WR2000: The Battle for Normandy 1944
Site under continuous development...
keep coming back to see whats new!
Course Field Trip Itinerary
Wednesday 26 March 2003 - Embarkation Day 18.00 Dudley - Coach to Portsmouth, 23.00 Overnight Ferry to Ouistreham, Normandy
Thursday 27 March 2003 - D-Day
07.00 Arrive Ouistreham Breakfast at local cafes
08.00 Meet coach Arromanches - 360 degree cinema, Mulberry Harbour museum Bayeux - Lunch, D-Day Museum, Bayeux War Cemetery.
After arriving and breakfasting at Ouistreham we will travel along the coast behind the landing beaches Sword, Juno and Gold arriving at Arromanches, site of the Commonwealth Mulberry harbour. We will visit the 360 degree Cinema which provides an excellent introduction to the campaign and its impact on Normandy. We will also visit the Mulberry Harbour Museum which illustrates the importance of the harbour and demonstrates how it worked.We will then travel to Bayeux where, after lunch, we will visit the D-Day museum. There will be time to visit the war cemetery before we depart for the hotel in Moncy
18.00 Arrive Moncy Dinner and Debriefing
Friday 28 March 2003 - Epsom Day
08.00 Breakfast and Morning Briefing
09.00 Depart Moncy
Villers Bocage battle of - Lunch - Epsom Battle - Hill 112
Our first visit will take us to Villers Bocage, scene of the action between elements of the British 7th Armoured Division and Michael Wittman’s small force. We will walk part of the course, after which you will try to locate the photographs and maps provided to the present urban landscape.After lunch we will travel to the start point of Operation Epsom, the first real attempt at a breakout from the initial lodgement to the north and west of Caen. Part of the course will be travelled on foot, from the River Odon to Hill 112.
18.00 Arrive Moncy. Dinner and Debriefing.
Saturday 29 March 2003 - Bluecoat Day
08.00 Breakfast and Morning Briefing
09.00 Depart Moncy St Martin des Besaces, museum - Lunch - Bull Bridge - Mnt.Pincon.
Saturday will be devoted to Operation Bluecoat, the battle launched by the British to support the left flank of the US breakout in Operation Cobra.
We will travel to the local museum at St Martin-des-Besaces where M. Menard, a local historian, will give us a guided tour. After lunch we will follow the route of the battle, stopping at Bull Bridge where the British 11th Armoured Division found a gap in the German lines, then on to Mount Pincon, the key geographical feature of the area.
18.00 Arrive Moncy Dinner and Debriefing
Sunday 30 March 2003 - Goodwood Day
08.00 Breakfast and Morning Briefing
09.00 Depart Moncy
Goodwood start point - Bourgebus Ridge - Falaise - Lunch Mont Ormel Museum - Corridor of Death
Today is Goodwood day. We will drive to a point south-east of Caen to examine the early stages of Operation Goodwood, the British and Canadian breakout attempt on July 18th-20th 1944. We will stop on the Bourgebus ridge to assess and analyse problems encountered by both sides in the battle.After lunch we will drive further south to the Mount Ormel museum which examines the closing of the Falaise pocket. From there we will travel to the site of the corridor of death where the retreating Germans suffered heavy casualties in the closing stages of the campaign.
18.00 Arrive Moncy Dinner and Debriefing
Monday 31 March 2003 – Charnwood Day
10.00 Depart Moncy
Caen – Memorial Museum – Lunch – Shopping and Dinner in Caen – Pegasus Bridge
20.30 Ouistreham
23.00 Ferry Departs Ouistreham
05.00 Ferry Arrives Portsmouth
We will head off to Caen in the morning allowing time to visit the Peace Memorial Museum. After lunch, there will be time to see the city, and have dinner, before we head off to Pegasus Bridge, scene of the landings of 6th Airborne Division on June 6th. There is a small museum and coffee shop.
Thence to Ouistreham, for a few drinks before embarking on the ferry which departs at approx. 23.00.
09.00 Coach Arrives Dudley