IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MONMOUTHSHIRES AND GWENTS A FOUR DAY (3 NIGHTS) TRIP TO THE GREAT WAR BATTLEFIELDS OF FRANCE AND TAKING IN SITES OF SIGNIFICANCE TO THE MONMOUTHSHIRE AND THE 1ST AND 2ND GWENTS.

THURSDAY 7TH MAY-SUNDAY 10TH MAY 2015

Thursday 7th May *Early morning departure to catch 12.50 Shuttle from Folkestone to Calais. *13.25: Arrive Calais; travel to Lille via Vimy Ridge (captured by Canadians 1917); Newport and Chepstow trenches dug by 1st Monmouthshires 1916. *18.00: Arrive at 4* Mercure Hotel Lille. *19.00: Coach departs for Lille city centre (restaurants etc).

Friday 8TH May (CENTENARY OF THE DAY ON WHICH THE 1ST AND 3RD MONMOUTHSHIRES WERE DECIMATED DURING THE ) Extended tour of Ypres Salient, including: 1st Mons memorial at Frezenberg (wreath laying); Passchendaele Trench Museum, Zonnebeke; Pilkem Ridge (1st Gwents 1917); Flanders Fields Museum Ypres; St George’s Chapel Ypres (stain glass window dedicated to the 1st Mons), visit hosted by the chaplain, Rev Brian Llewellyn; Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate Ypres; wreath laying in memory of Monmouthshires.

Saturday 9th May Tour of the Somme battlefield, including: Mametz Wood (1st/2nd Gwents 1916); ‘Red Dragon’ memorial; Thiepval memorial to the missing of the Somme; Albert –the town of the leaning virgin; Beaumont Hamel (3rd Monmouthshires 1916); Gommecourt (1st Monmouthshires 1916).

Sunday 10th May *Armentieres and Ploegsteert; scene of the Christmas truce 1914; Calvaire (Essex) Cemetery (graves of two 2nd Monmouthshires killed on Christmas Day 1914; Messines Ridge and Hill 60; Poperinge and Toc H (optional); Ferme-Olivier Cemetery: 37 Monmouthshire graves. *Catch 17.50 Shuttle; arrive Wales approx. 22.30.

COST PER PERSON: £299.50 (sharing double or twin rooms)

(Deposit £50; balance six weeks prior to departure)

INCLUDES: NOT INCLUDED:

*Executive coach with toilet and washroom. *Single room supplement (£90).

*Tour manager/guide. *Travel insurance

*Bed and breakfast accommodation. *Meals other than breakfast

*Entry fees as specified.

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Please reserve me ___ places on the ‘Footsteps’ trip 7th-10th May 2015.

Name ______Address ______

Phone ______email ______.

Single room supplement? Yes/No .

I enclose £50 per person deposit. (Cheques payable to Western Front Association Gwent Branch)