During the First World War Ypres became a symbol of resistance, the last small piece of Belgium saved from German conquest. With a strong line of hills behind it, holding the town was militarily unsound, but politically and morally it was impossible to give it up. We shall look at the desperate defensive battles of 1914, in which the ‘Old Army’, the regulars of the BEF, was battered to pieces. Several actions were fought by exhausted battalions who intervened at decisive moments and stopped an astonished enemy in his tracks. We shall remember the gallant stand of the Belgian Army on our left. At ‘Plugstreet’ Wood a common humanity showed itself in the famous Christmas ‘truce’.

1915 saw the ‘new frightfulness’ of gas warfare and flamethrowers being added to the weaponry of this industrial scale war. The second battle of Ypres was as desperate an affair as the first and the Salient shrank dramatically. 1916 saw some fierce actions around St. Eloi and Mount Sorrel.

In 1917 Douglas Haig, freed from a strategy dictated by our French allies, launched his big effort to break out of the salient and free Belgium entirely. After a huge success at Messines in June, the offensive that began on 31st July was a bitter disappointment, ruined by the worst weather in seventy-five years. We shall look at Plumer’s great successes in the middle period, and try to understand why we slogged up to Passchedaele in the mud.

We shan’t forget that 1918 saw a huge victory in September, crossing in one day ground that held us up for months the previous year. The Last Post at the Menin Gate is something everyone should hear at least once in their life.

Your guide to the Salient in the First World War is John Lee who has a great knowledge of the area and its history. We will be staying at the Ariane Hotel in Ypres, a favourite with our travellers. This popular hotel is well placed for exploring the town and we always receive a warm welcome and great hospitality.

ITINERARY
Day 1 (Saturday): Depart Victoria Coach Station London 08:45. Dover – Calais ferry. We discuss the Belgian forces who held the line from the north of the Salient to the sea, and visit the ‘Trenches of Death’ near Dixmuide. To Ypres for a three night stay at the Ariane hotel. Evening talk and dinner.
Day 2: 1914 – We look at some of the actions fought in October and November 1914 as the Salient was formed; the Worcesters at Black Watch Corner and Gheluveldt; the London Scottish at Messines; the attack of the Prussian Guard at Nonnenbosch; The German cemetery at Langemarck. Lunch break in Ypres. 1915 – The 2nd Battle of Ypres including the bombardment which destroyed much of the town and the first use of gas along the Pilkem Ridge; the French Territorials and the Canadians at St. Julian. We look at the the attack at Hoogeand the use of flamethrowers and visit the cratered ground and concrete remains at Hill 60.
Day 3: 1916 – the Canadians ‘in trouble’ at St. Eloi and Mount Sorrel. June 1917 - The successful battle of Messines, with its meticulous planning and use of mine warfare. Lunch break in Ypres. The opening battles of Third Ypres 1917 – Menin Road Ridge; Polygon Wood; Broodseinde Ridge and the Gravenstafel Spur; The last slow and costly advance up to the Passchendaele Ridge where we visit the great CWGC cemetery and memorial at Tyne Cot looking back over the battle area to Ypres.
Day 4: 1918 – Operation Georgette and the Battle of the Lys. The British advance – early September at Plugstreet Wood and 28th September on the Menin Road. Lunch break in Ypres. Calais – Dover ferry. Arrive approx 18:45 Dover and 20:30 London.