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Battlefield Trips

Want to visit the WW1 Battlefields, or even a relative's grave or memorial?

Locating where a relative is buried or commemorated is relatively easy. Go to www.cwgc.org and click on the Debt of Honour register, entering information as requested. That should tell you where he is buried or where the memorial is located; further information about the location is also there. If you want to visit his grave in the cemetery or view his name on the memorial, we will try and give you some advice on the best way to do this, location and travel wise. (N.B. we sadly must restrict this to a Chorley Pals connection first and foremost, and a Chorley connection thereafter).

Co-founder, Steve Williams has made numerous trips to the WW1 battlefields on the Western Front in France and Belgium over the last five years; in September 2006 he was in Gallipoli. In 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008 he organised and led coach trips to the WW1 battlefields, more to share the experience with passengers rather than on a commercial basis.

He is planning a five day, four night trip to Belgium during late May 2009. Entitled "From the first shot to the Last Post", it will be based in Ypres and visit the town of Mons were the first shot was fired by the British Expeditionary Force in August 1914. There will be a full day at leisure in Ypres followed by a full day's tour of the Ypres Salient battlefield. The trip will end at the Menin Gate in Ypres, visiting the Last Post ceremony (held at the memorial each evening at 8.00 p.m.).

For 2010, Steve is planning a "Grand Western Front Tour". The trip is in its early stages but it will take in Loos (1915) Vimy Ridge (1917), the Somme (1916 sites including Serre where the Accrington and Chorley Pals fought), Mons (1914), Verdun (French 1916 battlefield site) as well as the Ypres Salient (1914, 1915 and 1917 battles including Messines Ridge and Passchendaele). The trip will be eight days, seven nights being based in Arras and Ypres.

To register your interest in both trips, please use the Contact Us facility.