"Past Endeavours"
The Ultimate Battlefield Tour Experience

The Great War and the Western Front still exert a strong pull after nearly a century has gone by. The battlefields of northern France and Belgium, The Somme, the infamous Ypres Salient , the ghastly battle for Verdun, the epic struggle for Vimy Ridge all still exercise a fascination to each successive generation. Over 126 British cemeteries on the Ypres Salient, and over 188 on the Somme alone bear testimony to the loss of a generation and to the dedication of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission who tend these silent cities. As each year passes hundreds of new, latter-day  pilgrims travel to these places to see and experience for themselves the evidence which still exists. Battlefield Tours to the old scenes of terrible conflicts have become an important way for the new generation to come to terms with what took place all those years ago. Some come to look for relatives buried in one of the beautiful War Cemeteries or commemorated on one of the marvellous Memorials to the Missing, some to trace the footsteps of relatives long departed, some simply to look and wonder. Whatever the reason, a visit to the old battlefields is a moving and lasting experience.
 
 

Ed Church is an experienced battlefield guide and military historian of many years’ standing who is able to bring history alive for battlefield visitors. He is a qualified guide of the Guild of Battlefield Guides and holds badge number 11, awarded to him by Professor Richard Holmes, The Guild's Patron. Also Chief Cuide for the immensely successful company <ANGLIA> Battlefield Tours, which leads the field in taking school groups on visits to the Western Front, Ed specializes in taking small groups of interested visitors on bespoke tours of the battlefields of Europe. Please Note: "Past Endeavours" does not undertake school tours. If you are interested in such a tour please click the link to Anglia Battlefield Tours above.
 
 
 
 
 

Duration of Tours/Accommodation
Research/Personal Pilgrimages
What is One of My Tours Like?
Somme Itinerary
Ypres Salient Itinerary
Normandy and Dunkirk tours
Walks Page
D-Day Tour
The Battle of Britain
Waterloo
V1
Arnhem
Dunkirk and the Fall of France
Living History
Other Tours Offered

Why Come on One of my Tours?
How Much Will it Cost?
Terms & Conditions
Contact
 
 

  Sample Itineraries  Whilst the individual nature of most trips precludes a set menu, the following gives an idea of the places of interest visited most:
  The Somme:   Serre Rd, scene of the Pal’s battalions Valhalla, Beaumont-Hamel, the Newfoundland Memorial Park and visitor’s centre, Avril Williams’ Tea shop at Auchonvillers, The Ulster Tower, Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, The splendid Lochnagar Crater, Mansel Copse, scene of the Devon’s tragedy, Delville Wood, Mametz, where the Welsh dream died, the German cemetery at Fricourt, first resting place of the Red Baron, The “Tommy Cafe” at Pozieres, the Sunken Lane at Hamel, where the war photographer Malins filmed the 1st Bn. The Lancashire Fusiliers moments before their fated attack.
  The Ypres Salient:   Talbot House ( Toc H ) Poperinge, “In Flanders Fields” Museum, Ypres, Essex Farm, The German cemetery at Langemark, Vancouver Corner, the impressive Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Tyne Cot, preserved trenches at Sanctuary Wood, ending the day at the haunting and evocative ceremony of the “Last Post” held nightly under the arches of the Menin Gate Every night, without fail, buglers from the Ypres Fire Service stand under the Menin Gate and play the haunting notes of the “Last Post” in honour of all the men of Britain and the Commonwealth who gave their lives in defence of freedom on the Ypres Salient. A “must” visit. All these places bear the scars of Field Marshall Sir. Douglas Haig’s leadership of the BEF in France & Flanders.
  Other Tours offered  Whilst I specialise in tours of the Great War, I also conduct small group tours to places of interest during the second World War including the Retreat to Dunkirk, A Bridge too Far, Arnhem and the Bridges, Normandy and the D-Day Landings, the V1 and V2 rocket sites at Watten and Wizernes, the Atlantic Wall defences. I also conduct guided tours of Home Defence interest including HMS Belfast, the Battle of Britain and the London Blitz. I am happy to organise a "Birdsong Tour" for you which follows the time line of the novel, visiting the graceful town of Amiens to visit the house on the Boulevard de Cange before walking to the famous Water Gardens , finally ending up at the imposing Amiens Cathedral. Lunch at one of the delightful bistros/restaurants on the banks of the River Somme before journeying to the Ancre valley to visit some of the more (in)famous sites of the pre-war idyll, the picnic on the banks of the Ancre and tea at the teashop in Auchonvillers. The second part of the tour explores the stark contrasts of the war years, looking at the Battle of the Somme in detail and charting the places mentioned in the book, discussing the actualities of the conflict as it applied to the characters in the novel. A certain amount of battlefield walking can be built in if desired. An ideal tour for enthusiasts or the small literary society.
  The War Poets  Another popular tour for the literary-minded is a tour of the places which inspired the works of the Great War Poets. I can take you to the sites of action which gave inspiration to the likes of Wilfred OWEN, Siegfried SASSOON, Robert GRAVES, William HODGSON, Will STREETS and many others. See where Hodgson spent his last night on Earth and hear the history of the action which ultimately led to his untimely demise, a death which he foretold in his poem "Before Action". See the field where Owen spent that 52 fateful hours in a dugout leading to his writing the epic "The Sentry", or where he nearly froze to death ("Exposure"). Visit the uniquely lovely war cemetery at Luke Copse, site of action of the soldier-poet Sgt. Will Streets, and read his work at the place of its inspiration. See Mametz Wood where Sassoon acquired the nickname "Mad Jack" and read one of his most moving poems "Aftermath" under the arches of the magnificent Memorial to the Missing at Thiepval. Again, this tour can include a certain amount of battlefield walking, a most rewarding experience. Notes on all the places visited and on the poets discussed will be yours to keep. Research  As part of all my tours I include, on request, research into relatives of travellers. This includes obtaining, where possible, extracts from battalion war diaries and investigating the circumstances of the death in action of their relative(s). For a small extra fee I am happy to conduct in-depth research at the Public Record Office. Every traveller on a personal pilgrimage will receive, as part of the package, a poppy tribute, small individual cross and framed reproduction of the original "killed in action" remembrance scroll which the family would have received from the King.
  Duration  These trips can be tailored to the individual’s requirements. A visit of any duration can be arranged, staying in accommodation of  the client’s choice ranging from delightful B&B style in rural French farmhouses in the depth of the Somme, to up-market and comfortable 4/5* hotels in larger towns such as Peronne or Albert , still within easy reach of the battlefields. Accommodation Ypres Salient Whilst staying on the Ypres Salient I regularly use the atmospheric Talbot House in Poperinge. Whilst basic, this no-nonsense accommodation has the advantage of being on the edge of the battlefields with easy access to all the places of interest. Self-catering, this proves no disadvantage as there are several excellent cafes and restaurants in Poperinge. An alternative is the splendid hotel, De Kring. A 2/3* hotel, this provides good, clean accommodation en suite and includes a continental breakfast. For those who prefer the authentic battlefield experience (much recommended) I use Varlet Farm, a B&B farmhouse situated in the heart of the battlefields at Paschendaele. A warm welcome is guaranteed from the hostess, Charlotte, who will be plesed to take you on a guided tour of the farm, itself a German strongpoint during the war, and show you her splendid small private museum. In addition there is always a fine selection of traditional hotels in the centre of Ypres, the Novotel, the Flanders Lodge and the Ariane much recommended.
  The Somme There are several decent hotels to be found in and around Albert and Peronne for those who want a little more luxury - however, for the true battlefield experience I recommend a stay at Avril Williams' in Auchonvillers. Set in the heart of the Somme battlefield, Avril specialises in accommodating battlefield tourers and the accommodation is both friendly and comfortable. Another much-used rest stop is the Hotel de la Paix in Bapaume. Boasting one of the finest restaurants in the region, the De La Paix has all en-suite rooms and has the advantage of being situated right on the edge of the Somme battlefields. Ethos   What is one of my tours like ?  I am guided by the wishes of the customer, but I will provide an itinerary keyed to the individual’s interests and requirements, for example some may simply wish to find and celebrate a missing relative, others may want a broad-brush introduction to a particular battle or region, others may prefer a more in-depth study of particular aspects of the conflict. All these varying requirements can be catered for. I can produce information on certain areas and am happy to conduct research on behalf of customers into their relative including, where possible, information and extracts from battalion war diaries. It is possible to do a tour of the various areas by vehicle or, for the more nimble and adventurous, walking tours of the battlefields are an interesting alternative. Travel  Channel crossings are at the customer’s discretion, either by P&O Stena Line ferry or by the faster Eurotunnel. Depending on the number in the party transport will be by MPV for up to 6 adults, and mini-coach for larger parties. All vehicles with air-conditioning. Pick-up points in the UK will be mutually agreed, but usually the services at Maidstone J8 M20 or Medway M2 are convenient for most.
  Why come on one of my tours?   A good question. Many companies provide value-for-money coach tours taking in many of the usual places and it must be said that these tours provide a useful service as a sort of “themed” short holiday break - the problem with these is that the enthusiast often comes away frustrated by what they didn’t see, or more importantly, with a myriad of questions unanswered. The advantage of one of my small tours is the very personal nature of such trips. There is time for everyone to see what they want to see, and ask what they want to ask. No-one goes away unfulfilled, and the tour is conducted at your pace, not the coach-driver’s. Because of the small nature of parties it is often possible to visit places not accessible to larger groups. Even more important to me is the aspect of personal pilgrimages, where a visitor wishes to trace and visit the grave or memorial of a loved one. This is an activity  which must, by its very nature, take pride of place in any trip, and ample time is devoted to such visits. In such cases I am only too pleased to do whatever I can to make the experience a profound and memorable one.  These visits are often the trip of a lifetime for some and every effort is made to accommodate any reasonable request. Floral tributes, including individual memorial poppy crosses are supplied on request.
  Contact  If you are interested in any of the above tours you can contact me by e-mail at pastendeavours@btinternet.com  or telephone/fax 01371 876322.
 

Normandy and Dunkirk tours
Walks page
Terms and Conditions
D-Day Tour
The Battle of Britain
Waterloo
V1
Arnhem
Dunkirk and the Fall of France
Living History