Bayeux Commonwealth War
Graves Cemetery Normandy
Graves Cemetery Normandy
First and Second World War Guided Battlefield Tours
Welcome to Empire Battlefield Tours
A Battlefield Tour Guiding Company based in the East of England
Empire Battlefield Tours was set up in 2016 by Mr Steve Roberts MBE.
On leaving the Military, his vision was to provide a personal touch to quality guiding on the battlefields of the First and Second World Wars in France and Belgium.
His focus as a Battlefield Guide is to enable Family Groups, Cadet Forces, Military Force Development (Staff Rides), Military Veteran Groups, Minibus Tours or larger Coach Company Tours, on a Guide only basis to visit the battlefields and understand what happened there.
For Family groups, Steve can dovetail a visit to the grave or memorial where a distant family member is buried or remembered. (Please use the Contact page to request more information on this service).
As a Forces Veteran, Steve provides an experienced perspective on some of the key battles and military engagements of the 20th century. He covers the battles in detail focusing on the devotion to duty, sense of loyalty, honour, comradeship and bravery of men and women at arms.
On tour we walk on the battlefields, visit the cemeteries and link the past with the present, visiting local museums to expand on the understanding. Your guide will help to peel back the modern landscape and build in your mind how the battlefield would have been.
We provide a selection of set tours for the Battlefields of Europe, for both WW1 and WW2, or we can design a bespoke / pilgrimage tour to your specification for your family or your group, incorporating a visit to the resting place or memorial where a distant family member is remembered.
A Battlefield Tour Guiding Company based in the East of England
Empire Battlefield Tours was set up in 2016 by Mr Steve Roberts MBE.
On leaving the Military, his vision was to provide a personal touch to quality guiding on the battlefields of the First and Second World Wars in France and Belgium.
His focus as a Battlefield Guide is to enable Family Groups, Cadet Forces, Military Force Development (Staff Rides), Military Veteran Groups, Minibus Tours or larger Coach Company Tours, on a Guide only basis to visit the battlefields and understand what happened there.
For Family groups, Steve can dovetail a visit to the grave or memorial where a distant family member is buried or remembered. (Please use the Contact page to request more information on this service).
As a Forces Veteran, Steve provides an experienced perspective on some of the key battles and military engagements of the 20th century. He covers the battles in detail focusing on the devotion to duty, sense of loyalty, honour, comradeship and bravery of men and women at arms.
On tour we walk on the battlefields, visit the cemeteries and link the past with the present, visiting local museums to expand on the understanding. Your guide will help to peel back the modern landscape and build in your mind how the battlefield would have been.
We provide a selection of set tours for the Battlefields of Europe, for both WW1 and WW2, or we can design a bespoke / pilgrimage tour to your specification for your family or your group, incorporating a visit to the resting place or memorial where a distant family member is remembered.
About your Guide
Mr Steve Roberts MBE RAF ret'd
Empire Battlefield Tours was founded and is run by Steve Roberts MBE, a retired RAF Warrant Officer with over 38 years of military experience. Steve joined the Royal Air Force in the late 70s and has served on many Operational tours of duty worldwide. His final tour of duty was at RAF Marham in Norfolk, where he currently holds the position of Curator and Archivist at the
RAF Marham Aviation Heritage Centre.
(visit our webpage at marhamahc.org.uk).
Mr Steve Roberts MBE RAF ret'd
Empire Battlefield Tours was founded and is run by Steve Roberts MBE, a retired RAF Warrant Officer with over 38 years of military experience. Steve joined the Royal Air Force in the late 70s and has served on many Operational tours of duty worldwide. His final tour of duty was at RAF Marham in Norfolk, where he currently holds the position of Curator and Archivist at the
RAF Marham Aviation Heritage Centre.
(visit our webpage at marhamahc.org.uk).
Whilst in the military, Steve designed and led many military pilgrimages and educational battlefield tours.
On leaving the military, he decided to utilise his extensive experience in guiding, research and presentation to deliver quality battlefield tours. He is confident that each of the Set or Bespoke / Pilgrimage tours will deliver a first class service and battlefield experience, '' it is important to me that the people who come with me on tour are happy with the standard of service provided, I take great pride in the level of preparation, research and detail which goes into each and every tour. The itinerary can be adjusted or amended so you can spend private time at a graveside, memorial or even a museum if required.''
Steve has a level 3 award in Education and Training so managing battlefield lessons to fit the National curriculum would not be a problem should school education visits or cadet forces to the Battlefields be required, he has also recently led Force Development Battlefield visits for the Military and is able to design and deliver Military Force Development Training.
On leaving the military, he decided to utilise his extensive experience in guiding, research and presentation to deliver quality battlefield tours. He is confident that each of the Set or Bespoke / Pilgrimage tours will deliver a first class service and battlefield experience, '' it is important to me that the people who come with me on tour are happy with the standard of service provided, I take great pride in the level of preparation, research and detail which goes into each and every tour. The itinerary can be adjusted or amended so you can spend private time at a graveside, memorial or even a museum if required.''
Steve has a level 3 award in Education and Training so managing battlefield lessons to fit the National curriculum would not be a problem should school education visits or cadet forces to the Battlefields be required, he has also recently led Force Development Battlefield visits for the Military and is able to design and deliver Military Force Development Training.
The Thiepval Memorial to the Missing on the Somme Battlefield
Testimonials -
Mr W of Norfolk - My Grandfather was an officer with the Civil Service Rifles and was taken as a prisoner of war at the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. I combined a tour of the Cambrai Tank battle of 1917 with a pilgrimage to see where my Grandfather fought. Steve put me on the battlefield at the exact location and explained the battle which took place which resulted in his capture. I highly recommend a tour with Steve and Empire, a very emotional tour with excellent knowledge and preparation - Thank you.
Mr B of Norfolk - My Great Uncle was injured a few days before the end of the war. He was injured during an attack by the 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment on the Sambre Canal and he died of his wounds. Steve took me to his graveside and then to the battlefield, where we walked the battle on exactly the same route the Infantry took that fateful morning nearly 100 years ago. I can't thank Steve enough for the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of heroes. I would certainly recommend a tour with Empire and will be signing up for another one soon.
Miss W of Norfolk - Lance Corporal Edmund High of the 8th Service Battalion the Bedfordshire Regiment was my Great Uncle. He was badly wounded in action in the northern Loos sector. Steve took me to the battlefield, then to the Advanced Dressing Station (St Mary's Advanced Dressing Station, now a Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery), where Edmund was probably treated before being moved back to a hospital in St Omer. Sadly he died of his wounds and is buried in St Omer. We followed the route back to St Omer and visited his grave. An absolutely amazing pilgrimage, to see where Edmund fought and to visit his graveside was a truly humbling experience. Thanks to Steve and his attention to detail we were in St Omer 100 years to the day that Gt Uncle Edmund died. Thank you Steve those are treasured memories.
Mr W of Norfolk - My Grandfather was an officer with the Civil Service Rifles and was taken as a prisoner of war at the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. I combined a tour of the Cambrai Tank battle of 1917 with a pilgrimage to see where my Grandfather fought. Steve put me on the battlefield at the exact location and explained the battle which took place which resulted in his capture. I highly recommend a tour with Steve and Empire, a very emotional tour with excellent knowledge and preparation - Thank you.
Mr B of Norfolk - My Great Uncle was injured a few days before the end of the war. He was injured during an attack by the 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment on the Sambre Canal and he died of his wounds. Steve took me to his graveside and then to the battlefield, where we walked the battle on exactly the same route the Infantry took that fateful morning nearly 100 years ago. I can't thank Steve enough for the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of heroes. I would certainly recommend a tour with Empire and will be signing up for another one soon.
Miss W of Norfolk - Lance Corporal Edmund High of the 8th Service Battalion the Bedfordshire Regiment was my Great Uncle. He was badly wounded in action in the northern Loos sector. Steve took me to the battlefield, then to the Advanced Dressing Station (St Mary's Advanced Dressing Station, now a Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery), where Edmund was probably treated before being moved back to a hospital in St Omer. Sadly he died of his wounds and is buried in St Omer. We followed the route back to St Omer and visited his grave. An absolutely amazing pilgrimage, to see where Edmund fought and to visit his graveside was a truly humbling experience. Thanks to Steve and his attention to detail we were in St Omer 100 years to the day that Gt Uncle Edmund died. Thank you Steve those are treasured memories.
Please read the Terms and Conditions T&C's and About and How to Book Information pages - there you will find all the information you will need to enable you to have a fulfilling and memorable tour, this includes your Health and Well-being whilst on tour, a suggested kit list and Booking and Contact Information.
