Family Tree's genealogical Battlefields Tour

The UK's Family Tree magazine has organised a genealogically themed Battlefield Tour of Ypres, Belgium, from 13-15 October 2017, and is putting out a final call for anyone who might be interested in participating. Here's the itinerary:

Join us on the Family Tree Battlefield Tour. This is your chance to learn about your ancestor's time in WW1 and visit Plugstreet (Ploegsteert), Hill 60, Tyne Cot, Passchendaele, the Menin Gate and other important locations at the Front in the First World War, 13th to 15th October 2017

There’s something very special about visiting the places relevant to your ancestors’ lives, and none more so than the battlefields on which they lived, fought and died in the First World War.

Now, working in association with Battlefield Partnerships, Family Tree is running a battlefield tour this October led by Andy Robertshaw (Trench Detectives) and Mark Smith (Militaria Expert – The Antiques Roadshow), and we would like to invite you to come with us to Belgium.

With military experts, Q&A sessions & guided tours, we have put together this bespoke battlefield tour with the needs of family historians first and foremost in mind. It’s going to be a packed itinerary, and a small group, to make sure that everyone booked on the tour gets the most possible out of their valuable time at the battlefields.

Day 1, 13th October, Battlefield Orientation Day

Pick up Ebbsfleet International 8 am, then travel to Belgium by coach via Eurotunnel (the journey from Ebbsfleet to Ypres takes about 3 hrs 30 mins) Starting with Plugstreet and the battles of 1915, Messines and the Spanbroekmolen Crater, mine warfare and the very successful attack of 1917. We then move on to Hill 60, and after lunch, the cemetery of Tyne Cot and Passchendaele Village. Then on to the northern end of the Ypres Salient to see the village of St Julien and the first gas attack of April 1915, before an emotive stop at Langemarck, the German cemetery, before moving our evening meal.

After supper: A Q&A session on military genealogical matters and object identification.

Day 2, 14th October: Visits Day

Devoted to your research and visit to the cemeteries and battlefields of your ancestors.

Menin Gate Ceremony at 8pm.

Day 3, 15th October: Case Study

A study of one man and his involvement in the Great War – a research tour conducted by Andy Robertshaw and Mark Smith.

Drop off Ebbsfleet International 8pm.

Price, including travel, accommodation at Skindles in Poperinghe, evening meals (one at Skindles, one at a restaurant in Poperinge, and breakfast) per person £475 (£449 per subscriber to Family Tree). All travellers must provide evidence of travel insurance before travel.

On booking, please include details of your First World War ancestors, so that we can fine-tune our itinerary where possible to help you get the most from the tour.

This genealogical-based bespoke tour offers you the unique opportunity to travel to the battlefields with two well-known military historians who will help you to bring to life your military ancestors’ involvement in the Great War.

This is your opportunity to bring along your artefacts and stories and over the three days you will be given an understanding of the Ypres environs during WW1 and spend time with your fellow travellers visiting the actual areas your ancestor fought over.

For further details visit https://www.family-tree.co.uk

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.