Cambrai & The Tank – 1917

Tour Over Three Days (One full day and two half days) -

from £699

Cost Includes your Vehicle, Driver and One Passenger

Extra Adults £299 each, Children 5-15 £150, Under 5s free.

More information on what is included is available HERE

Battlefieldsby4x4 offer a guided tour starting from Cambrai. Over three days we will travel through the lanes and villages that were in the forefront of the largest tank action that had ever taken place. Although first used in action just north of the Somme battlefields, in September 1916 where a Captain of the KSLI described as “A new engine of War, a petrol-driven armoured car, termed the Tank ” it was in the 1917 Battle of Cambrai that over 470 British mark IV tanks went into action. From the historic town of Cambrai, which had surrendered to the British after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, we follow some of the tracks that those tanks took as they lumbered towards their objectives. From the hotel we will follow the tracks from the railway unloading depots, past and through woods that retain the original trench lines of the preceding battles. The traces of their machine gun fire can still be seen in the buildings that have since been repaired and put back into use. En route we visit some of the immaculately maintained cemeteries of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, that contain the graves of the infantry and of many of the crews that manned these tanks as they moved forward at 4 mph to attack the defenses of the Hindenburg Line. In the space of just seventeen days, and over a small area of the countryside the losses on both sides were considerable, figures that we struggle to comprehend today - The British had 44,000 casualties including more than 20,000 wounded and 7,048 missing. The Germans captured 9,000 prisoners, 165 guns, 600 machine guns and more than 90 tanks, but in doing so sustained 41,000 casualties including 11,000 prisoners with 145 guns and 456 machine guns that fell into British hands. The already weakened bridge crossing the Canal du Nord at Masnieres was attempted in a tank almost a century ago, with catastrophic consequences for the bridge. Luckily today the replacement is standing firm. We will cross the canal in the footsteps of the Canadian Divisions. The Tour will be treated to a short film in the Hotel, and a talk from the patron Philippe Gorczynski who was responsible for researching, finding and excavating “Deborah” D51 the WW1 tank that is now displayed not far from Cambrai and that is visited during the Tour

Example Itinerary:

Day 1 Independent travel to the agreed meeting point (details confirmed in advance of departure date) 12h30 to 13h30 Arrival at meeting point, explanations, questions, distribution of Tour material, 14h15 to 17h30 An afternoon trip along some local lanes with commentary 17h15 to 18h00 Arrive at the hotel 19h30 to 23h00 Optional evening meal in the hotel (recommended) or free evening in town Day 2 09h30 Depart hotel via supermarket During the day we will travel at a pace to suit all visiting Cemeteries and sites such as the off-loading areas first used by the tanks, remains of trench lines, front line positions, the Cambrai Memorial 17h30 to 18h30 Return to hotel, the evening is free for you to spend as you wish Day 3 09h30 Depart hotel, Visit to the private museum and ‘Deborah’ the recovered tank that supported the 29 th Division. We continue our day of battlefield sights and lanes traveling west towards Arras, crossing the Hindenburg line, the Canal du Nord and Bourlon Wood. 13h00 to 13h30 Approximate arrival in the centre of Arras 14h00 Farewell (Non-contractual Tour example, subject to alteration when necessary – all times are local) For more information and to see what is included or not included in each tour, click here

2017 DATES