“My experience with Mark and Lesley in both France and Belgium was emotional, informative and full of fantastic memories.”
We currently have a tour advertised to the WW1 Battlefields of Belgium and France in April 2016. As experienced historians who are passionate about remembering the sacrifices made by many Scots and others on the Western Front, we have organised and lead many of these trips. We believe this emotional yet fantastic trip should be experienced by everyone at least once in their lifetime and below is an account written by Lizzie Smithard. Lizzie came with us to the Battlefields of France and Belgium that we organised not once but twice. For her she was not only going to see parts of Belgium and France that she had never seen before but after researching her family history we were able to take Lizzie to her relatives grave, a memory that will last with her forever. She outlines below why she feels that making the journey to Belgium and France with us was worthwhile and why everyone should do it at least once!
“My experience with Mark and Lesley in both France and Belgium was emotional, informative and full of fantastic memories. When visiting memorials, museums and graves Mark and Lesley were always well prepared with all of the relevant information, dates and important figures to hand. Not only was I taken to reflect at many British soldiers graves, some unnamed graves but we also paid our respects at the graves of well known figures of the war such as John McCrae who wrote the famous ‘In Flanders Fields’ poem. Mark and Lesley researched in advance for me to allow me to visit my relative’s grave whilst we were touring the battlefields. I was shown where to find the details of my relatives regiment and how he died and in which battle. Here I was able to lay a wreath, of which the pictures I have, I was able to take to home to show my elderly relatives. The visits to museums such as Flanders Fields in Belgium, were interactive and fun to visit. The whole time from arriving to leaving was packed full to the brim. One of the last places which Mark and Lesley took me to was a German graveyard which was one of the largest contrasts shown to me and an absolute must see. The last post ceremony held at Menin Gate was truly chilling, with the wreaths and poppies laid there available for you to appreciate the messages in the days after. Without such informative guides I doubt the trip would have stuck with me so much. The service which was provided was second to none. The trip gave me a new perspective with all of the information relayed to me soaking in throughout the days away and still once I was home. I thoroughly loved the trip which was once in a lifetime, even though I went back again with them 2 years later!”
If you are interested in making this once in a lifetime trip to the world war one battlefields check out our tour running from the 4th-8th April 2016.