This might well be sub-titled "Forgotten Victories."
The outline.
Dates; late June, or early July. To be confirmed.
Accommodation, camping, two bases, three/four nights at each.
Landing at Calais (tunnel) around mid-day, the tour will start by a gentle bimble via Agincourt to the first base, Biory-Notre-Dame, just East of Arras.
The itinerary of the first day will be to visit Mons and cover the first action of the BEF in August 1914.
We will start after breakfast by heading East to Le Cateau, via Cambrai. A short stop to look at the Chateau that served as BEF HQ and then we will turn North, following the route that I & II Corps followed to Mons. This will take us past the monument to the battle of Malplaquet as it did the BEF in 1914.
First stop is the point on the N6 outside SHAPE HQ where the first shots were exchanged between German and British forces.
Then its return to Mons and the Quai des Anglais. Here we will visit the place where the first two VC's of the Great War were won.
From Quai des Anglais, we move on to St Symphorien CWGC cemetery. Here we will see the graves of German and British dead in the same place. Also here are the the first British fatality of the conflict, the first VC and the last British fatality of that war.
Moving West of Mons, we will do some riding along tracks to access the remains of the trench line where the Norfolk and Cheshire Regiments stood and fought an action to protect the BEF left flank, then on to the local cemetery that holds the remains of many Cheshires (who never got the order to withdraw and fought to a standstill).
We will then head back towards Le Cateau, along the roads taken by the BEF in the Retreat from Mons. Here we can ride down the 'Sunken Road,' central to the battle of Le Cateau where the BEF turned and stopped the German advance long enough to prevent the retreat turning into rout.
Back to the campsite.
Next day: we will visit Arras and Vimy Ridge. Here we will visit the Canadian Memorial.
including the preserved trenches.
Then more of the locations that make up the Battle of Arras 1917.
There are many small out of the way CWGC cemeteries, some of these are in old trenches or craters. Often their locations mean that they are not visited and a GS is the best means of doing so.
This day takes us in a loop away from the campsite and then back following the battle (the campsite location was just behind the German lines).
Possible third day in the area depending on how much time people have).
Leaving Boiry, we will loop South to visit Lochnagar Crater and Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme.
From here we will head North to Ypers (Iepr).
There is a campsite within the town that I want to use this year. We were unable to use it last year because of a music festival but the owners have said that they will welcome our party. If that isn't possible or if the site isn't very good, there is a fall back one outside the town that we used last year. It would be preferable to be within walking distance of the facilities in Ypres if possible.
First day here we turn back South into France to visit the Battle of Neuve-Chapelle 1915. This is a location I have visited only once so far, so it will be bit of an exploration for all.
There is possibly less to find here than I hope, so the day may be flexible.
If it doesn't take up the whole day, we can find plenty to see in the area.
Next day we will visit Hill 61, the privately owned museum and "preserved trenches" of Sanctuary Wood will be available to those who wish to see them.
We will visit Polygon Wood.
At some stage in Ypres, we will visit the re-built Cloth Hall, that contains the excellent "In Flanders Fields" exhibition.
The final full day will include a visit to Tynecott CWGC Cemetery. This will take up at least the morning (bring a clean hankie or tissues, the visitor centre is very moving).
On the last evening we will attend the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate.
(More tissues).
Next day, split-up or return to Calais as the case may be.
We are looking at 6 or 7 nights.
At most locations I will give some background and detail of the events, trying to put things into context.
At present there are three of us intending to return this year. I wouldn't really want a group much bigger than six to eight bikes as keeping together can be a problem in a larger group.
TKC's are not essential but could be beneficial depending on the state of some of the tracks. Bear in mind that much of this is the Somme Region and Passchendaele (current spelling) are both notable for their mud!
Some tracks that we will venture down are in fact trenches from the war that have become 'tracks.' None of it is hard-core off-road stuff but the beauty of a GS is that we can get to these places whereas most visitors would have to park and walk some distance.
If you are interested, pencil in the last week in June, first in July as possible dates and I will be confirming later.
Anyone who has a relative with a known burial, if it is in range we will visit. If you have names of those who were listed as missing, we may be able to find their names on the Theipval Memorial, the walls of Tynecott or The Menin Gate.
Given some basic information, I may be able to find the record for you if you don't know how to do it, before the trip starts.
The outline.
Dates; late June, or early July. To be confirmed.
Accommodation, camping, two bases, three/four nights at each.
Landing at Calais (tunnel) around mid-day, the tour will start by a gentle bimble via Agincourt to the first base, Biory-Notre-Dame, just East of Arras.
The itinerary of the first day will be to visit Mons and cover the first action of the BEF in August 1914.
We will start after breakfast by heading East to Le Cateau, via Cambrai. A short stop to look at the Chateau that served as BEF HQ and then we will turn North, following the route that I & II Corps followed to Mons. This will take us past the monument to the battle of Malplaquet as it did the BEF in 1914.
First stop is the point on the N6 outside SHAPE HQ where the first shots were exchanged between German and British forces.
Then its return to Mons and the Quai des Anglais. Here we will visit the place where the first two VC's of the Great War were won.
From Quai des Anglais, we move on to St Symphorien CWGC cemetery. Here we will see the graves of German and British dead in the same place. Also here are the the first British fatality of the conflict, the first VC and the last British fatality of that war.
Moving West of Mons, we will do some riding along tracks to access the remains of the trench line where the Norfolk and Cheshire Regiments stood and fought an action to protect the BEF left flank, then on to the local cemetery that holds the remains of many Cheshires (who never got the order to withdraw and fought to a standstill).
We will then head back towards Le Cateau, along the roads taken by the BEF in the Retreat from Mons. Here we can ride down the 'Sunken Road,' central to the battle of Le Cateau where the BEF turned and stopped the German advance long enough to prevent the retreat turning into rout.
Back to the campsite.
Next day: we will visit Arras and Vimy Ridge. Here we will visit the Canadian Memorial.
including the preserved trenches.
Then more of the locations that make up the Battle of Arras 1917.
There are many small out of the way CWGC cemeteries, some of these are in old trenches or craters. Often their locations mean that they are not visited and a GS is the best means of doing so.
This day takes us in a loop away from the campsite and then back following the battle (the campsite location was just behind the German lines).
Possible third day in the area depending on how much time people have).
Leaving Boiry, we will loop South to visit Lochnagar Crater and Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme.
From here we will head North to Ypers (Iepr).
There is a campsite within the town that I want to use this year. We were unable to use it last year because of a music festival but the owners have said that they will welcome our party. If that isn't possible or if the site isn't very good, there is a fall back one outside the town that we used last year. It would be preferable to be within walking distance of the facilities in Ypres if possible.
First day here we turn back South into France to visit the Battle of Neuve-Chapelle 1915. This is a location I have visited only once so far, so it will be bit of an exploration for all.
There is possibly less to find here than I hope, so the day may be flexible.
If it doesn't take up the whole day, we can find plenty to see in the area.
Next day we will visit Hill 61, the privately owned museum and "preserved trenches" of Sanctuary Wood will be available to those who wish to see them.
We will visit Polygon Wood.
At some stage in Ypres, we will visit the re-built Cloth Hall, that contains the excellent "In Flanders Fields" exhibition.
The final full day will include a visit to Tynecott CWGC Cemetery. This will take up at least the morning (bring a clean hankie or tissues, the visitor centre is very moving).
On the last evening we will attend the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate.
(More tissues).
Next day, split-up or return to Calais as the case may be.
We are looking at 6 or 7 nights.
At most locations I will give some background and detail of the events, trying to put things into context.
At present there are three of us intending to return this year. I wouldn't really want a group much bigger than six to eight bikes as keeping together can be a problem in a larger group.
TKC's are not essential but could be beneficial depending on the state of some of the tracks. Bear in mind that much of this is the Somme Region and Passchendaele (current spelling) are both notable for their mud!
Some tracks that we will venture down are in fact trenches from the war that have become 'tracks.' None of it is hard-core off-road stuff but the beauty of a GS is that we can get to these places whereas most visitors would have to park and walk some distance.
If you are interested, pencil in the last week in June, first in July as possible dates and I will be confirming later.
Anyone who has a relative with a known burial, if it is in range we will visit. If you have names of those who were listed as missing, we may be able to find their names on the Theipval Memorial, the walls of Tynecott or The Menin Gate.
Given some basic information, I may be able to find the record for you if you don't know how to do it, before the trip starts.