History of Warfare - Ypres, Waterloo & Dunkirk.

Battlefield and History Tours

---

Prices from £269*

Battlefield & History Tours specialise in Battlefield, History & Educational Tours around the world particularly Europe from across the centuries including WWI, WWII, Revolution and Empire and anything in between . With over 30 years experience in operating school groups we owe our success to the dedication of our staff, advisors, guides and experts.

We are an experienced team all sharing an interest in history and travel, committed to delivering quality planning and service, paying meticulous attention to detail and giving you total support, showing a genuine concern for the welfare and enjoyment of your students.

Our experience ensured that each tour you travel with Battlefield & History Tours will cover every eventuality and explore every opportunity.

Destinations in Europe

Waterloo - Ypres - Dunkirk

Wellington Museum. Before the battle this house used to be an inn. The Duke of Wellington installed his headquarters in this building the night before the battle took place. It was later turned into a museum where visitors can see personal memories of Wellington and other heroes of the battle, uniforms, weapons and detailed maps of the battlefield.

Hougoumont Chateau. At the time of the Battle, Wellington placed Colonel Macdonell in charge at Hougoumont with the words "defend the post to the last extremity". This Macdonell achieved and Hougoumont was not taken in the nine hours of fighting. The insides of the Chateau were burnt to the ground and remain a memorial to the Brigade of Guards.

Lion’s Mound & Visitors Centre. Visitors center includes Lion’s Mound, the Panorama, Audiovisual Presentation, the Visitors’ Centre’s Film along with the Wax Museum.

The Lion’s Mound is the main memorial monument of the Battle of Waterloo, is situated on the spot where the Prince of Orange was wounded. Construction of this 43 metre high mound began in 1824 and finished 1826 and contains 300,000 cubic metres of earth. The 226 stairs to the summit afford a beautiful view of the entire battlefield.

Napoleon’s Last Head Quarters in Vieux-Genappe, the Caillou farm. This museum is where Napoleon and his staff spent the nights of 17th and 18th June 1815 and drew up his battle plans.

The ‘In Flanders’ Fields Museum occupies the second floor of the Cloth Hall on the market square in Ypres city centre, dedicated to the study of the First World War. Weapons, letters, medals and other memorabilia are displayed alongside models, documentary films and other interactive audio-visual media.

The Memorial Museum - Passchendaele 1917 is located in the historical castle of Zonnebeke within spacious grounds. Attention has been paid to uniforms, battlefield archeology and artillery. The renovated museum has five different parts consisting of a comprehensive overview of the First World with lifelike dioramas, photo and film material. In the unique dugout experience you will discover communication and dressing posts, headquarters and sleeping-accommodation. Visitors can also visit the Trench Experience, where a network of German and British trenches with original shelters have been reconstructed.

The Hooge Crater Museum is a privately owned museum in a small church across the road from the Hooge Crater Cemetery. The museum houses life like scenes ranging from German bunkers to British trenches with real life cavalry horses, an original Model Ford T ambulance and a replica of a Fokker DR1 (triplane). The newly opened wing offers a group space with film projection room as well as a fantastic display covering ‘The Chain of Evacuation’. There are also outdoor trenches (which can be booked for groups only) with fantastic panels, pictures and maps bringing the scene to life. There is a café which offers a fantastic lunch (to be booked in advance) or it’s possible for groups to eat their packed lunch.

Hill 62 and Sanctuary Wood Museum and Trenches, so named because it is 62 metres above sea level, is one of the few sites on the Ypres Salient where an original trench layout can still be seen with original trees riddled with bullet holes. The museum houses an eclectic collection of shells, and artillery machines, as well as a selection of ‘What the Butler Saw’ machines.

Talbot House – ‘Toc H’ in Poperinge was opened by Army chaplains Philip ‘Tubby’ Clayton and Neville Talbot as an ‘Every Man’s Club’, in December 1915. It became a rare place where soldiers could meet and relax regardless of rank. The loft, which was previously used for drying hops, was converted into a chapel and became known as “the Upper Room”. A sign on the front door reads “All rank abandon, ye who enter here.” It’s possible to book afternoon tea in the tranquil surroundings.

Poperinge There is also an opportunity to visit the Town Hall in Poperinge, where a number of British soldiers were executed, many for desertion. The execution post in the middle of the court-yard was used for the last executions and two cells in the basement have been restored.

Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery was the result of a Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) opened just before the First Battle of Ypres. An integral part of the Visitor Centre is the search for information about the casualties buried in this cemetery. Nellie Spindler was a member of Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service and is one of only two British female casualties of the First World War to be buried in Belgium. On 21st August 1917 the CCS at Brandhoek was hit by German artillery shells and five nurses including Nellie were concussed by the explosions. Nellie died later from an injury to her chest and her body was brought to the cemetery at Lijssenthoek for burial. She was aged 26 and the daughter of George and Elizabeth Spindler from Wakefield, Yorkshire.

Essex Farm Cemetery is on the site of a dressing station where John McCrae operated as a surgeon and wrote his world-famous poem “In Flanders Fields” at the beginning of May 1915. The youngest soldier to die in the Ypres Salient, Joe Strudwick, from Dorking, Surrey is buried here. It is an Advanced Dressing Station (ADS) where the second stage of the Chain of Evacuation occurred.

The Menin Gate is a memorial to the British and Commonwealth servicemen who lost their lives in Ypres and have no known grave. There are over 54 000 names on the memorial located on the eastern side of Ypres. Every evening at 8pm local buglers sound the Last Post known as the Last Post Ceremony. It’s possible to arrange participation in the ceremony where up to three selected students from the group can lay a wreath.

Tyne Cot Cemetery is the largest the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in the world, situated at the top of the Passchendaele ridge. It is now the resting place of more than 11,900 servicemen of the British Empire from the First World War. Tyne Cot cemetery first came into being in October 1917 when the ridge where the cemetery is now located was captured by the British Army. One of several German blockhouses was large enough to be used as an Advanced Dressing Station. (ADS)

Langemark German Cemetery is the only German cemetery in Ypres, it is an eerie dark place in complete contrast to Tyne Cot Cemetery. Over 25 000 remains are buried in a mass graves and their names are recorded on metal slabs.

St Martin's Cathedral Interesting architectural buildings destroyed during World War I and rebuilt in the gothic style.

St. George’s Memorial Church: was built to commemorate over 500,000 British and Commonwealth troops, who had died in the three battles fought for the Ypres Salient, during World War I.

Bellewaerde Park is a theme park close to Ypres which has a great mix of attractions for all ages with wild roller coasters, Pirate boats, children’s rides as well as animals and nature. Open between April and November, it is a great way to end a battlefield tour.

Ledoux Chocolaterie offers a fantastic traditional Belgian Chocolate experience with a range of activities, workshops, taster sessions and demonstrations. The helpful, friendly staff are happy to cater for any groups requirements and budget. A great additional activity which is fun and relaxing and you can make your own chocolates.

Operation Dynamo War Museum. Housed in Bastion 32, it served as the headquarters for the French and Allied forces during the Battle of Dunkirk and Operation Dynamo. It tells the story of the battle and the evacuation of more than 338.000 Allied Soldiers.

Dunkirk Town Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery and Memorial to the Missing. It commemorates more than 4,500 casualties of the British Expeditionary Force who died in the campaign of 1939-40 and who have no known grave.

What they will learn

Subjects available: History, Cultural, Art, Citizenship, Farming, Fashion and Textiles, Media Studies, Performing Arts, Archaeology, Engineering

Explore the changing nature of warfare with your students on a school history trip to Waterloo, Ypres and Dunkirk. From the cavalries of Waterloo, to the trenches of WWI and the industrialised warfare of WWII, your students will have the opportunity to explore for themselves the significant developments in warfare between 1815 and 1945.

A-Level

Challenges for Europe and the wider world, 1901+

GCSE

Conflict and tension: WW1

The Western Front

Inter-war years: 1918-1939

Developments in British warfare

Life in wartime Britain

Germany: democracy and dictatorship

Key Stage 3

The changing nature of warfare

Life in the trenches

Developments in British warfare

Life in wartime Britain

Primary

British history beyond 1066

Why not combine a Battlefield tour with visits to Christmas markets over the Christmas season. Christmas markets can include Ypres, Brugge, Brussels, Arras, Amiens, Lille in the Ypres / Somme areas. We can offer tours further afield in Germany, Poland or The Netherlands.

What's included

Sample itinerary -

Day 1: Depart from School. Eurotunnel or P&O Ferry crossing. Afternoon visit to Passchendaele Museum or Hooge Crater Museum. Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate.

Day 2: Waterloo Visitors Centre. Visit includes Lion Mound, the Panorama, the Audiovisual Presentation, the Visitors’ Centre’s Film and Wax Museum. Napoleon’s Last Head Quarters in Vieux-Genappe, the Caillou farm. Wellington Museum

Day 3: Visit the ‘In Flanders Fields’ Museum’. Afternoon guided visit which can include Essex Farm, Langemark German Cemetery, Tyne Cot and Sanctuary Wood.

Day 4: Operation Dynamo War Museum and Dunkirk Town Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery and Memorial to the Missing. Eurotunnel or P&O Ferry crossing. Return to School

For more information about Battlefield tours in Ypres, Waterloo and Dunkirk, or any other destination, please email us(link to email)

What’s Included; -

• Return ferry / Eurotunnel crossing UK-France-UK

• 3 Nights Accommodation in Ypres. (B&B, Half board, Full Board)

• Museums, visits and English speaking guides

• Executive coach transfers as per the itinerary

• Dedicated tour manager to assist throughout your tour planning

• 24-hour on call, emergency assistance

Transport

What’s Included; - Return ferry / Eurotunnel crossing UK-France-UK Executive coach transfers as per the itinerary Dedicated tour manager to assist throughout your tour planning 24-hour on call, emergency assistance

Accommodation

Students will be accommodated in multi-bedded rooms, and staff in twins or singles (supplement may apply). All rooms are en-suite. Breakfast is served on site, and evening meals are taken at a nice restaurant in the town centre just two minutes' walk away. Packed lunches are available on request. Facilities can include a recreational room with TV, pool table, pinball machines, table football, free WiFi, a large garden, and a staff room with minibar and digital TV. We work closely with the owners of four School hotels in Ypres Have a look at www.thepoppies.be to check out floor plans and availability. We can also offer 3* hotel accommodation in the centre of Ypres to suit groups with a larger budget. The ‘Peace Village’ in Messines is not just a hostel which offers a lot of outdoor and indoor activities in a secure location, they have their own restaurant, bar area, terrace, sports facilities and conference room / disco. www.peacevillage.be

Teacher checklist

Risk Assessments, Free Places, Education Packs, LOtC, ABTA, School Travel Forum, Adventure Mark, ATOL, Adventure Activity Associates, RYA Centre, IATA, ETOA, Expedition Providers Association, ASDAN Centre

---

* Group usually start at a minimum of 10 with no maximum group size. For primary & middle schools we work on a 1:10 free place for a teacher. Please ask for details.
This tour requires a minimum of 3 Days

Enquire about this trip..

Trip Duration.. Day Trip 2 Days 3 Days 4 Days 5 Days 6 Days 7 Days More than 7 Days

Yes please, send me the latest school trip offers by email until I opt out.

No thank you, I do not want to hear about offers and new trips.

To allow us to process your enquiry, please indicate you have read & agree to our use of your personal data

More Details & Prices..