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systems that
extended for more than 700 km across Belgium and north-east France
from the English Channel to the Swiss border. Soon after the arrival
of the first Aussies in France they were sent to the battlefields
in the area of Armentieres and Messines Ridge. The first big battle
was in Fromelles on 19th July 1916. Australians suffered 5,533 casualties
in 24 hours. By the end of the year 42,270 Australians had been
killed or wounded at the battle of the Somme and other places on
the Western Front. In 1917, Australians where involved in other
battles at Bullecourt, Messines Ridge (the first victory in the
Ypres Salient) and in the four-month long campaign around Ypres,
known as the battle of Passchendaele. Eventually, thanks to the
initiative of the Australian General: Monash, who had the idea to
combine infantry, artillery, tanks and aircraft more effficiently,
Australians were able to capture Hamel spur on 4 July 1918. The
Allied's offensive began on 8 August at Amiens. It contributed to
Australian success at Mont St Quentin and Peronne, and permit the
capture of the Hindenburg Line. In early October the Australian
divisions withdrew from the front for rest and refitting; they were
preparing to return when Germany surrendered on 11 November.
Consult
the travelers' reviews
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Your
guide: Annette
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The
best way for me to guide is to listen to what people want
to see. There is a program, but it will always be adjusted
to meet visitor's expectations.
Battlefield tours are also a kind of pilgrimage. Very often
Australians & New Zealanders who come here are the first
of the family to visit the grave of a grand father, an uncle
etc..For each visitor, it is a personal itinerary.
If our guests have ancestors who took part to The Great
War, they should provide information (regiment, battalion,
etc..),prior to their arrival in order for us to have time
to do some research .
Interview
of Annette Linthout: Click here
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Anzac
Tour: 4 Days / 3 Nights
Battlefield Tour Ypres + Somme + Accommodation
Tours
start on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday(upon availibility)
Availibility
and booking; Contact us
Package
Tours are structured around a three day visit to "Ypres, The
Somme and Fromelles" . Tours are dedicated to visitors from
Australia and New Zealand who wish to study history of the battlefields
in depth. Those tours are not just overviews of a few key
sites but endeavour to tell the story of the battles by travelling
the whole length of the front lines at Ypres and on The Somme.
Day
1 : Pick-up at your arrival in Lille.(around
noon)
Visit of the town of Ypres, the museum In Flanders Fields museum,
the ramparts with the cellars under the city walls (used as dressing
station during the battle of Passendaele), and the ceremony of the
Last Post at the Menin gate in Ypres.
Day
2 : Ypres Battlefield
Tour. During this
day tour we will give you a very comprehensive description of the
different major battles of the Ypres Salient and will explain: What
happened? why? Where was the front line? What was the result? Was
it worth the sacrifice?
We will take you to the different locations for each battle, you
will see how elaborate and well built the German trenches used to
be and the difference with the British trenches. We will explain
what was the outcome of the mines explosions on the 7th June 1917?
You will discover craters and British and German's bunkers.
You will discover how was the daily life of soldiers, where the
wounded were taken care of, and why there are so many Comenwealth
cemeteries when there is only one French cemetery, one German and
one Belgium.
We
will visit in depth mainly the sites linked to Anzac:
•
Messines
Ridge
•
Ploegsteert
Wood
•
Hill 60
and Carterpillar
•
St Eloi
•
Zonnebeke
with Broodseinde and Tyne Cot
•
Polygon
Wood and Glencorse Wood
•
Clapton
Junction
•
Menin
Road and Hooghe
•
Hell Fire
Corner
•
Langemark
German cemetery
•
Gheluvelt
where the first Australian was killed in 1914
•
Pilkem
Ridge
•
Site where
the poem: Flanders Fields was written
Day
3 : Battlefields of the Somme..
On our way to the Somme we will pass along sites where
other troops from France, India, Portugual, Canada fought against
Germans, but we will concentrate our visit on the Australian sites.
•
Bullecourt
•
Thiepval
memorial
•
Mouquet
Farm
•
Pozieres
•
Albert
•
Villers-Bretonneux
•
Le
Hamel
•
Mont
St Quentin
•
Le
Quesnoy
Day
4: Battlefields
of Fromelles.. Before going back to Lille
to take your train you will visit the battlefields of Fromelles,
Fleurbaix, Bois Grenier and Aubers ridge. We will drive through
the town of Armentieres, once famous for the song: "Mademoiselle
from Armentieres"
We
bring our tours alive by playng a DVD in our van, showing maps of
the Trench,extract of documentaries and playing some old songs of
that time.
PRICE:
Per person based on two sharing
2010:
4 day package : 630 euros (single supplement 120 euros)
2010:
ANZAC
DAY SPECIAL: 890 euros (single supplement
210 euros)
Tours
start on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (upon availibility)
Departure:
13.00 pm from Lille railway stations (EuroLille or Lille
Flanders)
Return : Tour ends at 15.00 pm at Lille railway station.
Availibility
and booking: Contact us
Somme Battlefields
Package
includes:
• Transfer from Lille railway station and back
• Bed and breakfast accommodation at Camalou guesthouse.
• Transportation to all sites
• 2 lunches
• Entry fees, refreshments drinks during the tours
• Chauffeur and guide through the entire tour (possibility
to visit other places on request.)
-
Dinners are not included
| Transport:
Tours are designed for small groups. Guest are transported
in a comfortable air-conditioned van Mercedes Vito
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 |
•
8 comfortable seats
• Easy to get in and out
• Automatic / air-conditioning
• Microphone system
• DVD and Audio all surround
• Refreshments available
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What
clients have to say:
Dear Annette. Thank you very much for your and Christian's expert
help on the Tour. Your knowledge was excellent and we also really
appreciated the very generous way you looked after us with meals
and drinks. It's back to the books to get all the information into
context. We are looking forward to our photos, as is Bernadette's
friend, whose uncle is buried at Peronne. Bernadette really did
appreciate the Tour, and now understands what her father went through,
and the effect it had on his later life. Once again, very many thanks
from us both, David & Bernadette.
What
clients have to say:
Hi Antoine.
Just a note to let you know that we are back from France and generally
everything went smoothly and we had no major problems. Our time
at Camalou was great and Annette and Christian were fantasic hosts
and guides and we enjoyed the 3/4 days we spent there immensely.
We would recommend Cammalou to any of your clients as they could
not do enough to make our stay special. Ron & Barbara
Consult
the travelers' reviews
A
Marvellous battlefields tour
Both my husband and I had a wonderful battlefields tour with
Annette and Christian, it was very moving, emotional and outstanding
with Annette's knowledge of the battlefields just amazing, there
was nothing you could ask Annette that she didn't know the answer.
The magic of Ieper and surrrounding was just fantastic. Accommodation
was the best, very comfortable and a very nice breakfast. Annette
and Chistian were most accommodating in taking us to areas other
than those on the tour, and picking us up from Ieper after dinner.
The "last Post"in Ieper was a very emotional service.
Well done Annette, our trip was fantastic.
We
were given an experience of a lifetime thanks to Annette & Christian.
There is nothing we could fault about our time at Camalou, in
fact it turned out to be much more than we expected. Annette and
Christian went out of their way to fill our every request and, in
fact, we feel we have made new friends. Their knowledge of Australians
at war is incredible and we learnt so very much.
Just
like a Beligian chocolate- Delicious!
Stayed for 3 nights and loved it. Everyone has said it before really.
In an excellent location which is quiet and just a few kilometres
from the centre of Ypres. Lovely outlook over the garden to farmland.
The room and bathroom was well appointed but we ended up with single
beds (not a double) but they were comfortable and the room was spotless.
Appreciated the fridge and tea & coffee making facilities. The
breakfast was excellent. Did not try Tommies restaurant as it was
closed when we were there. Annette and her husband are great hosts
and very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the area. Don't miss
the Last Post at the Menin Gate.
Battlefield
tour you can not miss
My wife and I did 4 day tour in June and if you are an a Austrlian
looking to do a 1st World War battlefield tour I must recommend
that you do this tour .You will never forget it and you will want
go there again Marg &Garry
Battlefield
Tour
is an accredited company based in
Ypres, specialized since 1987 in guiding personal battlefield
tours of the Ypres Salient. Choosing Battlefield Tours is
the most time-efficient way to get the best from your visit
to the Ypres Battlefields from the Great War (1914-1918)
Annette, your very knowledgeable guide will drive you around
all famous sites..A specific tour is proposed to visitors
from Australia & New Zealand to visit battlefields in
depth. |
Camalou
Guesthouse
Camalou
at Ypres provides high standard accommodation and a good buffet-breakfast
with local delicacies. One aisle of the house has been converted
to provide accommodation for guests who come from all over the world.
Most of them come to Ypres to visit the battlefields. There are
3 guest bedrooms.. Each one is tastefully decorated using a careful
combination of colors, fabrics and furniture of the highest quality.
Each room is named after a flower drawn from some of the most poignant
poetry of the Great War. All rooms have en-suite shower and toilet,
as well as TV (including English channels).
Camalou:
Traveler Reviews
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We
provide more than just accommodation,
In the lounge we have:
- Microwave and fridge.
- Trench maps and books.
- Free internet access.
- Bike rental: 7euro per day.
- Restaurant "Tommies" within walking distance |
Availibility
and booking: Contact us
For
more information on the "Great War", visit:
Australians
on the Western front 1914 - 1918
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