Boronia Travel Centre

There are many reasons to visit the Western Front

In recent years there has been a significant growth in the number of people wanting to visit the battlefield sites of the Western Front in Belgium and France. Much of the interest comes form discoveries made in family history research and the desire to follow in the footsteps of a WW1 ancestor, while many choose to honour those that courageously fought on the front line.

One such person is Mick, who with his wife Margaret, recently joined the Western Front Gold tour in April earlier this year. Mick is a long-term military person who enjoys travelling regularly these days, and decided to combine a battlefield tour with a trip to Europe. The original plan was to travel down from Amsterdam to Budapest on a delightful River Cruise, so a battlefield tour around the Western front was the perfect way to kick off their adventures.

Again, being a military man, Mick was naturally drawn to the professionalism and knowledge of the Australian War Memorial led tours. “The tour guides are there every year and know the places inside out, which builds trust and familiarity.” Aaron Pegrum from the War Memorial was even able to help Margaret find her uncle’s grave easily using photographs as a guide, where they could both pay their respects.

Some of the great tour highlights for Mick was enjoying a hearty lunch in one of the old church halls, where one of the great battles took place near The Somme. “The building itself wasn’t anything grand, but it was certainly a memorable experience given the history of the area,” Mick concluded. Other highlights included the emotional Anzac Day Dawn Service at Villers Bretonneux followed by the more intimate Australian Commemorative Service at Bullecourt. Plus, seeing the school children at the Victoria Primary School brought a smile to everyone’s faces. The kids are so friendly and welcoming.

One final note, Mick really wanted to congratulate the professionalism of the staff who helped bring the tour to life and ensure everyone had a fantastic time and that everything ran smoothly.

There are many more reasons why you should visit the Western Front. For those who are seriously considering being part of this once in a lifetime experience in 2014, then please get in touch with us today, or call us on 1800 035 350. You can also visit our website where full itineraries are available for viewing.