based in the Cathedrale Hotel, central Tournai we studythe defensive actions of Waterloo, Mons, Audregnies, LeCateau, Laundrecies and Etreux. This unique viewpoint onhistory provides the opportunity through a series of walksto consider the leadership, tactics and actions of TheDuke of Wellingtons army in 1815 and Sir John French'sBEF almost a century later. From the drama of thecharge of the Union Brigade and the battle within a battlethat was Hougamont Farm, to the legendary defence ofthe canal bank at Nimy and the heroic stand at Etreuxthis tour studies battles adorning the regimental coloursto this day.



7/11 August 2011

Price per person: Price £539:000 per personB&B sharing a twin room£100:00 Single Supplement.

Hotel: 3* Hotel Beatus, Cambrai


4/8 September 2011

Price per person: £539:00 sharing a twin room B&B £100:00 Single Supplement.

Hotel: 3* Hotel Cathedrale,

central Tournai

NEW

FROM REDCOATS TO KHAKI -WATERLOO, MONS & LE CATEAU

PRICE AS LAST YEAR!

DAY OF DAYS – THE 4TH NOVEMBER 1918 REVISITED

It was Napoleon who called it the Spanish Ulcer, a haemorrhaging of men, money andassets that could have been put to far greater use elsewhere. The Peninsula War, part ofthe French Revolutionary and Napoleonic world war, saw up to 323,000 French troopsopposed by a tiny British army and their Portuguese and Spanish allies commanded byArthur Wellesley, later the first Duke of Wellington. In this tour we will walk some ofthose battles and discuss the men, the tactics and the weapons of this importantperipheral of what, until the events of 1914-18 was known as ‘The Great War’. We arethrilled that Major Gordon Corrigan MBE, a biographer of Wellington’s Military Careerhas agreed to lead this new tour.

Day 1 - Travel from the UK to ourmainstay hotel in Dixsmuide.

Day 2 - Walk 1: Zillebeke to HellfireCorner, starting in Larch WoodCemetery we walk through the villageof Zillebeke following in the footstepsof John Glubb before passing thelocation of China Wall duckboard trackand ending the walk at Hellfire Cornerto here the story of this most infamousspot on the "old front line" Lunch canbe taken in Central Ypres

Walk 2: The Frezenburg Ridge, one ofour favourite walks, from Railway Wood(RE Tunnellers Grave CWGC) we crossto the edge of Franzenburg Ridge, wehead east learning of the 1915 & 1917battles in this area visiting the isolatedPPCLI memorial and ending at theScottish Memorial atop the Ridge

Day 3 - Walk 3: following the 58thLondon Division assault on Poelcapellewe also cover tanks warfare in thesalient, the 29th Division & 63rd RNDassaults in the area eventually ending upback at Varlet Farm. Lunch will be takenat Varlet Farm Walk 4 - The Irish at

Messines - starting at Lone TreeCemetery we follow the 36 UlsterDivision advance on the 7 June 1917,after passing Spanbroekmolen andPeckham Crater we turn our attentionto the 16 Irish Division advance arrivingat Witjschate Cemetery and drive up tothe Irish Peace Tower to end our day.An evening visit to the moving CrestFarm Torchlight Ceremony will be taken

Day 4 - We head into Ypres for theservices and commemorations underthe Menin Gate, after lunch we willhead up to Zonnebeke for the excellentGreat War Book Fair before undertaking our final walk - Walk 5 - Potijze -from Half Moon Trench we see awartime OP before entering the villageand heading east to follow the advancesof July 1917. Tracing Oxford Road wevisit the adjacent cemetery beforeending at the memorial to the 50thNorthumbrian Division

Day 5 - we head back to the UK viathe Neiupoort Memorial for a study ofOperation Strandfest, the Germanattack July 1917

“Just a short note to let you know how much I enjoyed this year's tour. The cold, rain, wind and mud were just theright touch. How did you manage to arrange the right weather? It gave me a new appreciation for what the boyssuffered so long ago and still did thier job in spite of it. I returned to nice balmy San Francisco weather on Saturdaynight. Quite a change from the old front line!” Gloria Mendez – San Francisco, USA

THE SPANISH ULCER - WELLINGTON IN THEPENINSULA 1809 – 1812

This year's tour takes us from The Bluff to St Julian as wefollow five walks to discover the stories and memories ofthe immortal Salient. From the origins of the campaign inDecember 1914 at Gheluvelt through to the muddyNovember fighting in the shadow of the PasschendaeleRidge, this comprehensive small group walking tour is amust of anyone with an interest in the Ypres Salient.

WALKING WIPERS ARMISTICE TOUR



14/19 October *5 night break

Price per person: £890:00 per person sharing or

£110 single supplement inclusive of return

flights and 5 nights’ accommodation

Hotel: *3 B&B throughout

Each traveller will receive a

complimentary signed copy of Gordon’s

book Wellington – A Military Life

PRICE AS LAST YEAR!


8/12 November 2011

Price per person: £539:00 per person sharing

a twin room B&B, £100:00 Single Supplement.

Hotel: *3 Hotel Pax Best Western,

Dixsmuide

NEW

Day One - Fly to Madrid, coach toTalavera, hotel in Talavera, talk ‘ThePeninsula War – the Background’

Day Two - Am: Walk the Battle ofTalavera, 28 July 1809, Wellesley’s firstbattle in Spain

Pm: Travel to Ciudad Rodrigo by coachvia the bridge at Arzobispo, scene ofthe delaying action during thewithdrawal from Talavera on 8 August1809. Hotel in Ciudad Rodrigo (twonights).

Day Three – Am: Walk the Portugueseborder fortress of Almeida, besieged bythe French in 1810.

Pm: Walk the Battle of Fuentes d’Onoro3-5 May 1811, when Wellington stoppedMarshal Massena’s attempt to relieveAlmeida. Overnight in Ciudad Rodrigo.

Day Four - Am: Walk the siege andcapture of Ciudad Rodrigo byWellington 8 – 19 Jan 1812.

Pm: Travel to Salamanca by coach. Freetime in Salamanca. Overnight inSalamanca (two nights)

Day Five - Walk the Battle ofSalamanca, 22 July 1812, the seminalbattle of the war, after which theFrench were always on the back foot.Overnight at Salamanca.

Day Six - Travel to Madrid via theFrench retreat at Alba de Tormes andGarcia Hernandez where the King’sGerman Legion broke a French square.Fly back to UK

Over the last seven years BattleHonours has established aproven track record of providingtours for groups and societiesfrom a variety of backgrounds,the key to this success isflexibility, we plan the tour atevery turn to meet your needsand requirements. Pick-ups,mode of transport, itinerary andtype of accommodation are all inyour control, from one to onetours up to 100 we have theinfrastructure and experience totake the stresses of organisingtours away from you yet deliverthe product you expect withoften a complimentary place fora group leader.

Battle Honours as a UK registeredcompany providing comprehensive,specialist insurance cover for groups;we can facilitate guest lecturers,participation in ceremonies ofremembrance and of courseencourage members of the group tomake additional visits of personalinterest.

In effect we offer a bespoke tourwithout a bespoke price tag, whetheryou are a military unit, school,Western Front Branch, RotaryAssociation, British Legion Branch ora group of like minded friends contactus today to see how we can help youarrange the memorable tour youdeserve.

We understand how 21st century life requires you toplan ahead, with that in mind here are our plans for2012 and whilst the exact routes and itineraries will beconfirmed as the months unfold the dates &destinations will remain the same;

PRIVATE GROUPS & SOCITIES


FOR MOREINFORMATION:

www.battle-honours.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 01438 816661

Battle Honours LtdPO Box 74

Knebworth SG3 6EB

April 8/12 Western Front Walks (Somme & Ypres Walking Tour) New routes and old favourites for 2012

May 6/11 Gallipoli I (Gallipoli Walking Tour) The most comprehensive Gallipoli tour available

May 27/31 Walking Verdun A return to this incredible battlefield with five walks across the ground

June 16/21 The War Underground (Tunnellers on the Western Front) Mike Sheil’s signature tour looking at the tunnelling war

July 8/12 Over there! (St Mihiel Salient & Belleau Wood Tour) *New Tour* A chance to follow in the footsteps of the Doughboys

July 22/27 Tanks! (Somme, Ypres, Cambrai & 1918 armoured actions) A chance to study the evolution of tank warfare on the Western Front

August 4/9 Redcoats to Khaki Our popular annual tour to follow the armies of 1815 & 1914(Waterloo/Mons & Le Cateau Walking Tour)

September 2/6 Raids! (Zeebrugge 1918 & Dieppe 1942 Tour) *New Tour* A detailed study of these two raids in two wars through a series of walks

September 15/21 Gallipoli II (Gallipoli Walking Tour) Our autumn tour to Gallipoli, now in its sixth year

October 7/11 The American Civil War *New Tour* A walking tour of Gettysburg and beyond led by Kirk Drew

November 8/12 Ypres Armistice Tour Our winter walking tour of the Ypres Salient to coincide with the Armistice

Register your interest today – [email protected]

BATTLE HONOURS - 2012 TOUR PROGRAM– A SNEAK PREVIEW.....

Your Commitment to us1. Your Holiday Contract. At the time of asking for

a booking to be made on your behalf you mustcomplete and sign a booking form agreeing toaccept the terms and conditions as set outbelow.

2. Deposits and Payment. No booking can beaccepted unless accompanied by a deposit of£100 per person travelling. Payment of theoutstanding balance is due 6 weeks beforedeparture. Payment of the outstanding balancewill be due without further notice. If the finalbalance is not made by the due date theCompany (Battle Honours Ltd) reserves theright to treat your booking as cancelled and youcould be liable to pay cancellation charges inaccordance with our cancellation scales set outbelow.

3. Prices. Prices set out at the time of bookingmaybe subject to variation.

4. If you change your booking. If you want toalter any of the travel arrangements specifiedon your booking form after paying the depositor full amount, we will do all we can toaccommodate your needs. An alteration fee of£25 per person will be charged for any suchchange to cover administration fees, exceptwithin 8 weeks of departure when the changewill be treated as a cancellation not as analteration.

5. Cancellations. If you wish to cancel your tourafter your booking has been confirmed youmust inform the company in writing as soon aspossible. The date of cancellation is treated asthe date it is received in writing. The companyreserves the right to charge you a cancellationfee based on the following scales.

Notice period Cancellation fee 0-14 days 100% 15-28 days 75% 28-42 days 50% 42-56 days 25 % More than 56 days Deposit.

No refunds for cancellations made on or afterdeparture date can be given.

6. Insurance. It is a condition of all bookings withthe company that adequate Personal travelholiday insurance cover is taken out by allclients. Proof of cover will be required on thebooking forms.

7. Complaints. Naturally we hope and expect thatyour tour with us will not give cause for anydissatisfaction. Should you wish to make acomplaint, please do so in writing to thecompany as soon as possible after the Tour. Anymatter which gives rise to complaint must firstbe raised at the time, to the Company or Hotelconcerned or as soon as practicable after theevent.

8. Your Responsibilities. You and your party musthave valid passports and visas. We are not liablefor any cost or delay incurred by failing to meetthese requirements. You are responsible for thebehaviour of yourself and all your party. Wereserve the right to remove any of the partyfrom the tour at any stage if their behaviour ordemeanour is disruptive , dangerous, orannoying to other travellers or the Company .No refund or payment of any costs incurredwill be made under these circumstances.

Our Commitment to you9. Your Holiday. We will arrange the various

aspects of your tour as confirmed to you.Included items will be as per our brochure andwebsite. Unless stated, this will include travelfrom agreed departure points, hotels on a bedand breakfast basis and scheduled museumentry fees.

10. If we change your Tour. It is unlikely that we willhave to make changes to your holiday but somechanges are occasionally unavoidable. You will beinformed of any major changes as soon aspossible. If the change is major (e.g involves adeparture delay or return of more than 12hours or a change of Hotel to a lesser standard) you will have the choice of the following

A. Accepting the revised arrangements

B. Cancelling. If you choose option B you willbe offered a full refund.

Force majeure. This means we will not pay youany compensation if we have to cancel orchange your tour due to unforeseen andunusual circumstances beyond our controlwhich could not have been avoided. Thisincludes War, riots, terrorist activity, industrialaction , fire, adverse weather conditions andtechnical problems with transport.

11. Travel Timings. Channel crossings and othertravel timings are given as a guide only and aresubject to change by the carrier’s procedures,often at the last minute.

12. Conditions of Carriage. When you travel byRail, sea or Coach the carriers Conditions ofCarriage will apply to your journey.

13. Law and Jurisdiction. The contract between theCompany and the client incorporating ourquotation, these booking conditions and ourbooking confirmation will be governed byEnglish Law and both parties submit to theexclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

BATTLE HONOURS LTD, PO Box 74Knebworth SG3 6TH

Tel - 01438 816661

www.battle-honours.co.ukEmail [email protected]

Documents

Battle Honours Brochure 2011