ANZACS on the Western Front – Dawn Ceremony
| Resort: | ANZACS on the Western Front - Dawn Ceremony |
| Operator: | |
| Destination: | Australia & The Pacific, Europe, France |
| Price From: | £1269.00 |
OverviewThe Australian War Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux commemorates the battle of 24-25 April 1918, during which Australian and Commonwealth Soldiers liberated the town. In front of it lie the graves of thousands of Commonwealth soldiers – including over 770 Australians. Since 2008, the memorial has been the site of the special ANZAC Day service. Join us as we experience this unique event on our six-day ANZAC tour, departing 24 April 2020 – and join fellow countrymen and local townspeople in remembering those who fought during the Great War at one its most poignant sites. Inclusions
ItineraryDay 1 Lille – Villers Bretonneux – AmiensThe first day of our tour will take us from Lille to Villers-Bretonneux: the home of the National War Memorial. Well visit the Franco-Australian Museum and the Sir John Monash Centre before shifting our focus to the last year of the war 1918 with a visit to Le Hamel, the site of the successful 4 July attack. Then, its onwards to Amiens where a welcome dinner awaits. Day 2 Amiens – Anzac Ceremony – AmiensAfter an early start, well leave the hotel and make our way to the ANZAC Day Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux. The service will be an unforgettable and emotive experience, which well share both with locals and with fellow Australians and New Zealanders who have journeyed here to pay tribute to the brave ANZAC soldiers who fought for the town. The rest of the day will be yours to spend at your leisure. Day 3 Amiens – The Somme – AmiensThe Somme still captivates the soul and its here that the ANZACs first saw major action in 1916. Today well visit Pozires and Mouquet Farm (sites that were especially important for Australian soldiers), as well as Longueval and Flers which were similarly significant to the Kiwis. Before we reminisce on our tour at this evenings farewell dinner, well also take some time to remember the colossal loss experienced by Great Britain, with a visit to the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. Day 4 Amiens – YpresTodays first stop? Fromelles, the site of the disastrous attack of 19 July 1916 where well pay a poignant visit Pheasant Wood Cemetery and the new exhibition nearby. Then: well move on to the Wellington Quarries, where New Zealand engineers dug tunnels to the Front as part of the preparations for the Battle of Arras. Well remember Australias role in this battle at Bullecourt with a stop at the Digger Memorial later this afternoon. And this evening? Well have the privilege of attending the playing of the Last Post under the iconic Menin Gate. Day 5 YpresAfter this mornings breakfast, well continue to delve into the moving stories of the West Flanders Front with an included visit to the In Flanders Fields Museum a unique institution that commemorates the four-year trench war and conveys a contemporary message of peace. Then: youll have some free time to spend as you please in Ypres before we come back together for tonights farewell dinner. Day 6 Ypres – LilleWell have plenty of time to visit the shell-scarred Hill 60 and fascinating Hooge Crater Museum this morning. After walking in the footsteps of WWI soldiers at the Passchendaele battlefields (where allied forces fought to break the German line in 1917), well pay our respects at Polygon Wood and Tyne Cot Military Cemetery. After that, well return to Lille where well say goodbye. |
