'Alternative' Western Front Tour.

[caulkheader]

Allright, bear with me on this one. In recent years I and various chums have visited the Western Front usually twice a year, Spring & Autumn. Like many others on here I expect.

 

As it is unlikely we will be able to visit again, realistically, before this Autumn at the earliest, maybe Spring 2022.  I got to wondering, would it be feasible to do a 'Western Front related' tour without leaving this country? Any suggestions?

I think I should quantify, the following conditions would need to be in place;

1] Reasonable free movement would need to be allowed.

2] Most museums/attractions would need to be substantially open.

3] Overnight stays should be allowed and hospitality venues open for business.

 

Over to you . . . 

T

[Andy davidson]

Hi I assume you mean a virtual tour?

The Western front association do just that, but you need to pay a joining fee of around 30 quid. I did a search and they can be found at www.westernfrontassociation.com

 

Alternatively I listen to the Paul Reed podcasts via The old front line, and just sit back with my eyes closed visualising my own trips to some of the places he talks about.

 

Hope this helps, Regards Andy

 

 

 

 

 

 

[caulkheader]

40 minutes ago, Andy davidson said:

Hi I assume you mean a virtual tour?

The Western front association do just that, but you need to pay a joining fee of around 30 quid. I did a search and they can be found at www.westernfrontassociation.com

 

Alternatively I listen to the Paul Reed podcasts via The old front line, and just sit back with my eyes closed visualising my own trips to some of the places he talks about.

 

Hope this helps, Regards Andy

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, as stated in the title,  ALTERNATIVE (physical) not VIRTUAL (visual/computer based).

[Andy davidson]

Note to self, don't reply to posts I have read at five in the morning, wake up fully first 😄😄😄

[KIRKY]

visit WW1 Camps?

Tony

[mills-bomb]

The tomb of the unknown Warrior, surely a must.

Waltham Abbey gunpowder mills?

[kenf48]

How long?

 

How far?

 

Mode of Travel?

 

Cost?

 

However just for fun and a little licence, I present

 

"The UK Great War Tour on Air, Land and Sea

 

We leave the IOW on an early morning Red Jet Ferry and take advantage of the free shuttle bus service to Southampton Central Rail Station, where like so many casualties we board a train for London Paddington (journey time approximately 1and1/2 hours.)

 

On arrival at Paddington we will view the GWR Memorial, the first of Jagger's masterpieces of the day and as part of the Centennial commemoration used as the centrepiece for an online project that invited members of the public to submit letters as to what he was reading.

https://www.1418now.org.uk/letter/

 

We will then take a short taxi ride to Hyde Park Corner where we will view Jagger's controversial monument to the Royal Artillery, and tucked away to the right, the smaller figure of the Boy David, the memorial to the men of the Machine Gun Corps. We walk through Wellington Arch under the winged statue of Victory and reflect on an earlier European War, as we approach Constitution Hill we pass through the Commonwealth Memorial Gates which bear the names of VC and GC holders from both world wars.

Our walk takes us past Buckingham Palace and on into the Mall.  On our left is Carlton House Terrace and the old German Embassy, or 'Prussia House'.  At the end of the Mall is Admiralty Arch where Churchill planned the Gallipoli Campaign.  Across Trafalgar Square is the statue of Edith Cavell.  Retracing our steps into Spring Gardens and the Guards Memorial on the West side of Horse Guards Parade.

https://blog.english-heritage.org.uk/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-londons-war-memorials/

 

If we walk across the parade ground an through the Arch back to Whitehall and the Cenotaph, we then follow the route of the Unknown Warrior to his final resting place at Westminster Abbey. (Admission fee).

Our accommodation is just over Westminster Bridge (think what about luggage?) at the Union Jack Armed Forces Club. 

The evening is free to explore around Waterloo Station, no longer the haunt of prostitutes and thieves looking to take advantage of soldiers coming and going to the Front but some very nice restaurants for your evening meal.

An early start and a short stroll to the Imperial War Museum before lunch. 

https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-london

After  a packed lunch we board a riverboat at Westminster Pier to Greenwich and the National Maritime Museum to visit the new Jutland Gallery. 

https://www.rmg.co.uk/see-do/we-recommend/attractions/jutland-1916-ww1s-greatest-sea-battle

Return to the Union Jack Club for a second night.

 

Our transport for today is a minibus as we're heading out of London to Old Warden in Bedfordshire and the Shuttleworth  Collection for a drive in air display. 

https://www.shuttleworth.org/events/airshows/

 

After the excitement of seeing WW1 aeroplanes in flight overnight accomodation nearby, before driving South again to Beacon Hill, Bulford on Salisbury Plain for a walk up to the the practice trenches, the remains of which can still be seen on the ground, accompanied by a local guide. 

https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/16270294.first-world-war-role-salisbury-plain/

Also take in the Bulford Kiwi and Fovant Badges before driving back to Southampton.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulford_Kiwi

and the ferry home.

 

Three nights, taking in the Great War on land, air and sea. "

 

Admission fee payable at Westminster Abbey

Shuttleworth drive in displays need to be pre-booked.

 

Disclaimer: I have no connection with any of the events, venues mentioned just a bit of fun in the style of a travel brochure to pass the time on a wet afternoon.

(though I have to say the drive in air displays look like a grand day out, as they say).

 

 

 

[slick63]

21 hours ago, kenf48 said:

How long?

 

How far?

 

Mode of Travel?

 

Cost?

 

However just for fun and a little licence, I present

 

"The UK Great War Tour on Air, Land and Sea

 

We leave the IOW on an early morning Red Jet Ferry and ....

 

 

That is superb, should be made into a tourist information brochure

Edited 17 February , 2021 by slick63

[charlesa]

Agreed that is awesome kenf48

[caulkheader]

On 16/02/2021 at 15:58, kenf48 said:

How long?

 

How far?

 

Mode of Travel?

 

Cost?

 

However just for fun and a little licence, I present

 

"The UK Great War Tour on Air, Land and Sea

 

We leave the IOW on an early morning Red Jet Ferry and take advantage of the free shuttle bus service to Southampton Central Rail Station, where like so many casualties we board a train for London Paddington (journey time approximately 1and1/2 hours.)

 

On arrival at Paddington we will view the GWR Memorial, the first of Jagger's masterpieces of the day and as part of the Centennial commemoration used as the centrepiece for an online project that invited members of the public to submit letters as to what he was reading.

https://www.1418now.org.uk/letter/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excellent itinerary Ken, a lot of thought has gone into that, however a couple of possible 'fly in the ointments'.

1] No guarantee [apparently] that the free shuttle bus service will be reinstated once all this current to-do is over with.

2] Although I have not 'taken the train' for some time, when travelling from Southampton, I have always arrived at Waterloo!

[kenf48]

18 minutes ago, caulkheader said:

Excellent itinerary Ken, a lot of thought has gone into that, however a couple of possible 'fly in the ointments'.

1] No guarantee [apparently] that the free shuttle bus service will be reinstated once all this current to-do is over with.

2] Although I have not 'taken the train' for some time, when travelling from Southampton, I have always arrived at Waterloo!

You could always do ‘forward route reversed’ though that got me into trouble with the Blues and Royals on one memorable occasion!

One change to get to Paddington. 

I’m hoping others will join in with alternatives.

there’s more than one fly in the ointment

 

 

[Malcolm Linham]

Unknown warrior admission is free, if you go to the end of the Westminster Abbey nearest the tomb. Not the main entrance.

Ask one of the uniform attendants , that you wish to visit the tomb of the unknown warrior and they will escort you to the tomb and give you some time there.

 The last guy I dealt with was extremely accommodating , by unlocking the display of the RAMC memorial book of honor and turning to the page of a distant relative.

  Malcolm