World War One
The Battle of Cambrai 1917 - 3 Day / 2 Nights B&B
Suggested 2 /3* Hotel in the Arras Area
Overview
This rarely visited but very important battlefield is really worth the effort. The smashing of the Hindenburg line in those first few days of the Battle in 1917 is expanded upon as we follow the actions of the 62nd West Riding Division and the 51st Highland Division.
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1 - Travel from the UK on the Euro-Tunnel Le Shuttle to Calais then onward to Arras.
On arrival in Arras we will book into our hotel, then take the short drive to the Arras Allied Air Services memorial and CWGC Cemetery (DL1) (DL1 = Difficulty Level 1, please see the Health and Well being section on the T&C's page where Difficulty Levels are explained), where your guide will explain the history behind the Commonwealth War Graves Commission the architecture and layout of the CWGC Cemeteries and explain how to find a casualty in a cemetery. He will then lead you through the cemetery pointing out some of the names on the Allied Air Services Memorial (DL1) to the missing and brief you on Major Mick Mannock V.C. We then drive back through the town to the hotel. Then some time to relax before either joining your guide for dinner in one of the many excellent restaurants in Arras or if you would prefer you can have private time to explore Arras.
Day 2 - After Breakfast we journey the short distance to Havrincourt. At Havrincourt we view the Havrincourt Chateau and visit the 62nd West Riding Division memorial, then a short walk to the Grand Ravine CWG Cemetery and the ridge line above (DL2) where your guide will explain the battle and orientate you to the battlefield. For this tour we follow the 62nd West Riding Division and the 51st Highland Division through the battle. From Havrincourt we travel to the New Zealanders bridge over the Canal du Nord and then to Sanders Keep CWG Cemetery. From there and after a break for lunch, we move to the village of Flesquieres where the 51st Highland Division advanced with Tanks. We visit the Tank Memorial and the Flesquieres CWG Cemetery. There is a British Tank Mk IV D51 called Debhorah which was knocked out during the fighting for Flesquieres. Until recently she was housed in a barn in the village, she has been given a new home next to the Flesquieres CWG Cemetery where some of her crew are buried. We then drive the route from Flesquieres towards the village of Fontaine Notre Dame the objective for the 51st Highland Division. We then return to our hotel in Arras to relax before either joining your guide for dinner in one of the many excellent restaurants in Arras or if you would prefer you can have private time to explore.
Day 3 - After Breakfast we check out of our hotel and journey to rejoin the 62nd West Riding Division advance during the opening stages of the battle of Cambrai, we start at Lock 7 over the Canal du Nord then make our way to Graincourt stopping at significant locations through the battle. We end up at Anneux in the lee of Bourlon Wood where we discuss the closing stages of the battle and the effects of the German counter-attack. We then visit the Canadian memorial of 1918 in Bourlon Village and discuss the final battles of WWI in this area. From Bourlon we visit the Louverval CWG Cemetery and memorial to the missing from the Battle of Cambrai (DL1). We also pay respects at the Vis en Artois CWG Cemetery where the fallen from the later battles of 1918 are remembered (DL1). We then turn for home and make our way to Calais for the journey home.
A fantastic tour to a rarely visited battlefield.
With this tour, you should be prepared to be out on the battlefields all day.
Suggested Accommodation -
Hotel Mercure Arras Centre Gare
Overview
This rarely visited but very important battlefield is really worth the effort. The smashing of the Hindenburg line in those first few days of the Battle in 1917 is expanded upon as we follow the actions of the 62nd West Riding Division and the 51st Highland Division.
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1 - Travel from the UK on the Euro-Tunnel Le Shuttle to Calais then onward to Arras.
On arrival in Arras we will book into our hotel, then take the short drive to the Arras Allied Air Services memorial and CWGC Cemetery (DL1) (DL1 = Difficulty Level 1, please see the Health and Well being section on the T&C's page where Difficulty Levels are explained), where your guide will explain the history behind the Commonwealth War Graves Commission the architecture and layout of the CWGC Cemeteries and explain how to find a casualty in a cemetery. He will then lead you through the cemetery pointing out some of the names on the Allied Air Services Memorial (DL1) to the missing and brief you on Major Mick Mannock V.C. We then drive back through the town to the hotel. Then some time to relax before either joining your guide for dinner in one of the many excellent restaurants in Arras or if you would prefer you can have private time to explore Arras.
Day 2 - After Breakfast we journey the short distance to Havrincourt. At Havrincourt we view the Havrincourt Chateau and visit the 62nd West Riding Division memorial, then a short walk to the Grand Ravine CWG Cemetery and the ridge line above (DL2) where your guide will explain the battle and orientate you to the battlefield. For this tour we follow the 62nd West Riding Division and the 51st Highland Division through the battle. From Havrincourt we travel to the New Zealanders bridge over the Canal du Nord and then to Sanders Keep CWG Cemetery. From there and after a break for lunch, we move to the village of Flesquieres where the 51st Highland Division advanced with Tanks. We visit the Tank Memorial and the Flesquieres CWG Cemetery. There is a British Tank Mk IV D51 called Debhorah which was knocked out during the fighting for Flesquieres. Until recently she was housed in a barn in the village, she has been given a new home next to the Flesquieres CWG Cemetery where some of her crew are buried. We then drive the route from Flesquieres towards the village of Fontaine Notre Dame the objective for the 51st Highland Division. We then return to our hotel in Arras to relax before either joining your guide for dinner in one of the many excellent restaurants in Arras or if you would prefer you can have private time to explore.
Day 3 - After Breakfast we check out of our hotel and journey to rejoin the 62nd West Riding Division advance during the opening stages of the battle of Cambrai, we start at Lock 7 over the Canal du Nord then make our way to Graincourt stopping at significant locations through the battle. We end up at Anneux in the lee of Bourlon Wood where we discuss the closing stages of the battle and the effects of the German counter-attack. We then visit the Canadian memorial of 1918 in Bourlon Village and discuss the final battles of WWI in this area. From Bourlon we visit the Louverval CWG Cemetery and memorial to the missing from the Battle of Cambrai (DL1). We also pay respects at the Vis en Artois CWG Cemetery where the fallen from the later battles of 1918 are remembered (DL1). We then turn for home and make our way to Calais for the journey home.
A fantastic tour to a rarely visited battlefield.
With this tour, you should be prepared to be out on the battlefields all day.
Suggested Accommodation -
Hotel Mercure Arras Centre Gare
Tank Memorial on Flesquieres Ridge
