Our tours also visit locations "off the beaten track" and rarely visited by coach tours. A good example is the location where this young German soldier's body was found nearly 100 years after he was killed in action in 1917. He was found behind this shell damaged wall, the remains of a chateau.
Contact Me
E Mail: terry@terrystours.co.uk Tel: 07798 710722
RESEARCH & TOUR SERVICE
Research & Tour Service
Firstly, I would like to state that researching the lives of World War 1 soldiers and guiding people around the battlefields of France and Belgium is a hobby, not a job. I have not and never will make any profit from it. People have offered to pay me a fee but I have always asked them to make a donation to my favourite charity instead, The ABF Soldiers' Charity.
It is a charity that is close to my heart and I have been raising funds for soldiers, veterans and their families since 2014. My Mum helps me by knitting her wonderful poppies and selling them at the various events that we attend up and down the country. During this period, we have raised £50,000 for the charity.
The process will start with me gathering as much information as possible about the soldier (full names, regiment, date of birth, family members etc). I then search for his Army Service Record. However, only approximately 40% of these records exist, as the other 60% were destroyed when a German bomb hit the building during the Blitz where they were kept.
I then use various resources to piece together the individual’s story including the following:
• Battalion War Diary;
• Medal Index Record;
• Service record (if available);
• Pension record (if available);
• 1901 & 1911 Census;
• National Roll of The Great War;
• British Officer Prisoner of War records;
• Commonwealth Graves online archives;
• 1901 & 1911 Census records;
• Local newspaper archives;
• Army List and London Gazette;
• “LinesMan” device that helps locate the exact location of trenches using a GPS signal;
• My own personal library of World War books, guides and maps.
Once the research is completed, you will be presented with a digital record of your ancestors’ war record, together with any photos or copies of relevant documents that I have found. Finally, if appropriate, I will recommend a tour of the battlefield.
Having read the document relatives are quite often motivated to visit the scene of their ancestors’ actions and, in many cases, this involves visiting the grave and the area where their relative fought and was perhaps killed or wounded. This is the most rewarding part of the service and is an experience you will never forget!
"I cannot believe the amount of work you have done researching my Great Uncle. I have read it over and over again. It is wonderful and I have send it to his widow Ida's family. Thank you so much. Bill Airey, Canada, June 2020"
The tour is based around the clients’ requirements. There is no set tour. We usually travel to France or Belgium by Eurotunnel or ferry from Folkestone or Dover. Within 2 hours of arriving in France we are on the battlefields and following in their footsteps from 100 years ago.
We base ourselves in either Ypres in Belgium or La Boisselle in France (Somme). We tend to use B&B’s in both locations as they provide the best service and value for money. Typically, tours will last either 2 or 3 nights. You can decide whether you wish to drive or we can take my Honda CRV which can cope with myself plus 3 guests. If needed, we can hire a minibus instead.
When we visit the Somme with a small group of 2/3 people, we stay at the wonderful Number 56 B&B which is owned and managed by English couple Julie & David. If the group is larger, then we use a larger hotel in Albert.
The cost depends on the clients’ requirements, and I always ensure the full cost is clear before the tour is booked (car fuel and insurance, accommodation, ferries/Eurotunnel, evening meals, etc). I also provide snacks and refreshments for our journey, including a homemade lemon drizzle cake!
Come the evening, we leave the battlefield outside and enjoy some "down time", a good meal and reflect on what we can seen. This photograph was taken in Ypres on the final evening of the 2018 Frontline Walk.
On the page I have called "A Tale of 2 Brothers" I have told the story of my Great Uncle and Grandfather. They are typical stories and the sort of detailed research I can do for anyone.
The other option is for me to design a “self guided” tour. This is for people who would rather visit the battlefields themselves rather than using a guide.
If you would like to know more or are ready for me to start researching for you then please use the following contact details:
Tel: 07798 710722
e mail: terry@terrystours.co.uk
So why is it so important to remember our military relatives? I believe this short video explains the reason without the use of any words:
