[Image: A French battlefield tour poster from the 1920s. The company offers a two day tour for 250 francs or a five day tour for 700 francs with board & accomodation in 'the best hotels'.]
Hello everyone! We’ve just returned from a fantastic tour of the AEF’s battlefields. Travelling from the shell holed woodland of Belleau Wood to the old trenchlines near St.Mihiel and to the wooded hills of the Argonne brought home the sacrifice and valour of the AEF.
A regular discussion point on the tour was battlefields which had left an impression. I thought it would be interesting to turn the question to the Dugout.
SO: Which battlefield - WWI or otherwise - has stayed with you the most, and why?
Was it the silence of a cemetery? A trenchline in the mist? A sudden emotional connection to a name on a memorial? Or even a tour that took an unexpectedly comical turn (perhaps with a cantankerous French coach driver)?
Let us know in the comments below!
For our final day we continued the story of the Battle of Meuse Argonne before returning for Paris. Along the way there was time to discuss Henry Gunther, the last American casualty of WW1, and a final chance for our coach driver to get lost and grumble about it with lots of rude words 🤭
It's been a terrific tour & we plan another one next year, so watch this space! 😁
Below: Meuse Argonne American Cemetery.
Below: Montfaucon Memorial.
Today we began our study of the Battle of Meuse Argonne. We began at the Butte de Vauquois, studied the story of the Lost Battalion, and followed in the footsteps of Corporal (later Sergeant) Alvin York.
Dan also made a 'human map' by arranging guests to represent US divisions (and the forest itself!!) at the battle in a particular highlight. Meanwhile, Spencer tried Andouillette (French tripe sausage - considered an acquired taste even in France) at dinner and declared it 'not bad' but will probably never order it again...!
Below:
1.Butte de Vauquois
2. Lost Battalion Memorial
3. Following in Alvin York's footsteps.
