Battle for Berlin 1945 - 17 - 20 May 2012

This tour will be conducted as a Recce for those who wish to go and learn something about the Battle for Berlin and prior to that, the crossing of the Oder and the German defence of the Seelow Heights. Members may invite friends and partners if they so wish. This is not a Guild sponsored event.

The administration is being undertaken by Dermot Gallagher and will be led by Norman Sibbald. Please contact them if you wish to attend or require any clarification on the outline itinerary below

This will be very much a self help tour in that you will need to make your own way to Berlin and select your own hotel for accommodation. You will therefore be responsible for settling your own bills. The only joint funding will be for hiring transport to get to the Seelow Heights which is about 60 kms to the east of Berlin and the cost of the Reichstag tour.

The outline programme is to meet at 0900hrs 17 May 2012 at the Titanic Comfort Hotel. A detailed itinerary will be published in due course.

Day One -Thursday 17th May - Walking Berlin Battle sites with conducted tour of the Reichstag

Day Two - Friday 18th May - Drive in group transport to Seelow Heights

Day Three - Saturday 19th May - Battle for Berlin

Day Four - Sunday 20th May - Optional Day. For those returning later in the day there will other optional visits.

If you require assistance on booking accommodation or flights contact Dermot Gallagher who may be able to advise.

I am booked to fly Easyjet Luton Schoenfeld 1340hrs 16 May Returning 20th May 2150hrs Schoenfeld-Luton. Cost today £107.00. Accommodation at Titanic Comfort 3 star 237 euros for 4 nights without breakfast. If unable to book in the Titanic Comfort you will need to book close by. This should be no problem. You are urged to book sooner rather than later. Please advise Dermot of your arrangements and your mobile no.

Bob Darby

Badge No 29

Beyond The Beaches - Battle for Normandy 4 - 7 October 2011

12 GBG Members attended another very successful Recce/CPD tour tour to Normandy between 4 - 7 October 2011. This was the second consecutive year touring the Normandy battlefields. Members made their own arrangements for getting to Caen where we stayed. Transport and attendant costs were shared with those who took their own vehicles.

As always each attendee was asked to present on a particular operation and to share their knowledge with those attending. Many were new to British military options post D Day. Operations discussed and recced were Ops GOODWOOD, PERCH, TRACTIBLE. TOTALISE, EPSOM, JUPITER and BLUECOAT.

After the tour had finished Members either made their way home to Blighty or travelled up to Calais to join other Members on the Calais weekend.

Members at Bulls Bridge Op Bluecoat

L-R Joe Hamon, Bob Darby, Ian Taylor, Neil Bright, Paul Oldfield, Tim Stoneman, Peter McLelland, Ian Mitchell, Ian Hodkinson, Tony Smith. (Wybo Boersma taking photo)

Beers/Dinner in the Buffalo Grill Mondeville

Ian Taylor sitting on the fence presenting on Bluecoat

Wybo Boersma, Peter McLelland and Ian Mitchell in the market area Villers Bocage discussing the raid by one Michael Wittman

On Point 213 the summit of the high ground east of Villers Bocage

This was the last of three tours undertaken this year under the Recce/CPD programme. Next year year it is intended that similar tours will be undertaken to Berlin, the Retreat from Mons and again Normandy but this time focusing on post D Day American operations

Bob Darby

Badge Member 29

Beyond The Beaches - Battle for Normandy 4 - 7 October 2011

Last year's tour on the Rauray Spur overlooking the Epsom battlefield. Andy Steel studying the map with Joe Hamon, Mike Reeves and Frank Baldwin looking on and listening to 'Tim' describing the ground

This will be the second Guild CPD/Recce tour to look at the events of the battle for Normandy 1944. the tour will focus on the various British operations during the period June to August 1944 starting with Operation PERCH and ending with the closing of the Falaise Gap. The operations to be covered are listed below.

The format is as before. Members will be asked to prepare a stand for presenting to their fellow guides. The aim is to give those aspiring guides an opportunity to present in front of their peers and for many travelling to learn a new itinerary for possible future tours. It is also important to enjoy each others company for a few days.

The Team Leader will be Bob Darby Badge No 29. In accordance with Guild rules on these events those travelling will pay his costs in accommodation by way of compensation for the time spent as a volunteer in preparing this tour. The tour is now closed with 13 attending. It is intended that there are four such tours a year. Next year in May 2012 we have the battle for Berlin and the Retreat from Mons in July 2012

Op PERCH

Op BLUECOAT

Op EPSOM

Op TRACTIBLE

Op TOTALISE

Op JUBILEE

Op GOODWOOD

Ardennes 21 - 24 July 2011 Post Tour Debrief

The 'Boys' with their 'Toys' - L - R Paul Oldfield, Bob Brunsdon and Andy Johnson

The Guild completed a very successful tour of the Ardennes looking in some detail at that campaign. As part of the GPD/Recce programme Members were given the opportunity not only to look at the ground but also to present at stands where actions took place. These tours are an opportunity to learn the route as well as helping those who may be studying for the 'Badge' with their presentation skills. Not only did they learn but had a good time as well! Our group was based at La Roche -En - Ardennes

The Chairman presenting his stand the capture of the village of Foy near Bastogne by Easy Company 506th PIR 101st Airborne. 'In some foreign field'

Bob Darby standing by a King Tiger at La Gleize having been abandoned by Kampfgruppe 'Peiper' on their withdrawal

On the West Wall. The German Border fortifications. These are an anti-tank obstacle known as 'Dragons Teeth'

Bob Brunsdon presenting at his stand

Paul Oldfield in an Easy Company foxhole above Foy

Last minute planning on the Euroshuttle

A happy group in front of a battlefield relic. A German Panther tank left behind in the German withdrawal at Houffleize

CPD Tour 'Watch on the Rhine' 21-24 July 2011

The planning and administration for the above CPD/Recce tour has now been completed. Frank Baldwin will be the Team Leader and has allocated stands from the itinerary to those travelling who wish to present. There will be a total of 17 Guild members both Badged and non-Badged making up the party. The group will be based in La Roche in the heart of the Ardennes region.
The cost will be £300 for shared accommodation and £329.00 for single accommodation. This includes cost of transport and hotels on a bed and breakfast basis. Lunch and evening meals plus any museum fees are an individual consideration.

Members travelling:

1.Frank Baldwin - Team Leader
2.Bob Darby
3.Dermot Gallagher
4.Paul Oldfield
5.Derek Frisby
6.Dudley Giles
7.Andy Johnson
8.Joe Hamon
9.Patrick Hinchy
10.Francois Wicart - Joining in Belgium
11.Margaret Pearson - Joining in Belgium
12.Ian Mitchell
13.Ray Wilkinson
14.John Greenacre
15.Jip Meijer-Joining in Belgium
16.Gordon Hill
17.Bob Brunsdon

Names may still be given to Frank Baldwin by Members who may wish to make own arrangements for accommodation and transportation and complete the tour co-located with the official transport.

A copy of the itinerary may be obtained from Frank Baldwin.

CPD Tour 'Watch on the Rhine' 21-24 July 2011

The planning and administration for the above CPD/Recce tour has now been completed. Frank Baldwin will be the Team Leader and has allocated stands from the itinerary to those travelling who wish to present. There will be a total of 17 Guild members both Badged and non-Badged making up the party. The group will be based in La Roche in the heart of the Ardennes region.
The cost will be £300 for shared accommodation and £329.00 for single accommodation. This includes cost of transport and hotels on a bed and breakfast basis. Lunch and evening meals plus any museum fees are an individual consideration.

Members travelling:

1.Frank Baldwin - Team Leader
2.Bob Darby
3.Dermot Gallagher
4.Paul Oldfield
5.Derek Frisby
6.Dudley Giles
7.Andy Johnson
8.Joe Hamon
9.Patrick Hinchy
10.Francois Wicart - Joining in Belgium
11.Margaret Pearson - Joining in Belgium
12.Ian Mitchell
13.Ray Wilkinson
14.John Greenacre
15.Jip Meijer-Joining in Belgium
16.Gordon Hill
17.Bob Boulton

Names may still be given to Frank Baldwin by Members who may wish to make own arrangements for accommodation and transportation and complete the tour co-located with the official transport.

A copy of the itinerary can be obtained from Frank Baldwin.

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

Six members of the Guild completed the Guild's third Recce tour since their introduction last year. They flew to Poznan in Poland between 1- 3 April to look at the battle for Poznan Jan/Feb 1945 on 'The Road to Berlin'.

The tour was lead by Norman Sibbald who brilliantly stepped in when the original Team Leader Paul Burton had to withdraw due to illness. We wish Paul a speedy recovery on behalf of the Membership. Our party arrived in Poznan over a 24 hour period but by midday Friday we were ready to go and look at the battle of Festung Posnan!

Norman conducted his tour in a manner which would have seen him pass much of his validation programme. Maps were produced with photographs from the battle so we could stand on the spot where they were taken and and compare then and now. Fascinating stuff! Over the next two days we visited many of the battle sites of 1945 including the Prussian fortress of the Citadel where the German garrison of Poznan were finally forced to surrender.

The casualties on both sides are beyond the comprehension of most of us who cover the Second War western campaigns. Over 10,000 Soviet soldiers died in this relatively short battle in Jan/Feb 1945 and over 6,000 German and Hungarian soldiers were killed. This should be compared to one of the largest battles in the west when in 1944 at Arnhem 2,100 men of the 1st British Airborne Division perished. 4 out every 5 German casualties occured on the Eastern Front.

This was the Guild's first foray to the Eastern Front and I hope not the last. Poland is relatively inexpense compared to other places in Eastern Europe and very accessible by many of the 'bucket' airlines. Hotels are relatively cheap as is food and drink and much was made of this by our travelling party.

On behalf of the Guild our group carried out a short act of Remembrance at Poznan CWGC where are buried 48 of the 50 British and Allied Serviceman murdered by the Gestapo after the 'Great Escape'

Lastly the people themselves are very welcoming especally the young. All seem to speak remarkably good English having spent some of their formative years in the UK. Norman Sibbald with his local knowledge and contacts made this trip the undoubted success I believe it was. It is very likely some of our Guild Members with websites and/or guiding business will be including Poznan within their guiding portfolios. Go and see it!

The railway bridge over the road leading up to the Citadel in 1945. The main axis of the Soviet forces attacking the Citadel. Below the same bridge can be seen above the Chairman's head In front of Soviet T34 Tank at the Citadel Museum

Poznan Old Market 2011 and below February 1945. The Studebaker in the lower picture was supplied as part of the US Lend-Lease Agreement. It is towing a 122mm gun After a hard day's listening and guiding!

Defeat in the West Tour 25 - 27 February 2011 - Completed!!

Tim Stoneman on the earthworks by the Mole at Dunkirk explaining DYNAMO

Dinner in Ypres on Saturday night!

Tim Stoneman delivering Binyon's Exhortation to the assembled at the Menin Gate on behalf of the Guild Membership

Terry Webb pointing out the counter attack route of the 2nd Cameronians on the Ypres-Comines canal on a very wet Belgian morning!

A moment to reflect at CWGC Communal Cemetery at Hondeghem

Over weekend of 25-27 February 15 Members travelled to France and Belgium and visited a number of stands connected with the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) 1940. By all accounts the tour was regarded as a great success on number of counts. Members practiced their guiding skills under the potentially critical eye of their contemporaries. They learnt a new itinerary for their guiding portfolios and..........they had a great time in the company of their peers!!

On the Friday a base was established in Ypres at the Poppies Hotel known to many of our guiding fraternity. At 2000hrs we attended the Last Post ceremony and some of us had the privilege of laying a wreath on behalf of the Guild membership whilst Tim Stoneman recited Binyon's Exhortation to the assembled

Our route followed the withdrawal of the BEF from the Escaut Line at Pecq back to the Dunkirk perimeter. On the way we attended stands at Cassel Le Paradis and Esquelbec. On Sunday morning we drove almost the entire Dunkirk perimeter taking in action by 2 Coldstreams on the Bergues-Furnes canal and 7th Guards Brigade at Furnes or more correctly Veurne.

Special thanks must go to Terry Webb for all his hard work in writing the itinerary and organising the stands. He gave willingly of his time and knowledge to assist travelling Members. Another big thanks to Nora De Bievre from Back Roads Touring who organised our transport through her company and to Jeff Cormack for driving the party.

The individual cost of the trip has yet to be calculated but by commercial standards it was comparatively cheap.

The next CPD trip will be 'Watch on the Rhine' 20 -24 July 2011

CPD Tour 'Beyond The Beaches' Normandy 13 - 16th October 2011

Pegasus Bridge - Benouville

It is proposed to carry out another of the popular 'Beyond The Beaches' tour to Normandy. The first was in October 2010.

'Beyond The Beaches' could link in with the planned GBG event in Calais 7 - 9 October 2011. Although the maximum number travelling is currently12, that may be increased at some future date depending on demand.

(At 5th March 2011). The following Members had requested places.

1.Bob Darby
2.Tony Smith
3.Jo Hook
4.Alison Hine
5.Ian Mitchell
6.Paul Burton
7,Neil Bright

8.Johnny Walker

9.Dudley Giles

CPD/Recce Tour 'Watch on the Rhine' 21-24 July 2011

It is proposed that up to 15 Members will travel to the Ardennes Region of Belgium to look at the battle sites of the German counter-attack operations of Dec 1944. As on previous CPD tours this tour is currently only available to guiding Members who will be expected to research and present to their fellow travellers. We have reduced the time on tour from the original instruction down to 4 days and 3 nights. Frank Baldwin Badge No 8 will be the Team Leader assisted by Bob Darby Badge No 29.

The itinerary is now available for those that wish to attend and will be available for distribution with costs by 31st March 2011. (As at 29th March 2011)

The following Members have requested places

1.Bob Darby

2.Frank Baldwin

3.Dermot Gallagher

4.Ian Mitchell

5.Ray Wilkinson

6.Dudley Giles

7.Philip Hinchy

8.John Greenacre

9.Andy Johnson

10.Joe Hamon

11.Alison Hine

12.Derek Frisby

13.Francois Wicart

14.Margaret Pearson

Places are allocated on first come - first served basis. A reserve list will be held to cater for drop-outs or any increase in numbers able to travel

Defeat in the West Tour 25 - 27 February 2011

We have 17 Members travelling to France and Belgium to visit some of the battle sites on the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force(BEF) in 1940. This was preceded by the German attack on the Low Countries and France. Sometimes referred to as the 'Blitzkrieg'

The tour will depart from the UK on Friday morning 25 Feb 2011 and travel by mini-coach and Eurotunnel to the line of the Escaut in Belgium, one of the British Army's defensive lines on the withdrawal ultimately ending with the mass evacuation of the survivors from the Mole at Dunkirk and the beaches at Malo Les Baines, Bray Dunes and La Panne.

The group will be staying in Ypres over the period. It is proposed we lay a wreath on behalf of the Guild at the Last Post ceremony.

As this is part of a new Guild initiative for Continuous Professional Development (CPD), travelling Members will present at a variety of stands along the route after having carried out the necessary research. It is likely it will help some to obtain the Badge.

The Recce for this tour was recently carried out by Terry Webb Badge No 40 Team Leader. and Bob Darby Badge No 29 Team Administrator.

Below are some of the stands we will be visiting. It is hoped in future other Members will step forward and organise similar events, perhaps for a different historical period. We are after all, a broad church!

If any Member wishes to see our itinerary please email me at bobdarby@btinternet.com

The evacuation beaches at La Panne

The Dunkirk Museum

The Ypres Bridge at Veurne (Furnes) over the Bergues-Furnes canal which formed the outer defensive line on the eastern side of the Dunkirk Perimeter. Defended by 7th Guards Brigade

The cottage on the Bergues-Furnes canal defended by Lt Jimmy Langley 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards. Situated on the 'home' side of the canal

The site of the VC Action by Captain Ervine-Andrews 1st East Lancs

The Gatehouse in the town walls of Bergues

Ypres Cloth Hall
Town of Cassel looking south

Creswell Bunker north of Cassell