Itinerary
DUPEROUZEL Family Pilgrimage to the Somme, France – April 2016
Family members are gathering in France to honour the ANZAC troops who died on the Western Front in the Great War 1914-1918 and to give thanks for the life of Uncle Jim, 4783 Private James Ross Duperouzel, 51st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, AIF who was killed in action at Mouquet Farm, 14/16 August 1916.
Day 1 – Friday, 22 April – Arrival
Arrive by 15:00 (this is flexible depending on prior occupancy) and settle in at ‘Chavasse Farm’ and the ‘Gite’ in Hardecourt-aux-Bois and ‘Le Pre Fleuri’, B&B in Curlu-en-Somme.
Everyone to gather for an evening buffet and drinks at Chavasse Farm.
Day 2- Saturday, 23 April – Battlefield Tour – by coach,
Start by visiting the Lochnagar Crator at La Boisselle. In Pozières, visit memorials in close proximity: the Pozières Military Cemetery & Memorial to the Missing; Gibraltar Bunker; the Windmill; Tank Memorial; the 1st Australian Division Memorial; the Windmill site; Courcelette British Cemetery and Le Tommy Café.
Visit the AIF Memorial at Mouquet Farm, known as ‘Mucky Farm’ to the British and ‘Moo Cow Farm’ to the Australians; Thiepval Memorial and Serre Road no2 Cemetery.
AIF Memorial, Mouquet Farm & Thiepval Memorial
In the evening everyone to gather at 19:00 at the ‘Bar des Iles’ restaurant in Curlu-en-Somme for dinner.
Day 3- Sunday, 24 April – Battlefield Tour
Visit Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, to see the Australian National Memorial, the Adelaide Cemetery nearby and visit the Franco-Australian Museum in the town – booked for 13:00.
Lunch, followed by an optional visit to the Somme Museum, in Albert. Return to Chavasse Farm and Le Pre Fleuri in good time to relax and refresh for an early start the next day.
Day 4- ANZAC DAY, 25 April – DAWN SERVICE – Service starts at 05:30am
Departure at 02:30 from Chavasse Farm and Le Pre Fleuri for the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. Warm clothes and suitable footwear are essential.
Villers-Bretonneux Memorial dedicated to the 10,982 Australian Servicemen ‘Missing’ on the Western Front
Return to Chavasse Farm and Le Pre Fleuri to rest…followed by an Aussie BBQ by the Rum Ration at Chavasse Farm!
Day 5 – Tuesday, 26 April – Departure
Depart after breakfast…time to say goodbye.
Bonne route!
