4 Night Fully Guided Small Group Tour including the Dawn Service at Villers Bretonneux

22 – 26 April 2024
$2550 per person, twin share
Begin and end in Amiens

Attend the official Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial, Villers Bretonneux and explore the major sites on the Somme and Flanders battlefields so important to the Australian campaign on the Western Front.

Join your local expert battlefield guide in Amiens, who will escort you throughout the coming days, sharing their passion and knowledge on many aspects of the World War One campaign. Your exploration of the AIF experience on the Western Front begins with a visit to the Sir John Monash Centre, a highly informative and immersive experience commemorating the Australian men and women who served on the Western Front, the perfect introduction to your tour. Then move onto the Fromelles battlefields to see where the Australian and British troops participated in the disastrous attack on 19/20 July 1916 and wander the Battle of Fromelles Museum and next door, the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Cemetery. You then cross the border into Belgium to the village of Ieper (Ypres as it was known during the war), and this evening at exactly 8pm, where you will attend the moving Last Post Ceremony beneath the Menin Gate Memorial in remembrance of those who died in the Ypres Salient during WW1.

On Day 2 you will concentrate on the Australians’ experiences in the terrible Third Battle of Ypres (or simply “Passchendaele”); Firstly, explore the former battlefields at Hill 60 then to Polygon Wood, where the 5^th Division Memorial stands and onto the village of Passchendaele to visit The Memorial Museum Passchendaele with its reconstructed trenches and dugouts and interesting collections from the battles of 1917. Afterwards, you visit the enormous Tyne Cot Cemetery which contains over 11,000 burials that include two Australian VC recipients.

The next day returning to France, you make a stop at the magnificent Vimy Ridge Canadian Memorial before travelling onto the Somme Battlefields. Visit the 1^st Australian Division Memorial at Pozieres, Windmill Memorial, Mouquet Farm and Thiepval, where the great British Memorial to the Missing of the Somme stands. Then you move onto the impressive Australian Corps Memorial at Hamel commemorating over 100,000 Australians who served with the Corps in France during the First World War for discussions on the action overlooking the battlefield. The evening is spent in Amiens, a city well known to the Anzacs during the war, in preparation for Anzac Day and an early start to attend the official Dawn Service at Villers Bretonneux. At the service as the sun slowly rises bringing to light the surrounding Somme battlefields, you will join thousands of fellow Australians in honouring and remembering our Anzacs, a stirring and never to be forgotten experience! Conclude the special day at Bullecourt attending the commemoration service at the Bullecourt “Digger” Memorial and marching together with the local villagers, a charming display of enduring friendship born from war time.

Highlights include:

• Explore the Sir John Monash Centre
• Battlefields of Fromelles
• Flanders Battlefields in Belgium
• Attend the Last Post Service at the Menin Gate in Ypres
• Attend the official Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial, Villers Bretonneux
• Visit the Australian Corps Memorial, Le Hamel
• Visit the 1916 battlefields at Pozieres & the 1^st Division Australian Memorial & Windmill site
• Attend the Anzac Day Bullecourt ‘Digger’ Service & visit the 1917 Bullecourt museum

Your Battlefield Tour Includes:

• Services of a local expert battlefield guide
• All battlefield sites, scenic drives and museums as described in the itinerary
• Ground transport in comfortable 8 seater minivan
• Breakfast daily
• All entrance fees as per the itinerary
• Boronia Travel Centre tour cap, ticket wallet and luggage tags
• Tour reference book with plenty of maps and relevant information

Extras:

• Boronia Travel Centre uses Singapore Airlines for all their tours, and has access to the most competitive discounted Economy, Premium Economy, Business and First Class airfares available from Australia.
• International Travel Insurance, is strongly recommended and never more so than now

Day 1.  Monday 22 April – At 9am join your local expert battlefield guide / driver on this exclusive small group tour exploring the must-see sites on the Western Front battlefields of France and Belgium so important to the Australian campaign. This morning you will begin at the Australian National Memorial, the site of the official Dawn Service, before visiting the highly informative and immersive experience provided by the Sir John Monash Centre. Commemorating the Australian men and women who served on the Western Front, this is the perfect introduction to your tour. Following time for lunch at the on-site café, you will travel north to Fromelles battlefields to see where the Australian and British troops participated in the disastrous attack on 19/20 July 1916.  There will be time for you to wander the Battle of Fromelles Museum and next door, the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Cemetery where the 250 men whose remains were found in 2010 now rest continuing to the Cobbers Memorial, and VC Corner Cemetery. You then cross the border into Belgium and to the village of onto Ieper (Ypres as it was known during the war), since its almost total destruction during WW1, the medieval Cloth Hall has been reconstructed to its original and imposing magnificence.  This evening at exactly 8pm, you attend the moving Last Post Ceremony beneath the Menin Gate Memorial in remembrance of those who died in the Ypres Salient during WW1.
Overnight: Novotel Centrum, Ieper, BELGIUM

Day 2. Tuesday 23 April – Today you concentrate on the Australians’ experiences in the terrible Third Battle of Ypres (or simply “Passchendaele”); here we had 38,000 casualties over several weeks during late 1917.  For the AIF this was the costliest year of the war. Firstly, explore the former battlefields at Hill 60 to see the Australian Tunnelling Corps Memorial then to Polygon Wood, where the 5^th Division Memorial stands. Then move onto the village of Passchendaele to visit The Memorial Museum Passchendaele with its reconstructed trenches and dugouts and interesting collections from the battles of 1917. Afterwards, you visit the enormous Tyne Cot Cemetery which contains over 11,000 burials that include two Australian VC recipients. Midafternoon you return to Ieper via the Menin Road for free time to explore the town square, and perhaps visit the In Flanders Fields Museum located inside the famous Cloth Hall.
Overnight: Novotel Centrum, Ieper, BELGIUM

Day 3. Wednesday 24 April – This morning after checking out you will cross back into France making a stop at Vimy Ridge Canadian Memorial, one of the most impressive monuments and existing trench lines on the battlefields. Then move on to Pozieres where the AIF suffered 23,000 casualties in several short weeks. Visit the 1^st Australian Division Memorial, and the remains of the German ‘Gibraltar’ blockhouse. Then to the poignant Windmill Memorial with its chilling acknowledgement: Australian troops … fell more thickly on this ridge than on any other battlefield of the war. Next, stop at Mouquet Farm, where nine separate attacks by 1st, 2nd and 4th Australian Divisions cost over 11,000 casualties. You will also stop at Thiepval, where the great British Memorial to the Missing of the Somme stands before travelling onto the village of Hamel, where the Australian Corps under the command of Lieutenant General Sir John Monash carried out a brilliant attack that had wider implications for the conduct of future operations on the Western Front. Discuss the action overlooking the battlefield from the impressive Australian Corps Memorial commemorating over 100,000 Australians who served with the Corps in France during the First World War. Its then onto Amiens, located on the Somme River and overshadowed by the largest UNESCO world Heritage listed Cathedral in France, for an early night in preparation for Anzac Day.
Overnight: Mercure Amiens Cathedral, Amiens, FRANCE

Day 4.  Thursday 25 April – Anzac Day; a special day for Australians.  You have an early rise to join thousands for the official Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. Afterwards you return to the hotel for breakfast and freshen up to then drive to the battlefield of Bullecourt, where the AIF suffered 10,000 casualties during the attacks in April/May 1917. Here you have the wonderful opportunity in joining the French and the Anzac descendants marching together, through the village to the Bullecourt “Digger” Memorial for the commemoration service, a wonderful display of the friendship experienced with the French and Australians. Afterwards you may visit the Jean and Denise Letaille War Museum and the local memorials, including the Slouch Hat Memorial before returning to Amiens. Tonight wander the cobblestones stopping for dinner at one of the many canal side restaurants.
Overnight: Mercure Amiens Cathedral, Amiens, FRANCE

Day 5.  Friday 26 April – Your tour of the Western Front battlefields comes to an end following breakfast and check.

Mercure Cathedral, Amiens    

Located in the heart of Amiens, just 50m from the cathedral, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site, the Mercure Amiens hotel is the perfect destination for leisure. The historic Saint Leu district, the floating gardens and Jules Verne’s house are all just a stone’s throw from the hotel. Airy, modern rooms include free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, as well as work desks. Upgraded rooms and suites have Nespresso coffeemakers, iPhone/iPad docks and/or pull-out sofas, while some suites add private terraces and cathedral views. Amenities include a contemporary French restaurant and an all-day cocktail bar.

Our tour members depend on us to provide a once in a lifetime battlefield experience combined with exceptional customer service. We do our best to meet and exceed their high standards, which is what you’d expect from Australia’s leading battlefield tour company. Here’s what our past passengers say about our efforts…

Western Front – Anzac Day Tour 2018
“Firstly we must apologise for the time it has taken us to thank you for such a great adventure. As you knew we came home via Amsterdam and Singapore and we are now only getting our feet back under the desk after catching up on stuff that occurred whilst we were away. Well, what can we say, the experience far exceeded our expectations. We have travelled with Insight before and their level of service, coaches and commitment to service can not be faulted. But this trip had two extra bonus, Nick Fletcher on one bus and Graeme Beveridge, one our bus, and what an absolute gentleman. His knowledge of the Australian/Commonwealth involvement within the Western Front is second to none, his compassion and commitment in ensuring that everyone was able to be involved, yet was sensitive enough to allow people to have their own special time.

From the minute we stepped off the plane in Paris till the time we said our goodbyes at the conclusion, the trip was fantastic, a once in a lifetime experience. Both the two tour directors, John in our bus and Brad in the other ensured that we travelled as a group with a little bit of banter and fun between the two groups which made for a great journey.

Peter seemed to be there but not be there if that makes any sense. He made sure if we needed any assistance in any way, he was the go to man, he was a joy to travel with. All we can say is that we are very glad we chose Boronia Travel for this trip as the memories will remain with us for as long as we live. You have a very well organised travel adventure and we can not find a single recommendation for improvement. Well done to the whole team.”
Colin Bird & Sue Buckingham

Western Front – Anzac Day Tour 2018
“I’d like to thank the Boronia Travel Centre team for having organised such a wonderful tour. My original intent in committing to go was to “fill in” what I had missed in July 2016 and attend the Villers Bretonneux 100th commemorations. What you provided was all of those and more and for that I am very grateful. The planning and execution was spot on for which you, Brad and Nick are to be congratulated. Nick Fletcher’s input was just outstanding. His knowledge and preparedness to provide responses to all of the questions thrown at him made for fantastic background information for all those on the bus.”
Andrew Brownlie

“Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed the Western Front Tour with Aaron Pegram and John. The itinerary was well planned, Frank the bus driver was exceptional and the accommodation fine.

As the Tour Director, John did a terrific job managing us all in a very friendly manner and his insights and commentary on the local areas was very good.

A special mention for Aaron. His historical knowledge made it all came alive for me and it was terrific how he was able to meet everyone’s needs and requests on the tour. Nothing was ever too much trouble and he got the balance just right between enough information and information overload. A great experience I will never forget.”
Mark Luby

“Howard and I have been very remiss in not contacting you to tell you how much we enjoyed our trip to the Western Front with Boronia Travel this year. It was all we were hoping for, and more. The “more” was because of the people. Graeme and John, the tour historian and tour leader, were so generous with their time and knowledge and were the ultimate professionals, making our travel experience one of ease and extraordinary interest. Jean-Michel, our bus driver, was a legend and our fellow tour companions completed the experience. Thank you.”
Rae King and Howard Gibbon

“I write to commend and thank you for the marvellous Guide we had in Aaron Pegram on the recent Western Front tour in April. Aaron was not only extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of the War but he ensured that everyone who had a personal interest in a battlefield, cemetery or memorial had the opportunity to visit the site and was given time for quiet reflection.

Although the Tour participants had a collective interest in the Western Front, we were a diverse group of people and Aaron managed us all with great sensitivity and aplomb. Once again, thank you for such a great Tour”.
Lesley Kerr

Our customers depend on us to provide a once in a lifetime battlefield experience combined with exceptional customer service. Visit our page full of client testimonials.