Jack Alexander Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 The itinerary for the official coach to Contalmaison is now available. Enquiries are welcome from anyone, but we would like to see more representatives from the supporters' clubs joining us with their wreaths. As usual it'll be a mix of reflection, tears and laughter. The 'Erse of the Trip' award is now a keenly contested trophy. Old candidates will be keen not to let us down, but there's bound to be a dark horse out there somewhere. We leave on Sunday 29 June from Waterloo Place, arriving back in Edinburgh early on the afternoon of Thursday 3 July. The cost of the package (which includes luxury coach, ferry and hotel accommodation) is again a bargain. At ?370 per ticket, it's only ?20 more expensive than last year. Allowing for adjustments to the exchange rate, we've worked exceptionally hard to keep the price low. Less impressive escorted trips are commonly advertised at well over ?500. I'll be the principal guide and I've come up with a much-changed programme this year. We owe it to our regulars to keep things fresh. So there's lots more to see and a new place to stay - the beautiful city of Amiens, packed with history, colour and a host of excellent places to eat and drink. Our ceremony at the Cairn has now been fully integrated into the day's official schedule. It's a tremendous honour for Edinburgh and for Scotland. The new maire of Contalmaison is looking forward to participating and to meeting her friends from the Scottish capital. You'll find a downloadable copy of the itinerary on our website: http://www.mccraesbattaliontrust.org.uk If anyone would like any further details, they only have to ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Douglas Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 The itinerary for the official coach to Contalmaison is now available. Enquiries are welcome from anyone, but we would like to see more representatives from the supporters' clubs joining us with their wreaths. As usual it'll be a mix of reflection, tears and laughter. The 'Erse of the Trip' award is now a keenly contested trophy. Old candidates will be keen not to let us down, but there's bound to be a dark horse out there somewhere. We leave on Sunday 29 June from Waterloo Place, arriving back in Edinburgh early on the afternoon of Thursday 3 July. The cost of the package (which includes luxury coach, ferry and hotel accommodation) is again a bargain. At ?370 per ticket, it's only ?20 more expensive than last year. Allowing for adjustments to the exchange rate, we've worked exceptionally hard to keep the price low. Less impressive escorted trips are commonly advertised at well over ?500. I'll be the principal guide and I've come up with a much-changed programme this year. We owe it to our regulars to keep things fresh. So there's lots more to see and a new place to stay - the beautiful city of Amiens, packed with history, colour and a host of excellent places to eat and drink. Our ceremony at the Cairn has now been fully integrated into the day's official schedule. It's a tremendous honour for Edinburgh and for Scotland. The new maire of Contalmaison is looking forward to participating and to meeting her friends from the Scottish capital. You'll find a downloadable copy of the itinerary on our website: http://www.mccraesbattaliontrust.org.uk If anyone would like any further details, they only have to ask. Can I just echo that Amiens is a great wee city, especially the Saint Leu area and around the astonishing cathedral. I made my own pilgrimage to Contalmaison in September and there's something about that place. I actually headed out there from Amiens without a map and virtually drove straight there, which is no mean feat as people who have been there will testify as it's not well sign posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainmac Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Jack, under 'News', the web site just says 'itinerary coming soon ' - am I missing something? I was over visiting the cairn a couple of weeks ago with my wife - 3rd time there but first time 'solo'. Do you plan to visit the Red Dragon of Mametz this year - just up the road and a cracking memorial? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Alexander Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 Jack, under 'News', the web site just says 'itinerary coming soon ' - am I missing something? Yes, Iain. It's something to do with our webmaster being in a different place to me! He's a highly-strung electronic genius, and I'm sure he's fine-tuning everything to perfection even as I'm typing. The itinerary will indeed be widely available either later tonight or tomorrow. It's worth waiting for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainmac Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Jack, no problems - I'm sure it will be up to the usual standard! For anyone that's never been to Contalmaison, I can only echo what Chip said in his post - it is indeed a special place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbogoal Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 I doubt I'll make the trip due to being in Majorca, but I think there could be a wreath from the Foot Ball Club of Edinburgh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 If anyone wants a copy of the itinerary in MS-Word, drop me or Dexter a PM and we'll get it to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 If anyone wants a copy of the itinerary in MS-Word, drop me or Dexter a PM and we'll get it to you. Had a couple of requests for this already, and I think the itinerary is still to be uploaded to the Trust website. So feel free to PM for a copy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Findlay Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 Jack. Alas I will now not be able to make this year's trip this is due to impending fatherhood in the last week of June and the first week of July. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Thinking about going though I was hoping to visit Thiepval as well and not sure how practical that would be. I'll send you a PM Jack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Thread stickied. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownkg Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 I was absolutely gutted to be too unfit to go last year and sadly all this time down the road I am still unsure if i will be able to make this year's. I will send my deposit in and hope but , even if I do not make this trip, I would encourage everyone to go on a trip that I rate as the best ever tour connected with HMFC I have ever been on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Herbertson Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 I'll make every effort to make the ceremony on the day Jack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenerjambo Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 I went independantly last year going to Ypres on the Friday and headed down to Arras on the Saturday.Bumped into the official bus party in Arras on the Sat night and went on the bus ( A big thanks to Jack Alexander for inviting us to join the bus that day)to Contalmaison on the Sunday morning It was a very moving weekend one of which was of great interest.I'd really like to go on the bus this year but my work commitments say otherwise.I am however trying to go independantly again and trying to sort this out. Anybody on here who is thinking of going would be well advised that it is indeed a very interesting trip and one not to miss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Anyone going on this trip? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 Anyone going on this trip? Looks like it's going to be a quiet bus then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maple Leaf Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 A friend of mine is reading a book on the actions of the 7th Cameron Highlanders in 1918. He sent me this extract, which might be of interest to those who have been to Contalmaison, or are planning to go: 7 Cameron Highlanders at Contalmaison: from ?A Sense Of Duty ? A Family Study of a Cameron Highlander in The Great War? (Pvt. John Syme) by Neil Syme Richardson. ?Around 10 August the Camerons made their way forward, marching at intervals through the streets of Albert . . . On up the Rue de la Republique and out through the east end of the town, past Bapaume Post and down Tara Hill . . . . , past the old front line of 1 July and on to Becourt . . . Their final destination was the ?Cutting? at Contalmaison. At this point the entire 44th Brigade gathered, soon to be involved in an attack on the notorious German ?Switch Trench? which sliced through the Somme battlefield in August 1916. . . . . the Germans . . . . were now entrenched in . . . . the ?Switch Trench? was of great importance, it ran from the high ground at the ?Schwaben Redoubt? at Thiepval which is north of the old Roman road which links Albert to Bapaume, down through Pozieres to Martinpuich and High Wood, on to Delville Wood and beyond. For a few days before the attack, the brigade sent up working parties to prepare a trench from which they would ?go over the top?. This is itself must have been an arduous task. I have walked up the road from Contalmaison to the site of the 44th Brigade attack and I estimate that it is a good mile or so. Imagine what it was like making one?s way through narrow trenches carrying picks and shovels for digging as well as kit and weapons. The men must have been physically drained by the time they reached the front line. The air was muggy and the sun beat down . . . . The trench was completed and was called ?Highland Trench?. . . . The main objective for the 44th Brigade was to take . . . the ?Switch Elbow?, this was where the trench changed direction sharply towards High Wood in the east. Today, little if anything remains of the mighty German ?Switch Trench. . . . . Much easier to find is the ?Cutting?. As one arrives in the village of Contalmaison from the direction of la Boiselle, head towards the centre of the village and the church and, instead of turning right for Fricourt, take the bend on your left. Here, the road is steeply banked on the right. This is the site of the ?Cutting?. The old chateau was to your left and the road in front of you now forks, the main route curves right, a minor road goes straight on and this is the direction the Camerons took to the front line. After the action at ?Switch Trench?, the battalion was withdrawn to lick its wounds at Peake Wood . . . Two days later the battalion was back in the front line at the newly captured ?Cameron Trench? . . . . and positioned a Lewis gun team in the keep of the old chateau in Contalmaison. The rest of that month was spent moving in and out of the line from Contalmaison and helping wiring parties. On 11 October, the battalion moved up to the new line at le Sars, just to the left of the Bapaume road. There was a steady flow of casualties until the end of the month. The weather had now broken and the trenches became a quagmire. It was easy to lose one?s way in this barren landscape and it was a gruelling march back to the ?Cutting? at Contalmaison when the battalion came out of the line. On 1 December, the 44th Brigade said farewell to Bresle and marched back to Albert the way they had come, then back up to la Boiselle and on once more to the ?Cutting? at Contalmaison. On the 16th, the Battalion was to be found at ?Scots Redoubt? where an order was issued for the men to rub whale oil into their feet . . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upthehill Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Looks like it's going to be a quiet bus then. I'll keep the bus lively for you, I hope you like political debate!!! It's gonna be a good trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 I'll keep the bus lively for you, I hope you like political debate!!! It's gonna be a good trip. As long as the political debate is as good as the shed I'll be fine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubs Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Have just returned from France this very day, having been to the Cairn, Thiepval, Vimy Ridge, Delvile Wood and various other memorials.Also visited my great uncles grave at Danville on the outskirts of Arras. Therafter we went on to Normandy to scatter my aunts ashes (she died in February) on her husbands grave (KOSB kia july 44) at Banville La Campagne just outside Caen. If anyone is thinking of going, do it. You`ll know why you have chosen to be a Hearts fan. Stan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted June 21, 2008 Share Posted June 21, 2008 Just to say that, as I mentioned on another thread a few weeks back, I am going on this pilgrimage and will be laying a wreath on behalf of the members of JKB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 I'm assuming that the bus leaves Waterloo Place at 10:30 as originally advised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopPanner Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 I can confirm Dave that all the arangements are as originally stated. That means assembling at Waterloo Place at 10:30 for an 11:00 departure. I have added your name to the official list of those who will be laying wreaths. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday for what will be another memorable trip. A visit to Contalmaison is a must for all members of the Hearts family. It allows you to understand just why Heart of Midlothian is such an important part of Scottish history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 I can confirm Dave that all the arangements are as originally stated. That means assembling at Waterloo Place at 10:30 for an 11:00 departure. I have added your name to the official list of those who will be laying wreaths. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday for what will be another memorable trip. A visit to Contalmaison is a must for all members of the Hearts family. It allows you to understand just why Heart of Midlothian is such an important part of Scottish history. Thanks for confirming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Herbertson Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Jack, sadly I won't be ab;le to make the ceremony this year. Hopefully, I'll be able to croak out a few tunes on 11.11 in Edinburgh. I hope it is as fantastic as previous years. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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