The famous battles of 1917 have overshadowed many other remarkable actions. Two battles of Bullecourt in April and May left a legacy of distrust between the Australians and British and the large number of missing has recently prompted a renewed search for mass graves. The Battle of Hill 70, fought in August east of Loos, is an almost unknown Canadian success.

'Operation Hush' was the attack that never was: a British amphibious landing on the Belgian coast by modified tanks which anticipated the Funnies of D-Day. Hush was pre-empted by the German 'Strandfest' attack on 10 July and the introduction of mustard gas with shocking symptoms of blindness and blistering. The British took revenge in October at Dixmuide using a flame thrower with a range of 270 feet. At Nieuport British tunnelling operations still cause subsidence today.

The dramatic, surprise German retreat to the Hindenburg Line between February and April saw fierce rearguard actions across previously unfought over ground, such as Rossignol Wood, and street fighting in the capture of Hénin-sur-Cojeul. A German scorched-earth policy left towns and villages wrecked. Booby traps were abundant and Bapaume Town Hall was destroyed by a delayed-action mine a week after liberation.

In August, fierce fighting south of Cambrai around the Knoll and Gillemont Farm resulted in a posthumous Victoria Cross for Second Lieutenant Hardy Falconer Parsons. At Welsh Ridge in December the Germans attacked in white suits. The counter attack by the Artists Rifles was immortalised by John Nash in his painting 'Over the Top'.

By 1917 trench raids were honed to a brutal art and often involving entire battalions such as that near the Bluff in February, when the London Regiment took 118 prisoners. In April the Germans captured 58 British at Hill 60 but left 40 of their own dead. At the mine craters near Railway Wood Tunnellers accompanied the raiders and fought with their fists.

Our experienced and popular guide Simon Jones takes us over a wide area of the British front to illuminate these often neglected and unusual battles.

ITINERARY
Day 1 (Friday): Depart Victoria Coach Station London 0900. Dover-Calais ferry. Drive along coast to Nieuport and Middelkerke Bains for Hush and Strandfest. To Ypres, Ariane Hotel (1 night). Menin Gate Ceremony. Dinner in hotel.
Day 2: To Dixmuide for the British flame thrower across the Yser. Visit to 'Dugout Experience' in the Tower Museum. The French attacks during 3rd Ypres north of Boesinghe. Lunch break in Ypres. Trench raids at Railway Wood, the Bluff and Hill 60. Drive south to Arras (2 nights). Dinner in one of the many restaurants in Arras.
Day 3: The German retirement, including street fighting in Hénin-sur-Cojeul, Rossignol Wood, booby traps and destruction of Bapaume Town Hall. Lunch break in Péronne. Gillemont Farm and the Knoll (Hardy VC). The Artists Rifles at Welsh Ridge. Dinner in hotel.
Day 4: Bullecourt and (if opened) the new Museum. Lunch break in Bethune. The Canadian capture of Hill 70. Calais – Dover ferry. Arrive approx 1830 Dover and 2030 London.