PERSONAL AND CORPORATE GUIDES ON THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES WORLD WAR I BATTLEFIELDS in FRANCE and BELGIUM—Sept. 2009 Edition
By David C. Homsher
As part of a continuing effort to keep alive the memory of the American soldiers who fought in France and Belgium during World War I and to promote tourism to the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) battlefields in Europe, I would like to present to professional/amateur historians and to prospective battlefield travelers, tourists and pilgrims alike, several French and American nationals who are well qualified to take Americans on individual, group tours or staff rides on the AEF battlefields in France and in Belgium.
Amazingly enough, there is now a number of European historians living in France and Belgium who are dedicated to preserving the memory of the doughboys of the AEF who fought in Europe in 1918. All of these persons are conveniently and coincidentally placed where they are able to study the majority of the American World War I battlefields in France, and are able and willing to take American visitors out on these battlefields.
History buffs and descendants of the American Doughboys who fought in France and Belgium during World War I should be aware of the growing number of overseas guides who are dedicated to preserving the memory of the AEF soldiers who fought in Europe during 1918. The sort of detailed guidance they provide is an excellent resource for general battlefield travelers and it is invaluable to Americans who want to see the very trenches where their fathers and grandfathers fought.
These historians are able to advise prospective battlefield visitors as to the availability of lodgings such as bed-and-breakfast establishments, cottages and hotels.
All are fluent in both spoken and written English. All are possessed with an extraordinary and detailed knowledge of the old American battlefields, having spent an average of 15 years studying AEF unit histories and actually walking the ground over which the soldiers fought. Their knowledge is so extensive and detailed, that, in many cases, they are able to show us the foxholes and trenches of AEF units down to the company level. This sort of detail is invaluable for those Americans who want to see exactly where their fathers and grandfathers fought to "save the world for democracy."
These European nationals, being "people of the country," are able to take you out to places on the American battlefields that would never be accessible or even known to American tourists. Many of the sites of interest are now private property. These European citizens, knowing the local people and the landowners, have a sort of carte blanche accessibility to the World War I battle areas and to the more interesting sites and vestiges de la guerre.
American WWI battlefield tourism seems to be on an upswing, now that there are knowledgeable people in Europe who will act as battlefield guides, not only for tour groups, but also for private parties. All of the mentioned European historians have been very active in guiding Americans, both private parties and tour groups, around the old AEF battle areas.
The following European and American historians have been very active in guiding Americans (both private parties, military staff rides and tour groups) around the old AEF battle areas. The daily guide prices vary a good bit, but most are a definite bargain when compared with the cost of escorted package history tour of this quality. Contact the individual guides for rates.
The history of the American Expeditionary Forces and the hallowed grounds on which they fought should be preserved and shared with future generations so they better understand how and why the war was fought and the sacrifices they made.
Author Robert Mueller and his publishing company French Battlefields is pleased to announce the availability of a new book designed to guide visitors through 600 years of conflict in northern Europe. Fields of War: Fifty Key Battlefields in France and Belgium is a unique and practical travel guide dedicated to bringing visitors to the sites of important historical events. It presents fifty battlefields that are within a short driving distance of Paris or Calais. Each battlefield description contains a brief historical overview and a tour of the major surviving landmarks and, in many cases, artifacts of the actual engagements. The tour routes are designed to be interesting and easy to follow with complete driving instructions. Extensively illustrated by sixty-five maps as well as forty-eight pages of historical and contemporary photographs, the book presents battlefield sites selected and organized to offer an enjoyable touring experience. It is an invaluable introduction to battles ranging from the medieval period to modern times.
For more information please visit our website at www.frenchbattlefields.com or contact us directly at:
Robert Mueller, PO Box 4808
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089-4808 USA
Fax: 1-224-735-3478
Email: contact@frenchbattlefields.com
The unit price on this newly published book is $29.95 with $4.00 domestic shipping. For overseas purchasers, I would advise you to contact the publisher directly at his given email address.
I would like to take this opportunity to make my readership aware of the existence of a relatively new American Battlefields Memorial Organization.
U.S. WAR MEMORIALS OVERSEAS:
Lillian Pfluke FounderAmerican War Memorials Overseas
info@uswarmemorials.org
You are invited to visit her new website and read of her dedication to preserving the American memorials and/or monuments on all of our battlefields. You are also urged, if your pecuniary condition permits, to help her finance her heartfelt endeavors with a corporate or private donation.
This good woman is not a newcomer to the battlefield preservation field. I first had contact with her way back in 2003 in the course of my search for the still missing memorial to the Ninth Machine Gun Battalion, U. S. Third Division.
I urge you editors of paper and online historical publications to help publicize Ms. Pfluke and her operation and hopefully to make mention of the fact that monetary contributions to her cause would be very much appreciated. Lillian Pfluke said in a very recent Email to me:
Yes, I spent ten years at the American Battle Monuments Commission as their Private Memorials Administrator. I grew increasingly frustrated the more I found out about these thousands of sites. ABMC really doesn't want to get involved, so I perceived a crying need and am trying to fill it with American War Memorials Overseas. I founded it last fall, and have spent the year getting all the admin in order, including especially getting IRS approval as a 501 c 3. I got a website up at the first of the year, and since have been trying to raise enough money to quit my job and do this full time. We just got a commitment for a major grant last week, which should allow me to do that at least for a few months, which will give me time to find other funds---I hope!
So, you see that Lillian Pfluke is trying to pick up the operation that the ABMC has obviously dropped and has no further interest in. I have not tried to give you travel editors a pre-pared blurb to print, assuming that you good folks would rather write your own editorials for publication in your own venues.
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Martin Galle, Martin operates a small European based tour company that, in addition to World War Two battlefield tours, also takes travelers out on to the American battlefields of World War I, e.g., Marne Salient of 1918, Château-Thierry, Belleau Wood, Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel, etc. See Martin’s web site at: www.omaha-beach.org. Contact Martin at email: martingalle@omaha-beach.org
Anglia Battlefield Tours. Anglia Battlefield Tours Ltd., was formed in 1997 and took its first school tour to the Somme in November of that year. Since then we have become probably the largest school tours operator to the battlefields of France and Belgium. In addition, we take schools to Poland to study the Holocaust, Germany looking at the rise of Nazis as well as its reconstruction and the Cold War. We now run tours that follow the fate of the Czech Republic both in WWII and in the Cold War. Our tours to the USA have taken off and for the first time this year we are including tours to St. Petersburg in Russia. Last year we formed another company that will deal exclusively with our burgeoning military clients from all three Services and adult groups. All of our tours are fully guided from the UK and are second to none in content, delivery and attention to detail.
The First World War is now part of a collective European
folk memory. No veteran survivors remain, and as the last few fade away, the
interest in what they endured grows with each year that passes.
Anglia Battlefield Tours has produced a comprehensive series of WW1 tours that
cover the major areas of conflict during those four terrible years, and some of
the not so well known areas such as the Christmas Truce 1914 and Empire Troops
at War.
Our aim is to bring the battlefields alive and to try and view war from the
ordinary soldiers perspective.
There is no doubt that the reason for our success lies with
our team of over 50 highly qualified expert guides that lead your tours. More
and more schools are recognizing the benefits of our experts and the
testimonials you will see throughout this web site bear witness to that.
Our contact with you is a personal one and you will be allocated your own Desk
Officer who will put together your tour and ensure that everything runs
smoothly. For all of our residential tours we will give an evening presentation
for your students, their parents and staff going on the tour, as recommended
under DfES Guidelines.
We have included a new range of tours, not only history based, but also tours
for English and religious studies departments. We are more than happy to run
cross-curriculum tours as each tour is individually put together. The synergy
between you, our guides and us is one that is tried and tested.
We can mix or match elements from these tours to suit your own schools requirements. Please give us a call about cross curriculum tours involving English and RS Departments.
Anglia has run several tours for American clients to the AEF battlefields of World War I.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our website. Anglia has been in operation now for over ten years, and we are firmly established as the market leader in school tours to the battlefields.
Anglia Battlefield Tours. Brick House Farm, Ongar Road, Margaret Roding, Essex CM6 1QR. Tel. 01245 231 991. Web site: www.angliabattlefields.co.uk E-mail: ADChissel@aol.com
Brigadier General Robert Doughty retired from the U. S. Army in 2005. He served for forty years in the Army and twenty years as head of the Department of History at the U. S. Military Academy. He has written extensively on World War I and led numerous staff rides and tours of battlefields. He specializes in French battles but can do some British and American battles. Please check with him to see if he has specific knowledge and experience on the battle in which you are interested. Address: 1804 Williams Avenue, Natchitoches, Louisiana 71457. Telephone: (318) 352-1840. E-mail: <robert.doughty@yahoo.com>
For all the American battlefields north of Paris (the U.S. 27th and 30th Divisions at the Hindenburg Line, the U.S. 1st Division at Cantigny, etc.) your French historian/guides are:
Yves Fohlen, Yves’residence address is: 27 TER 4, rue de l’Oricamp, 02700 Quessy, France. Email address: <yves.fohlen@orange.fr> Phone: 06.60.54.32.67. Yves is employed as a full-time guide at the Chemin-des-Dames “Caverne du Dragon.” Although he isn’t employed in this capacity now, for many years Yves worked as a custodian-guide at the Somme American Cemetery, Bony, France. Yves has spent 33 years in studying the battlefields of WWI and is well qualified to show visitors the American battlefields north of Paris. Yves is completely fluent in the English language.
For the area of the Hindenburg Line campaigns in the North of Aisne, the Battle of St. Souplet, La Selle River and the Somme Sector, your French guide is: Murielle Defrenne, 4 Rue Jean Moulin, 02420 Nauroy, France. Telephone. 01 33 323 098 134. e-mail: <Defrennemuriel@wanadoo.fr> Murielle works as a custodian-guide at the Somme American Cemetery, Bony, France.
Coming down into the Marne salient of 1918, (that large triangle formed by Reims, Château-Thierry and Soissons) and the battles there of the U.S. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 26th, 28th, 32nd, 42nd, and 77th Divisions, your French guide/historian is:
Gilles Lagin, 24 Place de la Halle, 02810 Marigny-en-Orxois, France. Telephone/fax. 01 33 323 70 46 54. Mr. Lagin’s Internet site is: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/war_1/; e-mail: <gilles.lagin@wanadoo.fr>.
Gilles Lagin is especially knowledgeable concerning the early battles of the U.S. 2nd Division and the Marine Corps at Hill 142, Belleau Wood, and Bouresches, and the Pas Fini sector. His knowledge of American battlefields and operations during the offensive operations of the AEF and their drives north to the Ourcq and Vesle Rivers is very extensive. Gilles is well versed concerning the battlefields of the U.S. 3rd Division east of Château-Thierry and those of the U.S. 1st, 2nd, and 4th Divisions in their drives in from the sides of the Marne salient.
Gilles Lagin's knowledge of the AEF battlefields in his area of France is so detailed that, he is the only historian known in the world, for example, who can show you exactly where the German machine guns were on Hill 142, and where the command posts of the 30th and 38th Regiments (U.S. 3rd Division) were in the Bois d'Aigremont. He also knows Belleau Wood in extreme detail. Mr. Lagin coordinates his battlefield guide activities with the officials at the American Embassy, Paris, and with the superintendent at the Aisne-Marne American Military Cemetery, Belleau, France.
Mr. Lagin is expert at preparing a very interesting folder of maps, photographs and other descriptions concerning the service of a member of the AEF in the Marne salient of France. If you can provide him with some basic information about your AEF soldier, Gilles can really enlighten you about the man's service, even down to photographs of where the soldier served, was wounded, or where he is buried.
Gilles Lagin is also the owner/operator of the only museum in France devoted solely to the AEF. His museum is located in Marigny-en-Orxois, where Mr. Lagin resides.
Another guide for Belleau Wood and its surrounding area is retired Colonel William Anderson, USMC(Ret.). Col Anderson has been leading Marine Corps staff rides and tours of Belleau Wood for 10 years, starting in 1988 when he was serving at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization military headquarters in Belgium. Col. Anderson’s expertise is in the battle from the Marine perspective, gives a tour that is much more than a simple battlefield tour taking you to certain places. Bill Anderson’s tours spend more time on the ground walking the battlefield as Marines, trying to appreciate the terrain, and talking about the personal stories he has collected over many years. He also talks about weapons and tactics and what was going on with the German opponents.
Col. Anderson says, “I will love to continue to participate in tours of Belleau Wood while living in Virginia. 8806 Windtree Court, Spotsylvania, Virginia 22553-3817. Tel. 540-785-8631. Cell phone: (540) 850-4213. Email: <binche57@yahoo.com>
Peter F. Owen is a retired infantry LtCol in the U. S. Marine Corps. He would be delighted to lead tours of battlefields of the 4th Marine Brigade, including Belleau Wood, Soissons, St. Mihiel, Blanc Mont, and the Meuse-Argonne. Pete is an expert on AEF tactical theory and practice, and likes to scrutinize decisions by small unit leaders in his tours.
Pete is the author of To The
Limit of Endurance: a Battalion of Marines in the Great War, Texas A&M
Press, 2007 and also annotated Carl Brannen's memoir, Over There: A Marine in
the Great War. Pete majored in history at the U. S. Naval Academy and holds
a Masters in Military Studies from the Marine Corps University at Quantico. He
served in Iraq in 1991 as a recon platoon commander and in 2003 as executive
officer of the First Marine Regiment. He currently teaches professional
military education to Marine officers aboard Camp Pendleton, California.
Home address: 311 Calle Cuervo, San Clemente, CA 92672. Tel: (949) 492-2226
E-mail: PfOwen@cox.net.
For the area of the American Meuse-Argonne and St. Mihiel Campaigns, your French battlefield guide is: Mrs. Ingrid Ferrand, Lempire aux Bois, 55100, Verdun, France or B.P.3, 55100, Verdun, France. Telephone: 01 33 3 29 87 63 47; fax. 011 33 3 29 85 70 81; e-mail: <Ingrid.Ferrand@wanadoo.fr> Mrs. Ferrand is fluent in English and is a licensed guide for the Verdun area of France. Her web site is: www.ingrid-tourisme-verdun.com/ Mrs. Ferrand is especially adept at taking Americans to the sites in the Meuse-Argonne where their father or grandfather fought, was wounded or died.
Frederic Castier, a Frenchman, is the representative in France of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division (Veteran’s Associations) and he works closely with the McCormick Tribune Foundation, Chicago, Illinois. Frederic is also the official “‘assistant instructor’” on the battlefields for the U. S. Army (USA) and U. S. Air Force (USAF) in Europe and, in this capacity he has led many tours over the AEF battlefields. Frederick is well qualified to act as a guide on many of the American battlefields of WWI: Somme (Cantigny), and the Meuse-Argonne, where he knows of many private sites and their owners. Mr. Castier also works with the U. S. Army to conduct WWII staff rides in the American invasion area of Normandy, France. Contact: <frederic.castier@wanadoo.fr>. Telephone: 01 33 612 983 347. fax. 011 321 346 040 Frederic Castier, 99 Rue Aristide Briand, 62100 Calais, France.
Rob de Soete, a resident of the Netherlands, has made a specialty of studying and traveling over the AEF Meuse-Argonne battlefields for a number of years now. Rob says, “Although I consider myself a real amateur on WW1, showing people around the Meuse-Argonne battlefields is really fun. As I don’t have the intention of making money out of it, for me the interesting part if to meet “fellow companions.” Rob’s specialty area is the area around Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, excluding the areas west of the Argonne Forest. Rob states that he is “an amateur historian on AEF Meuse-Argonne battlefields, and that he has “no official qualifications as a tour-guide.” What qualifications are necessary, except the desire to show people around the battlefields and the knowledge and ability to do so? Rob is very fluent in English.
Contact: Rob de Soete, Pijlstaartpad 1, 5641 GV. Eindhoven, Netherlands. Telephone: 00 31 40 28 11 670 e-mail <r.de.soete@onsneteindhoven.nl >.
In addition to the foreign nationals mentioned above, there are several well-qualified Americans who can lead individuals or small groups over the AEF battlefields of 1918.
Michael Hanlon, webmaster for the Great War Society and Western Front Association is a graduate of Penn State University and former U.S. Air Force Weather and Operations officer. Mike is also a manager of large projects for both corporate and governmental clients. He is the author of “About the Great War: An Introduction to the Most Momentous Event of the 20th Century” and is currently under contract to write a series of introductory guides to the war in all its dimensions. On the web, he is the editor of the award winning “Doughboy Center” web site and the magazine “Over the Top.” A member of both the Great War Society and the Western Front Association’s U. S. Branch, he also takes care of the web sites of both organizations.
Michael has many area of expertise on the Western Front, but as far as Americans are concerned, his specialty areas are those of the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne battlefields. 904 24th Street, Richmond, CA 94804. Telephone: (510) 215-7107. e- mail: <greatwar@earthlink.net> or <medward@hotmail.com> Mike has led professional and private tours over the WWI battlefields and with the Great War Society and Valor Tours. Mike’s schedule is flexible to the point where he is fortunate enough to be able and willing to lead private tours and individuals over the Western Front.
Robert Laplander, is an expert on the U. S. 77th Division and in particular the episode of the so-called “Lost Battalion.” Robert says: “I am indeed, as a matter of fact, getting geared up to lead Lost Battalion ‘pilgrimages’ in the future. I am very well acquainted with the immediate area over which they fought. Since I have spent the last eight years studying this one episode, I have stuff no one has ever seen before, as well as the largest Lost Battalion collection of items, artifacts and photos in the world. Currently the photo collection (both period and current) is nearly 1,000 strong.” Rob Laplander is the author of, Finding the Lost Battalion: Beyond the Rumors, Myths and Legends of America’s Famous WW1 Epic. Email: <Laplander@earthlink.net>
Another guide for the Champagne, St. Mihiel, and Meuse- Argonne battles of the AEF is John T. Snow, Dean of the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, University of Oklahoma. Dr. Snow has studied the AEF campaigns in these regions – which extend from Reims east to Woevre Plain, and south to the Vosges Mountains -- and has a very good working knowledge of these AEF battle areas. He focuses on the role of terrain in shaping battles large and small throughout these regions. In addition to the battlefields, Dr. Snow enjoys introducing others to the famous foods and wines of these regions of France. Contact: Dr. John T. Snow, Dean, College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, University of Oklahoma, National Weather Center, Suite 1100, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Norman, OK 73072. Office phone: (405) 325-3095; fax: (405) 325-3072. cell phone: (405) 590-9689. e-mail: < jsnow@ gcn.ou.edu >.
Randal S. Gaulke. Randal has visited the battlefields of the Western Front a dozen times or so since his first visit in 1986. In recent years, he has increasingly focused on the German-American battles in the Meuse-Argonne sector. His fascination for this sector began in late 1994, when he participated in a work weekend with Adolf Buchner’s German group, Deutsches erinnerungskomitee Argonnerwald EV. (www.argonnerwald.de) Since then he has occasionally guided groups, friends and family members on battlefield tours to the Western Front: His most recent trip being a tour for the members and spouses of the 8th Kurassier Regiment that visited the historical unit’s garrison city of Cologne, Germany and places the unit traveled and fought in Germany, Luxembourg and France. While his career and family commitments do not allow him to be a full-time tour guide, he is certainly willing to impart his knowledge to individuals organizing tours on their own. In that regard, he has established a website on the sector, www.meuse-argonne.com, which contains useful information for the independent battlefield visitor.
584 Valley Road, Gillette, NJ 07933
908-626-1345
Stephen McGeorge, Major, USA(Ret.), the newly appointed Curator of Collections for the National Museum of the United States Army, has also expressed his interest in leading battlefield tours over the Meuse-Argonne campaign area. Maj McGeorge spent a good deal of time exploring the AEF battlefields in the Meuse-Argonne when he was assigned to the Army Airborne Brigade in Vincenza, Italy. McGeorge has also taught military history on the faculty at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Contact: <Stephen.McGeorge@belvoir.army.mil>.
Doug Gangler, a retired American naval officer, takes tours to the battlefields of the AEF. For further details see his web site at: www.ww1and2-specialtours.com. Doug operates van sized vehicles as well as personal automobiles. Email: <ganglerd@aol.com>
World War I and II Specialty Tours, LLC, P.O. Box 546, Champion, PA 15622
(814) 352-7024 (phone)
Michael Kelly, Michael is a guide with Bartlett’s Battlefield Journeys (see below), a UK based battlefield touring company. Mike Kelly specializes in the American battlefields in Belgium and France. Mike has guided many Elderhostel 14-day tours to the Western Front. Contact Mike at: <michael.kelly1915@ntlworld.com>
For battlefield and all other types of tourism in the Lorraine region of France, I am pleased to recommend Florence Lamousse, an independent licensed tour guide who lives midway between Verdun and St. Mihiel. Ms. Lamousse states: “I studied tourism so that I can welcome small groups as well as big groups, adults as well as young people. My license is a guarantee for professionalism, and my roots are a guarantee for sensibility: my family has its origins in the Lorraine region, and half of them are now living in America!”
Contact: Florence Lamousse, Guide Interprète et Conférencier Régional, 7 rue basse, 55300, Ranzières, France. Tel. 03 29 85 21 10 83 Portable cell phone: 06 89 22 10 43
Website: www.lorrainetouristique.fr
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I have been asked many times if there are larger tour companies that take travelers to the AEF battlefields. Generally speaking, the answer is no. All of the ‘biggies’ in the travel industry, if they visit any of the AEF battlefields, only do so as part of a much more inclusive tour that always includes the British battlefields of the Somme, Ypres, and, of course, the French battleground at Verdun. These are the well-known battlefields of the Great War of 1914-1918. It seems that visitations to the AEF battlefields by the larger tour companies are a token gesture at best.
There are two American historical organizations and one commercial tour company that normally have tours to the WWI battlefields, the Western Front Association, the Great War Society and Valor Tours. Valor tours is offering a trip to the Western Front from 4-11 May, 2010, led by experienced Guide Michael Hanlon.
Royal British Legion [Poppy Travel]. Poppy Travel is the travel arm of the Royal British Legion. They currently offer tours for adults under the brand name Remembrance Travel” and for schools under the brand name Travel and Learn. The Royal British Legion has been organizing tours of the Western Front since 1927and as Remembrance Travel for over 20 years. Our guides are mostly ex-British Army officers. Poppy Travel is a trade member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides and includes many GBG badge holders among its guide corps. Poppy Travel has several guides who have experience in the American battlefields as well as the British, French and Belgian operations on the Western Front. Contact: Remembrance Travel, Royal British Legion Village, Alylesford, Kent, ME20 7NX
Web site: www.remembrancetravel.com. Also: www.britishlegion.org.uk/content/ Tel: 44(0)1622 716729/716182. Fax: 44(0)1622 715768. Contact: Frank Baldwin, Operations Manager Poppy Travel, Corporate Communications Department, Royal British Legion, 48 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JY UK. Office Telephone: +44(0)207 302 7125. Mobile phone: +44 (0)781 317 9668. E-mail: fbaldwin@britishlegion.org.uk
Bartlett’s Battlefield Journeys, a UK based tour company is recognized as being one of the premier WWI battlefield touring companies in the UK, and indeed beyond. Although their website and battlefield touring activities are centered around travelers from the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, they are used by Lyon Travel based in New England for Elderhostel tours to Normandy and the Western front. Bartlett’s has indicated their enthusiasm for taking groups of Americans and others out onto the battlefields of the AEF of 1918.
Dave Bartlett says, “We specialize in small groups and larger tours for any number of persons. A feature of our service is that we undertake research into soldiers as part of our inclusive tour cost. We try to explore where the relative served with the aid of trench maps and war diaries and walk the actual ground. We tailor all of our tours to the requirements of the participants so we do not provide a standard tour itinerary in advance. In fact, I loathe the term “tour” because that is not what we do. We embark on a “Journey” of exploration.”
See: Bartletts
Battlefield Journeys/The BBJ Collection Ltd
Broomhill, Edlington, Horncastle, Lincolnshire. LN9 5RJ
Tel: +44(0)1507 523128 Fax: +44(0)1507 523130
info@battlefields.co.uk
www.battlefields.co.uk
Back Roads Touring Company (Taking You Behind the Tourist Façade). Back Roads, owned and operated by Bruce Cherry, is a small, UK based tour company that has a 2006 tour of some of the AEF battlefields, “Verdun and the Great War and Battlefields of the American Doughboy.” In reading over the web site of this company, I was struck by their admirable travel philosophy. They utilize smaller vehicles and the limit the size of the
Group to thirteen people.
Bruce says, “I'd like to think that the way we deliver tours is far more personalized than many others . One reason is that the battlefield tours we run are run by a small team of us here who are either ex military personnel (Captain and above), or historians with a love of this period. I am myself currently researching a PhD on a Western Front topic. Our tours are not run for profit but for unadulterated interest. This is why, perhaps, many major publishers and producers have requested that we take around authors, film crews and documentary makers, prior to their writing or making films.
See their web site at: www.backroadstouring.co.uk/LilleVerdun.htm
Tel. 020 8566 5312 Email: <bruce@backroadstouring.co.uk>
14A, New Broadway, Ealing, London W5 2XA, UK
Luxembourg-Battles
Operated by David Heal
On-Going Guide Services in
Luxembourg, the Meuse Valley and the St. Mihiel Salient
David Heal has lived in Luxembourg for 35, years teaches and has been studying the history of Luxembourg and the surrounding regions for almost as long. None of the tours he is offering are on standard tourist office or coach outing tours. He leads all the tours himself.
Dave Heal says that “the pricing mentioned in his web site is a guide only and really aimed at people here who want a day out. For people who want a prolonged tour around the region or anywhere else I charge 300 euros per day (the day can be as long as they like) and if I use my own car for transport that is 50 euros per day extra. Hotel and meal costs are on top.”
“I guide around the St. Mihiel area, Meuse-Argonne, etc., Battle of the Bulge and into Germany. I DO NOT guide around the Somme, Ypres and so on. I simply do not know these areas well enough.”
“I have been traveling the region for decades, listening to other guides and guiding myself. I always carry a vast amount of background material for all the tours with contemporary maps, photos, documents, whatever I have found anywhere.”
“For walks and tours around Luxembourg I charge 100 euros per day.”
“I am a guide at the National Military Museum (founded as the Battle of the Bulge museum). The fee there is laid down by them at 15 euros per hour (normally 2 to 3 hours).”
Dave says that to take advantage of his tours it is vital to book early “as I move between here and the south of France, and when my wife has decided on a date to go, that’s it!”
Contact Mr. Heal at healdav@vol.lu Telephone or fax: +352 331160 Web site:
http://www.luxembourg-battles.lu
Military Historical Tours, Inc. Owned and operated by retired USMC Colonel Warren Wiedhahn and his son, James. MHT has been offering battlefield tours to the WWI AEF battlefields since 1998. 4600 Duke St., Ste 420, Alexandria, Virginia 22304-2517. Phone (703)212-0695. Toll free phone: 1-800-722-9501. Fax (703) 212-8567. Email: <mht@miltours.com> Also:. Website: www.miltours.com
A typical MHT “Devil Dogs” USMC WWI annual battlefield tour would include this basic itinerary: Soissons-Reims, Blanc Mont-Verdun, St. Mihiel-Verdun, Meuse-Argonne-Reims, Belleau Wood-Paris (2 days) and the very impressive Memorial Day ceremony held at the Aisne-Marne American Military Cemetery, Belleau, France.
Valor Tours. Valor Tours operates an annual tour of the Western Front. Escorted by expert guide and author Michael Hanlon, these tours typically include private coach transportation with driver from Brussels to Paris throughout the itinerary, eleven nights hotel accommodations with private facilities; breakfast daily; welcome and farewell dinners; entrance fees and donations to museums/memorials; local guides when needed; local taxes; travel/cancellation insurance coverage. Airfare not included. Contact Valor Tours, 10 Liberty Ship Way, Suite 100, Sausalito, California, USA 94965. Tel: (415) 332-7850 or 800-842-4504. Fax: (415) 332-6971. E-mail: <Info@valortours.com> Website: www.valortours.com To contact the tour guide Michael Hanlon by e-mail directly, refer to www.worldwar1.com or <greatwar@earthlink.net>
Old Country Tours, out of the UK, offers various tours to military and historical sites, including the American Civil War and World War One. From 12 to 22 October 2008 you could join them on “Doughboys: the US Army in France and Belgium in the Great War—90 years on.” Details at www.oldcountrytours.com
“Dear Mr Homsher,
Thank you for your interesting and useful e-mail (below). My business
partner and I do much battle field guiding mainly for the American market. With
my business partner, Patrick Hinchy, we have handled very many groups and
individual interested parties for over 20 years. Our groups are mainly US
veterans and their families and friends. We only do 'bespoke' tours and do not
offer a set package service. Thus we are able to build tours to the exact
requirements of our visitors. It works and is much sought after.
In addition I myself am a former full career British Army officer. I
served all round the world at regimental duty (The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
and The Royal Irish Rangers) and on the staff. Patrick and I are well
experienced in all aspects of the US commitment to WW I as well as to WW II in
Europe and, of course, The Cold War where I myself have much service experience.
We operate two websites at which you may wish to have a look:
1. <www.libertyroad.com> - This is aimed primarily at Special Interest groups
where our largest group was 3745 in 1944 and in conjunction with the now defunct
US company Galaxy Tours who have been succeeded by Mil Spec Tours based in
Philadelphia.
2. <www.acteurotours.co.uk> - This is aimed at the smaller party market.
I myself, in addition to being a former Army officer, am a fully
qualified and registered Blue Badge Guide and I guide throughout the British
Isles (including my own home country of Ireland) and in western Europe. I am
also an experienced Tour Manager.
Patrick Hinchy is a graduate of Oxford University (Worcester College). He is a
vastly experienced Tour Guide and Tour Manager specialising in all matters of a
military historical aspect. His guiding area of activities is similar to mine
but with the addition of Eastern Europe.
Patrick
Hinchy patrick@libertyroad.com
We are both members of the definitive battlefield guiding guild - The
Guild of Battlefield Guides <www.gbg-international.com> .
I am sure that a reading of our two websites would be of great value to you and
to others and that you will be confident to include our names on your list of
active and experienced battlefield guides.
Sincerely
Robert (Bob) Boulton
bob@con-tours.demon.co.uk
Abbey Connoisseur Tours
Two Bells Cottage, Woolmersdon, North Petherton, Somerset. England. TA5 2BP
Tel: UK+(0)1278-661068. Mobile (Cell): UK+07976-244228
The most important qualities for a good tour guide is a balanced combination of subject knowledge and interpersonal skills. In other words he/she knows what they are talking about and can convey that knowledge to the first time visitor in such a way to hold their interest and impart their knowledge.
There are many knowledgeable 'experts' around who may not speak in a language that facilitates an ease of understanding. Likewise there are some with the 'gift of the gab' but whose knowledge base is on a somewhat shaky footing. The best way to judge the suitability of the guide is to ask for testimonials from previous clients.
In the UK the organization that represents well-qualified battlefield guides is The Guild of Battlefield Guides. The Guild has a testing program that must be passed before the guide is awarded the coveted Guild Badge. Address:
Cooper’s Court
Moreton
Ongar
Essex
CM5 0LE
Tel: 01277 890214
E-mail: secretary@battleguides.org
Web:
www.battleguides.org
Editor’s note: The Great War Society and the Western Front Association encourages all interested in traveling to World War I battlefields to enhance their understanding of the tremendous difficulties they presented to the troops, the officers and planning staffs and the public understanding of the war. The Great War Society and the Western Front Association is not associated with any of the tour operators and does not endorse any particular tour operator or any particular excursion.
It is hoped that readers of this occasional article who know of additional personal or corporate guiding companies will let me know of them. The wider the distribution of this information, the greater the probability that knowledge of the American battlefields of the First World War will be kept alive and that people will go on the many tours.
If you do not want to receive future copies of this article, please email me at daveh@battlegroundpro.com and simply say in the subject or body of your email, unsubscribe.
It is requested that anyone receiving this article pass it on to other interested parties and PLEASE let me know of other companies and/or personal guides to the AEF battlefields.
The End
Copyright © July 2009 by David C. Homsher.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
85 Tilton Avenue, # 4, San Mateo, CA 94401
Tel. (650) 347-6073
e-mail: daveh@battlegroundpro.com
WWI AEF blogs: www.doughboydiaries.blogspot.com/ AND www.davehomsher-wwi.blogspot.com/
David C. Homsher, a veteran of U.S. Army service during the Korean War, and now retired, is a historian/author of and about the American soldier of World War I and his battlefields. Dave has traveled extensively over many of the battlegrounds of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in France and Belgium, and he has published the first of a series of guidebooks to the American battlefields of World War I. Dave’s book, American Battlefields of World War I:Château-Thierry—Then and Now, is available at www.battlegroundpro.com and at book stores everywhere for the new low price of $19.95.