The Road To Berlin - Poznan Poland - 1-3 April 2011

GBG Member Paul Burton has proposed a tour to Poznan in Poland for 1- 3 April 2011. Poznan or Posen as it was called under German occupation was on the strategic highway to Berlin for the Red Army. In February 1945 Soviet Forces had to take the city if they were to progress towards their final objective Berlin in the 'Great Patriotic War'. Commonly known to the West as the Second World War. Hitler designated the city as a 'Festung' Fortress city to be defended at all costs.

The Prussian fortifications of the old town were to be reduced by artillery bombardment and the assault of two Soviet Tank Armies. A month of savage street fighting finally ended on the 23rd February 1945 when the Red Army overcame the German garrison. By then 90% of the old town had been destroyed. 10,000 Soviet soldiers and 6,000 German soldiers had been killed.

Defeat in the West 25 - 27 February 2011

Following on from the highly successful 'Beyond The Beaches' Normandy tour in October 2010 there is to be another similar tour to Belgium and France between 25 - 27 Feb 2011. Recce tours are to be a regular feature of a new Guild policy of 'Continuous Professional Development' (CPD)

This tour will look at the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in Belgium from the line of the Escaut Canal to the eventual evacuation of the survivors from the beaches of Dunkirk.

In keeping with previous tours it is only open to Guild members. In particular, those who may wish to attempt the 'Badge'. It will be led by Terry Webb Badge No 41 assisted by Bob Darby Badge No 29. Those attending will be expected to research and present at a stand on the itinerary (to be issued). These will be allocated at least 6 weeks before departure giving sufficient time for preparation.

The cost to each member will be determined by the number who attend. The maximum will be 16 places. All costs will be pooled and members will be invoiced their share at tour end. It is expected that the Tour Leader will have part of his own costs paid by members. This and an estimate of share will be passed to travelling members before the tour commences.

Please forward bids to Bob Darby at: bobdarby@btinternet.com as soon as possible.

This tour is now full but reserves will be held as possible replacements.

Currently the following have requested places

1.Terry Webb
2.Bob Darby
3.Dermot Gallagher
4.Derek Frisby
5.Tom Johnstone
6.Alison Hine
7.Mark Banning
8.Ian Mitchell
9.Anthony Wade
10.Ian Hodkinson
11.Joe Hamon
12.Frank Hooley
13.Tim Stoneman
14. Dudley Giles
15.Frank Baldwin
16.Nora De Bievre


As at 18h December 2010

Accommodation will be single room clean warm and cheerful. Travel will be in members vehicles or minicoach depending on cost and numbers

Bob Darby
Badge No 29

Beyond The Beaches - Normandy 7 - 10 October 2010

Eight members travelled to Normandy between the 7 - 10 October 2010. As previously described this was on a 'cost sharing' basis to look beyond the beaches after D Day, often called the Battle of Normandy

Members attending were
1.Bob Darby
2.Mike Reeves
3.Frank Baldwin
4.Andy Johnson
5.Joe Hamon
6.Andy Steele
7.Tim Pritchard Barrett
8.Dermot Gallagher

The aim was to look at British Operations after D Day in particular Operations Perch, Goodwood, Epsom, Jupiter, Totalise, Tractible and finally the closing of the Falaise Gap at Mount Ormel and Chambois.

Each member was asked to research and present a different operation on the battlefield itself. This was a unique opportunity to tell the story in front of their peers. Something that might help those who wish to try for the Badge. Many of the stands were based on the 1947 Army Staff College Ride.

The weather was generally warm and sunny,great for October! Accommodation clean and comfortable staying in Caen. The cost was about £200.00 per member for 4 days and 3 nights inclusive of accommodation (bed and breakfast), ferry fees, insurance, fuel, tolls but less Lunch and Dinner meals.The feedback from those who attended has been very positive. Two vehicles were taken by members

If any member would like to run a similar tour probably elsewhere I would be more than willing to assist.


Andy Steele describing the events of GOODWOOD on the disused railway bank running up to the Bourgebus Ridge


Hill 112/Operations EPSOM and JUPITER

Dermot Gallagher making his presentation on Op PERCH at Hill 213 the site of the Wittman 'charge'. Members present were of the opinion he would have passed Validation One!!

And for some it was all too much!!!

Wellington in India and the 2nd Mahratta War 1803-1805 20th March - 1st April 2011

Some people have shown an interest in visiting India but of course at the moment money is tight for everyone. Here is a trip I hope we can run if we have a few takers, costs are kept to a minimum and it could well be a trip of a lifetime, I've tried to include everything with some touristy like things too. Numbers are limited to 8 because of the mini-bus, but if there was more interest it can be done in multiples of 8.

Wellington attacked here: Seringapatam 27 March 1799

I don't profess to be an India expert but I have been before, and this is a recce so we expect to do some learning along the way.

Please let me know if you are interested as soon as possible, ajdinsdale@hotmail.co.uk.

Also if we don't get numbers this time or dates don't work for people we can always look at alternatives.

The Recce (13 Battlefields)

Cost estimated to be $1,700 plus return flight from UK perhaps £550, depending on exchange rates etc, it may be slightly more or less and includes:

1. Hotel accommodation on twin sharing, on bed and breakfast basis (single rooms add about $400)
2. Transportation and Battlefields as per itinerary by AC mini bus, includes fuel, taxes and driver allowances
3. Local English speaking guide / escort

4. Train fares

5. Soft drinks, fruits, bottled water on mini-bus

6. Rickshaws in Old Delhi

7. Internal flight

In addition to the Battlefields we shall:

• Stay in an authentic Indian Hill station

• Visit Dehlis' battlefields' by Rickshaw

• Take an internal flight

• Find some souvenirs at Assaye where you can often find musket/cannon balls etc.

• See the only remaining Napoleonic Breach left in the world

• Visit the Indian Army's tank museum
• Visit the Taj Mahal
• Eat lots of authentic Indian food
• Get in some sightseeing

Day	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Sunday  20 March 2011		London to Bangalore	Overnight flight
Monday 21 March 2011	Arrive Bangalore early: Breakfast and wash up, drive 127km to Seringapatam	27 March 1799 Seringapatam	Bangalor
Tuesday 22 March 20111	Fly Bangalore to Pune 11.30:12.50	25 October 1802 Second Battle of Poona	Pune
Wednesday 23 March 2011	Pune to Aurnagabad via battlefield and museum 238km	8 September 1803 Ahmednuggar Tank Museum	Aurangabad
Thursday 24 March 2011	Aurnagabad  to Mahora for Assaye 120km	23 September 1803 Assaye	Assaye to Akola  134km
Friday 25 March 2011	29 November 1803 Argaum Very little to see here Argaum to Chikaldara 150 km	15 December 1803 Gawilghur	Chikaldara (staying in Indian Hill Station)
Saturday 26 March 2011	Chikaldara to Nagur 250km		Overnight express train to Delhi D:20.50 A:10.20
Sunday 27 March 2011	Arrive Delhi: hotel wash and brush up: Battlefields by Rickshaw	11 September 1803 First Battle of Delhi 7 October 1804 Second Battle of Delhi	Delhi
Monday 28 March 2011	Dehli to Farukhabad via train to Ethawa 103km: early start	17 November 1804 Farrukhabad	Farrukhabad to Agra 180km
Tuesday 29 March 2011	4 January 1805 Bhurtpore	18 October 1803 Agra visit Taj Mahal	Agra
Wednesday 30 March 2011	Agra to Dehli via Dieg 295km	1 November 1803 Laswai 13 November 1804 First Battle of Dig 25 December 1804 Second Battle of Dig	Delhi
Thursday 31 March 2011	Site seeing in Dehli		Dehli to London
Friday 1 April 2011	Arrive London

Beyond The Beaches - Normandy 7 - 10 October 2010

8 GBG Members will be travelling to Normandy between the above dates to take part in a follow on from the June Arnhem initiative to encourage Members to take other Members with them when the carry out a recce of a particular campaign or battle site. Although D Day is known to most Second War Guides not many progress beyond the beaches and look at the battle for Normandy which 90 days later led to the destruction of the German armies in Normandy and their withdrawal back to the borders of the Reich.

The October tour will also be a learning experience for some and revision for others. We will look at some of the British Operations in Normandy such as EPSOM, GOODWOOD, TOTALISE and TRACTIBLE with a view to being able to guide at a later date. Each Member has been given an assignment to present on the battlefield.

It is hoped that other Members may follow suit and organise a similar tour for their battlefield discipline.

Normandy Attendees

Bob Darby
Dermott Gallagher
Joe Hamon
Mike Reeves
Andy Johnson
Tim Barrett
Andy Steel
Frank Baldwin

Bob Darby
Badge No 29

Shared Cost - No Profit Tour 17 - 20 June Operation MARKET GARDEN

Outside the Hartenstein Museum Oosterbeek

The Culvert at Wolfheze

The Nijmegan Road Bridge over the Waal

A moment for reflection - Reichwald cemetery

'Joes Bridge' where it all started

Two GBG Members joined Bob Darby on a tour of Operation MARKET GARDEN from the 'Line of Departure' as it is now called, in the Neerpelt Bridgehead to Oosterbeek near Arnhem. New members Andy Johnson and Joe Hamon joined friends of Bob on his annual 'Friends Tour' on a ' Shared Cost - Non Profit' basis. If you ask them I am sure they will tell you how much!

It was very much a learning exercise in the organisation and administration of such a tour. Bob took them to stands which he felt were appropriate to the MARKET GARDEN story and gave them his script for the stand. Everyone should have a style of delivery which should deliver a pass at Validation One.

Nobody has the absolute plan for any tour, but it helps if you can go with those who have been a number of times before. It is always good when senior members can pass on their knowledge to newer members who may be just starting up in guiding.

We stayed at the excellent Bilderberg Hotel at Oosterbeek for the duration of our tour (3 nights)

The evenings where well spent and busy. As always we met other GBG members guiding tours in the area, in this case Jo Hook and John Greenacre!

The next tour SCNP tour will be 'Normandy Beyond The Beaches' 7 - 10 October 2010. This is now full with eight GBG members wishing to travel.

Bob Darby
Badge No 29
Members Representative

7 - 10 October 2010 - NORMANDY

This will be an opportunity for Members to look beyond D Day at the Battle for Normandy itself. It is intended to look at the British/Canadian sectors in some detail with a particular emphasis on the attempts to encircle Caen and destroy the German Army in what became known as the Falaise Pocket.

All costs will be shared amongst party. This is a 'Shared Cost- Non Profit' tour. Please email Bob Darby on bobdarby@btinternet.com if you want more details. He will be leading and organising the tour.

Batlefield Recces

5 - 8 May 2010 - Holland
To vist the VE celebrations at Zutphen in Holland and to tour the Oosterbeek-Arnhem area - MARKET GARDEN. 2 places available. Staying in Oosterbeek

17 - 20 June 2010 - Market Garden - Holland
Operation Market Garden.- Eindhoven-Nijmegan-Arnhem areas - 7 places. Staying in Oosterbeek

Both trips being led and organised by Bob Darby. All enquiries to bobdarby@btinternet.com