22/01/2025
This was such a great tour……it was a group of three friends, two of whom I had had the pleasure of taking around the First World War battlefields of France and Belgium and few years before.
We love touring in Normandy……there is so much to see and the itinerary below is a good representation of the ground we cover……
This one is indivisdualised a little bit for one guest who’s father had fought with the Royal Ulster Rifles…….
Day 1
Depart Faversham at 8.00 am
Eurotunnel to Calais 9.00 or 9.20 am….. arrive 10.25 or 11.00 am, local time.
First stop, the Canadian WW2 cemetery at Leubringhen 14 km along A16 near Calais. Calais was liberated by the Canadian 1st Army in Sept. 1944 as they advanced from Normandy in pursuit of retreating German forces.
Travel to Bayeux…..our base in Normandy, stopping for a picnic lunch en route. Estimated time of arrival at Bayeux at around 3.00/3.30 pm. Time to visit the D-Day Museum and moving cemetery at Bayeux which is he final resting place for 4256 soldiers, sailors and airmen. After our visit arrive at our accommodation in Bayeux which will be our base during our stay in Calvados.
Evening meal and refreshments in our accommodation where Giles will prepare the French favourite Raclette!
Day 2
Breakfast 8.30 am - Travel to the Cherbourg Peninsula - stopping on the way to visit the sombre and moving German cemetery at La Cambe – the final resting place for 21,222 German soldiers. Amongst the burials is legendary tank commander Michael Wittman. Then to Saint Mere Eglise, where John Steel’s parachute got caught on the church steeple. Visit the excellent Airborne Museum and visit La Fiere Bridge and “The bowling alley,” where the 82nd Airborne fought off a German Panzer attack then to Brecourt Manor where Easy Company “Band of Brothers” knocked out a German artillery unit who were firing on Utah beach. This classic action is still taught at West Point
To Utah beach where 23,250 American troops were landed and 1700 vehicles. Then to Pointe du Hoc where we learn of mistakes made and the Rangers bravery in scaling the cliffs.
Return to the accommodation for rest and recuperation!
Evening meal in Bayeux.
Day 3
Breakfast 8.30am.
Omaha Beach was a code name for one of the sectors of the Allied forces D – Day invasion. The 1st and 29th US divisions and US Rangers suffered very badly here, sustaining over 4000 casualties. The beach landing scene “Saving Private Ryan.” Recreates the landing at Omaha Beach is a horrific and accurate portrayal of the sacrifices made on the 6th June.
The beach is near Colleville sur Mer and the location will be our second port of call. We will visit the beach, visitors’ centre and the Colleville US Military cemetery.
Our next stop, Longues sur Mer, German gun battery was part of “The Atlantic Wall.” It had a range finding post and four casemates, each holding a 150mm gun. This battery played a strategic role during the Normandy landings.
Visit “Mulberry Harbour,” designed by Hugh Hughes who was a resident of Abbey Street in Faversham! The harbour was towed across the English Channel by tugs and installed off Arromanches. Much of the storm battered harbour can still be seen, today.
We will have lunch here.
From Arromanches we will drive down the coast towards Juno beach where 21,400 Canadian and British troops were landed on 6th June. There were 1200 casualties. (There may be time to visit the excellent visitor centre)
From here we will drive to Lion Sur Mer and Queen Red Beach Sword where the 2nd Royal Ulster Rifles landed at 12.00 hrs on June 6th. It was a successful landing even though they were being fired on by the Houlgate, Villerville and Benerville batteries.
From here we will move inland to the Periers ridge and Periers sur le Dan and then to Ainsy where 2 RUR assembled in preparation to capture Cambes en Plaine on D-Day +3
Finally, we will visit the memorial to 2 RUR and the military cemetery at Cambes where the men who lost their lives in the attack were laid to rest.
Return to base for refreshments and then Evening meal in Bayeux
Day 4
Breakfast at 8.30am
Then we will drive directly to the Benouville Bridge. The bridge, across the Caen Canal, was a major objective of the British Airborne troops during Operation Deadstick.
Five gliders landed as close as 47 yards from the bridge, which was captured in 10 minutes, with the loss of two men. Included in this attack were 1st Royal Ulster Rifles who were part of the 6th Airbourne Brigade who captured the bridge although the target for 1 RUR was Ranville itself.
The Bridge was renamed, Pegasus Bridge in honour of the Airborne troops who had a Pegasus emblem on their uniforms. We will visit the Pegasus Bridge Museum, Ranville military cemetery and Ranville churchyard where many members of 1 RUR are buried.
We will follow the direction of attack of 1 RUR towards Longueval and Ste Honorine.
The journey back to the tunnel will be via Cabourg Berneville sur Mer and Deauville – following the route of 1 RUR before there were rested in September 1944
We aim to catch the 18.00 train which will see us back in Faversham for 19.00 hrs
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Personalised tours of WW1 Battlefields in the Somme and Flanders After a four year sabbatical, tours are up and running again from 2023. Thanks so much."
