Commemorative trips
Throughout 2014, Portsmouth will be staging special events and exhibitions. HMS: Hear My Story is a multimillion-pound exhibition at the National Museum Royal Navy in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. It tells the stories of ordinary men, women and ships that have helped to shape the Navy’s history. Racing To War, which runs until January 2015, details the vital role played by the Royal Navy in the First World War.
Portsmouth City Museum is presenting Lest We Forget, an exhibition of artefacts and archive material, from 19 July until January 2015.
02392-826722, www.visitportsmouth.co.uk
National Trust properties will be commemorating the First World War centenary with exhibitions, talks, displays, walks and poppy planting. For example, on one guided walk you can learn about the secret history of Orford Ness Nature Reserve in Suffolk as a military test site. Walks are planned for 21 June, 12 July, 9 August and 13 September, 10am to 4.30pm, tickets from £16. Booking is essential: 01394-450900.
Or visit Overbeck’s in Devon, where more than 1,000 wounded soldiers from battles throughout the First World War came to recover. Discover the story behind George and Frances Vereker’s decision to turn their seaside villa into a convalescent hospital. Further information on 01548-842893.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ww1
Last Post: Remembering The First World War at the Coalbrookdale Gallery, Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire, explores the effect 1914-18 had on the Post Office and the contribution of postal communications to the war effort. Until 27 March 2015.
Ironbridge Visitor Information Centre: 01952-433424, www.ironbridge.org.uk
Meanwhile The Centenary Of World War I, run by Kirker Holidays is a very special, three-night weekend break at Wolfson College, Oxford, which examines the many aspects of war – from military and historical perspectives to the poetry, music, literature and painting it inspired. As well as talks by experts, the itinerary includes a musical programme. Departing 4 July, the break costs from £995 per person.
020-7593 1899, www.kirkerholidays.com
The Saga Holidays Road Of Remembrance tour includes a genealogy service for those who want to explore their family’s military connections to the First World War. The holiday offers guided tours at key sites in France and Belgium, with commentaries on battle strategies, politics and social conditions; personal stories from 1914- 1918, plus membership to the Step Short organisation to help you discover what role your relative played in the war. The seven-night tour costs from £699 per person, with coach from Folkestone. Departures until 16 July, then from 10 September to 15 October.
0800-056 6099, www.saga.co.uk/france
A special gallery houses the Overlord Embroidery, which has 34 panels vividly depicting the story from the dark days of the early 1940s to victory in 1944.
The museum is planning major redevelopment ahead of the 75th anniversary in 2019 and as part of that process will hold 70th anniversary commemorations in 2014. Special events leading up to the 6 June anniversary will include a photographic exhibition of Portsmouth and the surrounding area, as it was in the build-up to D-Day; an informal afternoon session with X-Craft veterans and a Drumhead Ceremony on the eve of the anniversary in recognition of the fallen.
A Remembrance Ceremony on the day at the D-Day Stone in Southsea will be followed by a military parade along the seafront.
023-9282 6722, www.visitportsmouth.co.uk
Meanwhile, until November, Normandy is hosting special events including historical re-enactments, firework displays, military processions, concerts, exhibitions and more to mark the anniversary and the ensuing 100 days of the Battle of Normandy.
New for 2014 is the Overlord Museum at Colleville-sur-Mer, near Omaha Beach. It houses Second World War objects and military vehicles restored to working order. The items were collected over half a century by Michel Leloup, who lived through the events in Normandy in 1944.
Normandy’s 100 Days is a new high-definition film showing at the circular Arromanches 360° cinema, featuring archive images and footage charting the Battle of Normandy.
www.normandytourism.org
The War Research Society’s Battlefield Tours include trips timed for the anniversary as well as other dates throughout the year. The programme includes the Normandy Beaches tour, 4 to 8 September, £599 per person, encompassing the British and Commonwealth landing and dropping zones, visiting Arromanches, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches. It also takes in Bayeux Cemetery and Museum, Pegasus Bridge, Cafe Gondree (the first house liberated), and Ranville. The tour also covers the American involvement and southern Normandy battlefields.
0121-430 5348, www.battlefieldtours.co.uk
Finally, departing on 5 June, is Inntravel’s short self-drive break in Normandy to witness the commemorative events. These include a huge firework display visible from 24 beach-front towns, an outdoor film screening and concert at Arromanches and mass parachute jumps. Stay at Auberge de l’Abbaye in Bec-Hellouin. The trip, from £315 per person, includes two nights’ half board and return P&O Ferries Dover to Calais Channel crossings.
01653-617001, www.inntravel.co.uk
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk
Prices are correct at the time of going to press.
Portsmouth City Museum is presenting Lest We Forget, an exhibition of artefacts and archive material, from 19 July until January 2015.
02392-826722, www.visitportsmouth.co.uk
National Trust properties will be commemorating the First World War centenary with exhibitions, talks, displays, walks and poppy planting. For example, on one guided walk you can learn about the secret history of Orford Ness Nature Reserve in Suffolk as a military test site. Walks are planned for 21 June, 12 July, 9 August and 13 September, 10am to 4.30pm, tickets from £16. Booking is essential: 01394-450900.
Or visit Overbeck’s in Devon, where more than 1,000 wounded soldiers from battles throughout the First World War came to recover. Discover the story behind George and Frances Vereker’s decision to turn their seaside villa into a convalescent hospital. Further information on 01548-842893.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ww1
Last Post: Remembering The First World War at the Coalbrookdale Gallery, Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire, explores the effect 1914-18 had on the Post Office and the contribution of postal communications to the war effort. Until 27 March 2015.
Ironbridge Visitor Information Centre: 01952-433424, www.ironbridge.org.uk
Meanwhile The Centenary Of World War I, run by Kirker Holidays is a very special, three-night weekend break at Wolfson College, Oxford, which examines the many aspects of war – from military and historical perspectives to the poetry, music, literature and painting it inspired. As well as talks by experts, the itinerary includes a musical programme. Departing 4 July, the break costs from £995 per person.
020-7593 1899, www.kirkerholidays.com
The Saga Holidays Road Of Remembrance tour includes a genealogy service for those who want to explore their family’s military connections to the First World War. The holiday offers guided tours at key sites in France and Belgium, with commentaries on battle strategies, politics and social conditions; personal stories from 1914- 1918, plus membership to the Step Short organisation to help you discover what role your relative played in the war. The seven-night tour costs from £699 per person, with coach from Folkestone. Departures until 16 July, then from 10 September to 15 October.
0800-056 6099, www.saga.co.uk/france
Commemorating the D-Day Landings
Portsmouth is home to the D-Day Museum, Britain’s only dedicated museum to all aspects of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France, on 6 June 1944.A special gallery houses the Overlord Embroidery, which has 34 panels vividly depicting the story from the dark days of the early 1940s to victory in 1944.
The museum is planning major redevelopment ahead of the 75th anniversary in 2019 and as part of that process will hold 70th anniversary commemorations in 2014. Special events leading up to the 6 June anniversary will include a photographic exhibition of Portsmouth and the surrounding area, as it was in the build-up to D-Day; an informal afternoon session with X-Craft veterans and a Drumhead Ceremony on the eve of the anniversary in recognition of the fallen.
A Remembrance Ceremony on the day at the D-Day Stone in Southsea will be followed by a military parade along the seafront.
023-9282 6722, www.visitportsmouth.co.uk
Meanwhile, until November, Normandy is hosting special events including historical re-enactments, firework displays, military processions, concerts, exhibitions and more to mark the anniversary and the ensuing 100 days of the Battle of Normandy.
New for 2014 is the Overlord Museum at Colleville-sur-Mer, near Omaha Beach. It houses Second World War objects and military vehicles restored to working order. The items were collected over half a century by Michel Leloup, who lived through the events in Normandy in 1944.
Normandy’s 100 Days is a new high-definition film showing at the circular Arromanches 360° cinema, featuring archive images and footage charting the Battle of Normandy.
www.normandytourism.org
The War Research Society’s Battlefield Tours include trips timed for the anniversary as well as other dates throughout the year. The programme includes the Normandy Beaches tour, 4 to 8 September, £599 per person, encompassing the British and Commonwealth landing and dropping zones, visiting Arromanches, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches. It also takes in Bayeux Cemetery and Museum, Pegasus Bridge, Cafe Gondree (the first house liberated), and Ranville. The tour also covers the American involvement and southern Normandy battlefields.
0121-430 5348, www.battlefieldtours.co.uk
Finally, departing on 5 June, is Inntravel’s short self-drive break in Normandy to witness the commemorative events. These include a huge firework display visible from 24 beach-front towns, an outdoor film screening and concert at Arromanches and mass parachute jumps. Stay at Auberge de l’Abbaye in Bec-Hellouin. The trip, from £315 per person, includes two nights’ half board and return P&O Ferries Dover to Calais Channel crossings.
01653-617001, www.inntravel.co.uk
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk
Prices are correct at the time of going to press.