PROFESSOR RICHARD HOLMES MEMORIAL TOUR

 

8^TH TO 12^TH AUGUST 2011

Late last year our Chairman Tony Higton was invited to join a Western Front Battlefield Tour, which was being organised by Mr. Tony Hoffman the CEO of the Insideout Management Group of Companies, and Professor Richard Holmes CBE the eminent military historian.

Sadly Richard passed away last April, and Tony Hoffman approached our chairman and asked him if he would care to help by drawing up the itinery based on Richards suggestions, and naturally Tony was honoured to be asked, and accepted.

The 5 day itinery was duly put together by Tony who suddenly inherited the rank of Sergeant Major, and it was discussed with Tony Hoffman (our Colonel) who agreed to the itinery. This was then put to Mr. Trevor Sharpe the owner of Sharpes Coaches who also agreed to the program and routeing; he also agreed to drive the Luxury Club Class coach for this special tour, and what a super coach it was.

So on Monday 8^th August the party set off from Nottingham at 06:30 for our lunch time sailing from Dover to Calais. Both the Colonel and the Sgt/Maj. gave a small talk on the way to Dover, with a warning about the Iron Harvest being emphasised by both of them. Once across the channel, we had a request to visit the Dozinghem CWGC Cemetery as one of the party wanted to locate a family friend, and this we duly did, followed by a visit to Brandhoek New Military CWGC Cemetery to visit Captain Noel Chavasse a double VC holder, the next stop was the Ariane hotel in Ypres. Monday evening proved very interesting after a couple of beers and a good meal, discussions about the coming week being prevalent, and every one looking forward to what was to come.

Tuesday 9^th

First thing in the morning the Sgt/Maj. could be seen planning the days route with Trevor while the troops assembled ready for the off.  We departed the Ariane at 9:15 am in our luxury coach, our first stop being Essex Farm and the advanced dressing station where Lieutenant John McRae served (later Colonel), and while there he wrote the famous poem in Flanders Fields, also at this location was the immaculate Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery with Thomas Barratt VC and Valentine Strudwick a 15 year old soldier.

                                                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Essex Farm     

We then moved on travelling north passing the new industrial estate, where the Sgt/Maj.  explained about the Diggers and their work preserving artefacts, trenches, and recovering soldiers, prior to the builders constructing the new buildings. Moving on we then visited the site of Sgt Robert Bye’s VC action, and then on to Langemark German Cemetery, which is a sombre place with a massed grave of 24,000 German Soldiers.

Our next point of call was to be Tyne Cot Cemetery and on our journey there we passed Vancouver Corner where the memorial to Canadian soldiers who were gassed in the second battle of Ypres is located.  On the way to Tyne Cot the Sgt/Maj. gave a brief explanation about the cemetery and the memorial. Once there he directed everyone to the visitor centre before going into the cemetery.

 

 

                                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Views of Tyne Cot Cemetery

From Tyne Cot we visited the Geluveld Chateau, with the Sgt/Maj. taking everyone to the gates of the Chateau, and explaining about the Worcester Regiments counter attack on 31st October 1914. By this time most of the troops were ready for a coffee, and so we made our way to Hooge for lunch at the cafe, after a bite to eat our colonel arranged for a visit to the museum at the cafe, while some joined the Sgt/Maj. in the Hooge Crater Cemetery, and visited Patrick Bugden VC.

Soon it was time to be on our way, and we set off down the Menin Road to Hellfire Corner, then to Zillbeke, passing the aristocrats cemetery and on to our next stop which was the infamous Hill 60, we spent 30 minutes walking Hill 60 in quiet contemplation of what took place here, but I must say it was very sad to see a building being constructed across the road from Hill 60, which is totally inappropriate in this very special place.

Again it was time to move on heading for the Messines Church, as we travelled to the church the Sgt/Maj. pointed out the number of cemeteries in the area indicative of the fighting which took place in this area. Once at the Messines Church, the Sgt/Maj. explained about how the church crypt had been used as an advanced dressing station by both German and British troops in their turn, and more especially how it had been used by wounded corporal named Adolph Hitler in the Great War, it was also the site of Samuel Frickleton VC action.

Once everyone had visited the church we then moved on to the Spanbroekmolen mine crater, now called the Peace Pool, and across the road the Lone Tree CWGC Cemetery where many of the soldiers in there were caught up in the blast from the mine as it was late being detonated.

Our last stop of the day was at Bedford House CWGC Cemetery, a must on any trip to the Salient, and contains the grave of Rupert Price Hallowes VC.

                           

                                                                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bedford House Cemetery

 

 

It was then time to return to the Ariane Hotel and prepare for the evening wreath laying at the Menin Gate.  It was 7:30 pm as we all arrived at the Menin Gate, and those of us laying wreaths reported to the Last Post Association Secretary who happened to be a chap named Jacky Plateuw, an old friend of the Sgt/Maj. and after a very warm welcome by Jacky  he was introduced to the rest of the party.

 

The highlight of the week for me as Chairman of the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Victoria Cross Committee was to have the honour of laying a wreath with my wife Mavis, on the behalf of our committee at the Menin Gate in remembrance of all of the fallen, it was an emotional event for all of us including another member of our party who had a tear in his eye

The Last Post was blown and a single piper played Amazing Grace, it was truly an evening I will never forget, I only wished that the rest of our committee who work so hard could there and share the moment.

 

 

                                         

                                                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The Wreath Laying Ceremony

 

 It was then back to the hotel, a bite to eat, and a couple of beers, and to talk about the days events, along with what was to come the following day.

Wednesday 10^th

Up bright and early, the Sgt/Maj could be seen at our coach with Trevor running through the route for the day, the troops formed up at 09:15 and off we went, making our way to Arras, but with so much of interest to see on the way.  Our first stop being Hyde Park Corner and the Plugsteert Memorial, here we stayed for 15 minutes before heading through the village of Plugsteert, Armentieres, and on to Fromelles to visit the New Pheasant Wood CWGC Cemetery, where the Sgt/Maj. explained about how the new cemetery had come into being.

We then travelled along the Auber’s Ridge, and into Neuve Chapelle with information being given on the corresponding battles which took place there as we made our way to the Indian Memorial at Neuve Chapelle for our next stop.

 

                                                                   

                                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Indian Memorial at Neuve Chapelle

From the Indian Memorial, we made our way to the new memorial to William Hackett VC at Givenchy La Basse, this place is close to the hearts of the N&NVCC as we gave financial support to the project, and also attended the Service of Dedication. Again an explanation of the work carried out by Peter Barton and his team was given, as well as the William Hackett citation being read out. After a 30 minute stop we set off to the Loos battlefields.

A brief explanation of the battle of Loos was given as we drove through the battlefield, with the Hohenzollern Redoubt being pointed out, we passed the St. Marys ADS Cemetery, where we touched on the story of Rudyard Kipling’s son John a lieutenant in the Irish Guards, who is buried in this cemetery.

Our next stop was the Dud Corner CWGC Cemetery with 2 towers at the front end of the cemetery offering superb views across the Loos Battlefield, here we had another 30 min Break, before making our way to the Grand Place at Bethune for lunch.

After Lunch we made our way to Vimy Ridge, firstly stopping at the memorial which has recently been refurbished by the Canadian Government. The importance of this position being captured by the Canadian Divisions during the battle of Arras is self evident, with the extensive views over the Douai plains, and as the previous day we were blessed with a beautiful day with the views from the escarpment being quite spectacular. We then made our way down to the main car park near the visitor centre, and we walked the preserved trench lines. Unfortunately we were unable to visit the tunnels as the tours were fully booked up. Soon it was time to make our way to the Mecure Hotel in Arras for our 2 night stay.

                                                                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vimy Ridge Memorial

                                   

Once checked in to the hotel most of the troops made their way into the Arras Grand Place where there were plenty of restaurants to choose from, and it was evident by the end of the evening all had been well fed and watered.

 

 

Thursday 11^th

Another full day in prospect, with the Sgt/Maj. again sorting the route out with Trevor, this time a circular route around the Somme Battlefield was the order of the day.  The troops were all again prompt for the 09:15 start.

We set of for our tour of the day with an explanation of the reasons for the battle of the Somme being given. Our first stop of the day was at Gommecourt with the troops being shown the lay of the land and where our local 46^th North Midland Division made a diversionary attack with the 56^th London Division, to nip out the Gommecourt Salient, sadly this action turned out to be a failure.

Our next stop was at the Serre Road No 1 CWGC Cemetery, where the troops made the short walk to where the pals battalions made their attack from the Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John Copses on the 1^st July, an explanation of what took place there was given, and then everyone had time to contemplate the very sad events that happened there, and to walk around Sheffield Park, also they could visit the CWGC Cemeteries there.  Soon it was time to make our way back to the bus so that we could continue with our tour. Next we travelled to the site of the Hawthorn Crater, and the sunken road, and again an explanation took place of what had happened there. Several of the troops wished to go up to the Hawthorn Crater, and so the Sgt/Maj. took the troops up to the lip of the crater reminding everyone of the iron harvest.

Soon we were on our way again this time to the Newfoundland Park, where we had a stop for 75 minutes; this is a must for anyone visiting the Somme Battlefields for the first time.   Some of the troops decided to do their own tour, visiting the 3 Cemeteries within the Park, i.e. Y Ravine, Hunters, and Hawthorn Ridge No 2, along with the 51^st Division HLI Memorial. Some of the troops taking advantage of the Canadian guides who were on hand. All to soon it was time to move on to the Ulster Tower and our lunch break.

                                                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Caribou at Newfoundland Park    

                             

We arrived at the Ulster Tower on time at 1:15pm and were welcomed by Phoebe and Teddy who had our packed lunches ready, it is always a pleasure to visit them at the Tower, it was a shame we did not have the time to do one of Teddy’s tours of Thiepval Woods.

After lunch we moved on to the Thiepval Memorial, the largest British War memorial in the world, with about 75,000 names of the missing being recorded there.  Another highlight awaited us as we all gathered around the War stone as another wreath was laid on behalf of the Band of Brothers and our mentor Professor Richard Holmes, to the missing.  We then made our way back to the visitor centre and then back to our coach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thiepval Memorial

Once all the troops were on board we set off, passing Moquet Farm, where thousands of Australian soldiers died fighting, and then through Pozieries, where an explanation of the fighting which took place there was given, and various points of interest pointed out, soon we were at the Lochnagar Crater the world’s largest man made crater made in anger, and again the lay of the land was explained and the direction in which troops attacked.

As time was marching on and our next stop Delville Wood being some distance away we set off, driving through Contalmaison, Mametz, Montabaun, all famous names associated with the Somme Battlefields, we next stopped at Guillemont Road Cemetery for 10 minutes to visit the grave of Raymond Asquith, the son of our Prime Minister of the day.  Moving on we drove through Guillemont and on to Delville Wood, sadly the cafe was closed, this happens all to often nowadays.

So our troops made their way to the Delville Wood South African Museum, which is indeed very impressive and really is worth visiting, after the museum the only original remaining tree in Delville Wood was visited, and finally we made our way to the CWGC Cemetery, where among the thousands buried there lies Sgt. Albert Gill VC and Private Clarke aged 16 of the Sherwood Foresters.                                                                                         

It was now late afternoon and we made our way through Flers, and again an explanation was given about what took place there, and finally we passed the Butte De Warlencourt, which is as far as the front line in the Battle of the Somme reached, and now it was time to make our way back to the hotel.

Our colonel and his wife Linda, with Joy, Trevors wife had organised a last night’s meal at the hotel and what a meal and night it turned out to be, with our colonel giving one of his now famous speeches, it was indeed a night to remember.

Friday 12^th

Our last day began the same as the first with our Sgt/Maj. sorting the route with Trevor for making our way back via various points of interest. Our first stop was to be Doullens and the Town Hall where a most famous meeting took place in the “Salle Du Commandement Unique” which gave the French General Foch the Command of all allied forces on 26^th March 1918, and ultimately led to the German defeat.

                                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 A window depicting the meeting on 26^th March 1918

                 

Our final stop of the tour was St Pol and the British Military Cemetery, we then moved into the town for lunch, with some of our troops loading up with the local wines.

It was sadly then times to make our way back to the docks for our afternoon sailing.

During the tour a competition had been set with a lot of the answers to the questions being given within the various explanations given as the tour progressed. The winner of the Competition was Andrea, with Mike coming in a close second, well done to both.

The colonel made a few closing remarks to the troops as we returned to blighty, and presented the Sgt/Maj. and Mavis with a bottle of champagne and a box of chocolates.

We must also thank Trevor Sharpe whos luxury coach was superb and only complimented his excellent driving, also Linda and Joy who looked after the troops in a magnificent way by keeping the tea and coffee flowing.

Last but not least we all owe a debt of thanks to our Colonel Tony Hoffman, who really took some stick.  Roll on next year and our next venture.