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Advance to Victory

Following our theme of the 90th anniversary of the Great War, for 2008 we look at the key battles of the last one hundred days of 1918; from the breakout on the Somme on 8th August 1918 to the advance from Arras to Cambrai, the smashing of the Hindenburg Line, and the last battles on the Sambre Canal and at Mons: where the war had started in 1914!

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Holiday Itinerary

5-Day Break

• Day 1 – To northern France for a 4-night stay.
• Day 2 – SECOND BATTLE OF THE SOMME (included). We begin today with the breakout on 8th August 1918; Germany's 'Black Day' of the war, when the German line on the Somme was ruptured signalling the final 100 days of World War 1. We start on the Morlancourt Ridge, where British troops advanced on the high ground north of the Somme, seeing the battlefield cemeteries. We then cross the Somme river to Le Hamel, in the Australian area of advance, also visiting the nearby Australian Cemetery and Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. Lunch is available nearby. In the afternoon we start at Hanguard Wood, and then follow the Canadian advance seeing the graves at Demuin, and the Canadian Memorial at Le Quesnel. At Warvillers we see the grave of Canada's top scoring sniper, and follow the attack between Caix and Rosieres. We end the day at the newly opened Australian Visitors Centre (depending on opening times).B
• Day 3 – ARRAS TO CAMBRAI (included). Today we will follow the advance from Arras to Cambrai, and beyond. At Monchy le Preux we see a small battlefield cemetery started by the Canadians. At Vis-en-Artois we visit the cemetery and memorial to the Missing, which commemorates those who fell during this period of the war and have no known grave. At Dury we see the start of the Canadian attack on Cambrai, and end the morning at Bourlon Wood. Lunch in Cambrai is available, and in the afternoon we look at the story of the Battle of the Selle, seeing the Wellington Cemetery and discover the story of Theodore Hardy VC, the famous army chaplain, examining the Battle for Solesmes. We then look at the crossing of the Selle River and street fighting in NeuvillyB
• Day 4 – SMASHING THE HINDENBERG LINE & MONS (included). We begin our last day looking at the final action on the Hindenburg Line, seeing where the 46th (North Midland) Division took the Riqueval Bridge, and the nearby Joncourt where war poet Wilfred Owen won his Military Cross in October 1918. At Ramicourt we examine the story of the Stretcher Bearer VC, Bill Coltman VC DCM MM, and Montbrehain the final Australian battle of WW1. Lunchtime in Le Cateau, then we visit Ors where Wilfred Owen was killed on 4th November 1918 before travelling up to Mons to take in the last day of the war – 11th November, when Canadian soldiers attacked the city. We see the graves at St. Synphorien and the spot where the last casualty, George Lawrence Price, was killed before going into central Mons.B
• Day 5 – To Calais, then return home.B

B=Breakfast Br=Brunch L=Lunch D=Dinner