06 December 2014
BATTLEFIELD TOUR 2015 CRITERIA
Please click on the following link to access the criteria for the Cadet Battlefield Tour for March 2015: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2jVLNQc1ExNRmZjY2ZzMmdmczQ/edit?usp=sharing. If you have any questions, please contact Maj Craddock or Capt Sun. Contact information is in the link.
31 March 2013
Day 7: McRae's dressing station, Brooding Soldier, Kitchener's Wood,Passchendaele, Tyne Cot
We continue our overview of Canada's role in World War I and the battles of the Somme area with a visit to the Essex Cemetery where one of the youngest soldiers, Valentine Strudwick, is buried. He was 15.
In the same area, is John McRae's dressing station. 2Lt Cooper read McRae's famous poem to help set the stage.
Our next stop is the Brooding Soldier Memorial located in the St. Juliaan area. This is significant because all cadets who wish to obtain their glen must write the exam that tests their knowledge on the Battle at St. Julien.
From there, we made our way to the Kitchener's Wood Memorial. There is not much left of the actual wood. It was completely decimated during the war. All that is left is a relatively large stone marker and a plaque explaining the significance of the battle. We had WO Caine and MCpls McRae and Munday lay a wreath.
Poelkapelle was our next stop, where Sgt John Henry Thompson, MCpl O'Sullivan's great-great-great uncle is buried. He played a lament and we allowed him and Mr. O'Sullivan some time alone to remember.
We then moved on to Passchendaele. Although this was a rather bloody battle, which changed hands many times over the course of the war, all that remains is a small memorial.
Tyne Cot, the largest Commonwealth war grave cemetery: 12000 soldiers with about 8000 of them unknown. The cemetery is stunning. Incorporated into the design of the cemetery are 4 German concrete bunkers. The Sword of Remembrance is built on top of one of these bunkers.
We then made a brief stop at Hill 62 before heading back to the hotel to get ready for the Last Post ceremony at Menin Gate. The ceremony starts promptly at 2000hrs and occurs every night since the end of 1944. Our wreath layers for that night's ceremony were RSM Fischer, Sgt Rawleigh and MCpl Bagley. We had WO Miles play a lament as the wreaths were laid and Maj Morris read.
Once the ceremony was finished, we marched into Menin with WO Miles piping us in. It was an incredible feeling. No words can really describe the experience.
In the same area, is John McRae's dressing station. 2Lt Cooper read McRae's famous poem to help set the stage.
Our next stop is the Brooding Soldier Memorial located in the St. Juliaan area. This is significant because all cadets who wish to obtain their glen must write the exam that tests their knowledge on the Battle at St. Julien.
From there, we made our way to the Kitchener's Wood Memorial. There is not much left of the actual wood. It was completely decimated during the war. All that is left is a relatively large stone marker and a plaque explaining the significance of the battle. We had WO Caine and MCpls McRae and Munday lay a wreath.
Poelkapelle was our next stop, where Sgt John Henry Thompson, MCpl O'Sullivan's great-great-great uncle is buried. He played a lament and we allowed him and Mr. O'Sullivan some time alone to remember.
We then moved on to Passchendaele. Although this was a rather bloody battle, which changed hands many times over the course of the war, all that remains is a small memorial.
Tyne Cot, the largest Commonwealth war grave cemetery: 12000 soldiers with about 8000 of them unknown. The cemetery is stunning. Incorporated into the design of the cemetery are 4 German concrete bunkers. The Sword of Remembrance is built on top of one of these bunkers.
We then made a brief stop at Hill 62 before heading back to the hotel to get ready for the Last Post ceremony at Menin Gate. The ceremony starts promptly at 2000hrs and occurs every night since the end of 1944. Our wreath layers for that night's ceremony were RSM Fischer, Sgt Rawleigh and MCpl Bagley. We had WO Miles play a lament as the wreaths were laid and Maj Morris read.
Once the ceremony was finished, we marched into Menin with WO Miles piping us in. It was an incredible feeling. No words can really describe the experience.
29 March 2013
Day 6 - Vimy, Neuville St. Vast, Ypres
Day 6 begins with the wreath laying at Vimy Ridge. We assembled on the back side of the monument and with Maj Morris leading, we marched to the front of the monument to pay our respects to the fallen. The RSM, WO Anderson and Sgt Cooper were our wreath party. After a few photo ops, we then changed out of our uniforms and had a guided tour of the trenches at Vimy. Like Beaumont-Hamel, the visitor centre at Vimy is manned by bilingual students from Canada. There is only about 250m of actual trench that has been re-inforced with concrete to help maintain the look and feel of the trenches. It was dark and fairly cramped. The floors and walls were originally made out of chalk, which is quite porous - sound traveled quite easily, so the troops had to stay extremely quiet while in the trenches and the 'subways'. Chalk when mixed with water becomes kind of sticky, so given the weather conditions at the time, the ground floor was a gooey mess of mud that clung to the boots and made movement much more difficult. Within the subways, they also had a railroad system set up using wooden planks to assist in the transport of supplies, which made movement that much more difficult.
After a delicious lunch at the Cafe d'erable, we made our way to Neuville-St.-Vast, the largest German military cemetery, containing close to 48000 soldiers. It was mind boggling to see the sheer vastness of the cemetery. It was a sobering moment. The German cemeteries are not maintained like the ones in the Commomwealth.
To lighten the mood, we headed towards Ypres for waffles and Belgian chocolate time! I think the cadets bought the entire stock of chocolate from Leonidas that night.
After going back to the hotel for a delicious dinner of curry chicken with pineapples and unlimited fries (of which the cadets were ecstatic to see), tomato soup and 2 scoops of ice cream for dessert, we headed back into town to scout out the Menin Gate's Last Post Ceremony.
Thus ends our sixth day of the tour!
After a delicious lunch at the Cafe d'erable, we made our way to Neuville-St.-Vast, the largest German military cemetery, containing close to 48000 soldiers. It was mind boggling to see the sheer vastness of the cemetery. It was a sobering moment. The German cemeteries are not maintained like the ones in the Commomwealth.
To lighten the mood, we headed towards Ypres for waffles and Belgian chocolate time! I think the cadets bought the entire stock of chocolate from Leonidas that night.
After going back to the hotel for a delicious dinner of curry chicken with pineapples and unlimited fries (of which the cadets were ecstatic to see), tomato soup and 2 scoops of ice cream for dessert, we headed back into town to scout out the Menin Gate's Last Post Ceremony.
Thus ends our sixth day of the tour!
27 March 2013
Day 5: Dieppe, Thiepval, Ulster Tower, Beaumont Hamel
We started the day going to the headland at Dieppe to see the German viewpoint of the beaches and to gain perspective on just how difficult a task the Canadians had in taking Dieppe. The vantage point the Germans had was incredible - seeing miles of beachfront in either direction. The Canadians didn't have a chance.
From Dieppe, we made our way to Pourville and the Monet bridge where South Sask Regiment came up the River Scie during the Dieppe Raid. From there, we drove on to Green beach where the British commandos under Lord Lovat attacked and took the German gun battery - this was really the only successful attacks if that Raid.
From there, we headed to Lochnagar crater, one of the largest remaining craters created from shell fire. This crater is MASSIVE measuring 300 feet across and 70 feet deep. Following this, we saw the French and German trench lines at La Boiselle. These trench lines are marked with yellow and red flag tape. They were extremely close together. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of this, but the cadets probably have several.
Our next stop is Thiepval Memorial to the Missing to commemorate all the British and South African soldiers killed on the first day of fighting on the Somme on 1 July 1914. There are 73000 names on the memorial.
Next on our list is Ulster Tower and the British front lines - 38th ulster division, saw original trench lines as they were found. A lovely Irishman gave us a personal tour of the trench lines and put into context what life was like on the frontline during WWI.
Another regiment that suffered catastrophic losses was the Newfoundland Regiment. Newfoundland was not part of Canada at that time, but they also wanted to contribute to the war effort. Their losses are commemorated at Beaumont Hamel. Newfoundland bought this little piece of land to commemorate and there are bilingual guides from Canada who give tours at this site. We saw danger tree, which is a tree in the middle of no-man's land that the soldiers gravitated to when trying to cross the area.
We finished our day at Piper Richardson's grave - piper who won a VC, who was a part of the 16th battalion. He won it for his bravery in encouraging his company to go over the trench lines when they got stuck at the barbed wire. Piper Richardson is buried at Adanac Military Cemetery.
From Dieppe, we made our way to Pourville and the Monet bridge where South Sask Regiment came up the River Scie during the Dieppe Raid. From there, we drove on to Green beach where the British commandos under Lord Lovat attacked and took the German gun battery - this was really the only successful attacks if that Raid.
From there, we headed to Lochnagar crater, one of the largest remaining craters created from shell fire. This crater is MASSIVE measuring 300 feet across and 70 feet deep. Following this, we saw the French and German trench lines at La Boiselle. These trench lines are marked with yellow and red flag tape. They were extremely close together. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of this, but the cadets probably have several.
Our next stop is Thiepval Memorial to the Missing to commemorate all the British and South African soldiers killed on the first day of fighting on the Somme on 1 July 1914. There are 73000 names on the memorial.
Next on our list is Ulster Tower and the British front lines - 38th ulster division, saw original trench lines as they were found. A lovely Irishman gave us a personal tour of the trench lines and put into context what life was like on the frontline during WWI.
Another regiment that suffered catastrophic losses was the Newfoundland Regiment. Newfoundland was not part of Canada at that time, but they also wanted to contribute to the war effort. Their losses are commemorated at Beaumont Hamel. Newfoundland bought this little piece of land to commemorate and there are bilingual guides from Canada who give tours at this site. We saw danger tree, which is a tree in the middle of no-man's land that the soldiers gravitated to when trying to cross the area.
We finished our day at Piper Richardson's grave - piper who won a VC, who was a part of the 16th battalion. He won it for his bravery in encouraging his company to go over the trench lines when they got stuck at the barbed wire. Piper Richardson is buried at Adanac Military Cemetery.
Day 4: Normandy, Claire Tison, Rouen, Dieppe
Day 4 starts at Verrieres Ridge - Point 67, where the 5th Brigade 2nd Canadian Infantry division. They were also part of the Battle of Normandy. Beautiful monument with the Canadian Maple Leaf engraved into the ground. A lovely group photo op that will be posted later.
Following Verrieres Ridge, we moved to Bretteville sur Laize, which is a larger Canadian military cemetery, home of soldiers who died in the Battle of Normandy. Many Calgary Highlanders are buried here. Another somber moment and completely mind boggling the number who lost their lives.
We then moved to Claire Tison, another battle honor of the Calgary Highlanders. All that's left is the bridge and a memorial that commemorates those who died while taking the bridge.
From there, we went to Rouen to see 2Lt Cooper's great, great uncle, who died in WWI. His great, great uncle is buried in a cemetery mixed with civilian and French soldiers. It was a moving ceremony with WO Miles playing a lament and a quiet moment for 2Lt Cooper and Sgt Cooper. God bless Stanley Morton Cooper. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.
We finished our day in Dieppe with a visit to the museum in the theatre the Canadians went through on that fateful day in August 1942.
We had a lovely dinner where the cadets continue to expand their culinary horizons with more French cuisine.
Tip of the day: Bakeries with fresh French bread and tasty pastries make excellent supplements to breakfast and lunch.
Following Verrieres Ridge, we moved to Bretteville sur Laize, which is a larger Canadian military cemetery, home of soldiers who died in the Battle of Normandy. Many Calgary Highlanders are buried here. Another somber moment and completely mind boggling the number who lost their lives.
We then moved to Claire Tison, another battle honor of the Calgary Highlanders. All that's left is the bridge and a memorial that commemorates those who died while taking the bridge.
From there, we went to Rouen to see 2Lt Cooper's great, great uncle, who died in WWI. His great, great uncle is buried in a cemetery mixed with civilian and French soldiers. It was a moving ceremony with WO Miles playing a lament and a quiet moment for 2Lt Cooper and Sgt Cooper. God bless Stanley Morton Cooper. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.
We finished our day in Dieppe with a visit to the museum in the theatre the Canadians went through on that fateful day in August 1942.
We had a lovely dinner where the cadets continue to expand their culinary horizons with more French cuisine.
Tip of the day: Bakeries with fresh French bread and tasty pastries make excellent supplements to breakfast and lunch.
Day 3: Normandy!
Day 3 opened with a visit to the Mulberry Harbor, near town of Arromanche. The Mulberry Harbor was essentially a bring your own harbor to resupply troops. No troops landed here on D-Day. It was primarily used for resupply until Nov 44.
After taking a look at the remnants of the Mulberry Harbor, we scooted over to the Juno Beach Centre. The visit started with a brief introduction to the various statues and monuments that make up the grounds outside of the centre and was followed by a shirt introductory video of Canada's war efforts inside before being released into the museum itself. The museum covered Canada's involvement in the Second World War, both from a military front as well as the domestic front. After, we all made our way down to the beaches of Normandy where most of the cadets proceeded to remove their shoes and stood in the waters that our Canadian troops landed in on 6 Jun 44. WO Miles played his pipes on the beach and the haunting echo was eery as it floated across the wind swept beach. With the sounds of the pipes still playing in our minds, the cadets collected bottles of sand and water to commemorate the soldiers who landed there 69 years ago.
From the beaches of Normandy, we then made our way to the first house liberated by the Royal Rifles of Canada on D-Day with a short stop at a Sherman tank along the way. We walked along the windy and cold beachfront further along where the Canadians landed before boarding the bus and heading towards our first cemetery visit at Beny sur Mer - this cemetery holds the graves of soldiers who died in the first half of the Normandy campaign.
After the beaches of Normandy, we made our way to the Pegasus Memorial where the British 6th airborne division were tasked with capturing several bridges and the merville battery at the beginning of d-day. Although this did not involve the Canadians, the last group really enjoyed the museum and so made the same stop over this time as well.
We finished Day 3 at L'abbie d'ardenne, where 19 Canadian soldiers who were Prisoners of War were murdered by the German SS.
A sober end to an otherwise great day learning about Canada's contribution to The D-Day campaign. Day 4 will see us in Dieppe!
After taking a look at the remnants of the Mulberry Harbor, we scooted over to the Juno Beach Centre. The visit started with a brief introduction to the various statues and monuments that make up the grounds outside of the centre and was followed by a shirt introductory video of Canada's war efforts inside before being released into the museum itself. The museum covered Canada's involvement in the Second World War, both from a military front as well as the domestic front. After, we all made our way down to the beaches of Normandy where most of the cadets proceeded to remove their shoes and stood in the waters that our Canadian troops landed in on 6 Jun 44. WO Miles played his pipes on the beach and the haunting echo was eery as it floated across the wind swept beach. With the sounds of the pipes still playing in our minds, the cadets collected bottles of sand and water to commemorate the soldiers who landed there 69 years ago.
From the beaches of Normandy, we then made our way to the first house liberated by the Royal Rifles of Canada on D-Day with a short stop at a Sherman tank along the way. We walked along the windy and cold beachfront further along where the Canadians landed before boarding the bus and heading towards our first cemetery visit at Beny sur Mer - this cemetery holds the graves of soldiers who died in the first half of the Normandy campaign.
After the beaches of Normandy, we made our way to the Pegasus Memorial where the British 6th airborne division were tasked with capturing several bridges and the merville battery at the beginning of d-day. Although this did not involve the Canadians, the last group really enjoyed the museum and so made the same stop over this time as well.
We finished Day 3 at L'abbie d'ardenne, where 19 Canadian soldiers who were Prisoners of War were murdered by the German SS.
A sober end to an otherwise great day learning about Canada's contribution to The D-Day campaign. Day 4 will see us in Dieppe!
24 March 2013
Day 2: Longues sur mer and Bayeux
We had an early start this morning with a 6 hour ferry ride from Portsmouth to Caen. We arrived on French soil around 1500hrs and proceeded on our drive to the town of Bayeux. Along the way, we made a stop at Longues sur mer to see 4 German gun batteries aimed at the beaches of Gold and Omaha. These gun batteries threatened those 2 beaches as well as the others on D-Day and needed to be silenced.
After a windy and somewhat cold walk about of the German gun batteries, we retired to our hotel - Lion d'Or where it was the base for the Press Corps during the Battle of Normandy. Inside the bar of the hotel are pictures of famous people who have frequented the Lion d'Or.
Tomorrow, we will continue with our look at D-Day and visit the beaches of Normandy, the Pegasus Bridge, Claire Tison (if we have time) and a visit to one d the Canadian cemeteries at Bennie sur mer.
The cadets had a bit if free time when we got back to the hotel and spent some time wandering around the town before dinner. A good number of them found a French bakery an promptly brought themselves a French baguette or some other delicious pastries.
I've attached some pictures of our day!
After a windy and somewhat cold walk about of the German gun batteries, we retired to our hotel - Lion d'Or where it was the base for the Press Corps during the Battle of Normandy. Inside the bar of the hotel are pictures of famous people who have frequented the Lion d'Or.
Tomorrow, we will continue with our look at D-Day and visit the beaches of Normandy, the Pegasus Bridge, Claire Tison (if we have time) and a visit to one d the Canadian cemeteries at Bennie sur mer.
The cadets had a bit if free time when we got back to the hotel and spent some time wandering around the town before dinner. A good number of them found a French bakery an promptly brought themselves a French baguette or some other delicious pastries.
I've attached some pictures of our day!
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