4-Day Break

May 28th – Local departure by coach then onward to Belgium or northern France for a three-night stay
May 29th – Miracle of Dunkirk & Operation Dynamo (included). Subject to notification of 70th anniversary
commemorative events, today you will discover the ‘miracle of Dunkirk’ – the lifting of 380,000 allied soldiers from the beaches and the Dunkirk Mole and harbour area. Visiting the evacuation beaches at De Panne, Bray Dunes, Zuydcoote, Malo and the site of the East Mole and the Dunkirk Memorial you will hear the story of how each one contributed to the success of ‘Operation Dynamo’. Later, your guide will describe the architecture of Dunkirk Military Cemetery and talk about some who are buried there, or who are remembered on the Memorial to the Missing. Later we view the scenes of some of the desperate actions on the Dunkirk Perimeter Line, including the location where Captain Ervine Andrews was awarded his VC for valour. Following an account of the timely blowing of the Diksmuide Bridge on the River Ijzer the day will end with our attendance at the Last Post Ceremony at the magnificent Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres – itself damaged during the withdrawal. B
May 30th – Defences at Cassel and Wormhout (included). Today our itinerary will blend commemorative events as they happen, with a drive along the allied collapsing western corridor line. Viewing the defence
of Cassel by Lord Somerset’s 145th brigade and visiting the massacre site of the Royal Warwick’s at Wormhout, you will get an appreciation of how the defence of this line saw many British troops killed,
wounded or taken prisoner. Their determined resistance enabled many thousands of British and French
servicemen to reach Dunkirk and evacuation. B
May 31st – Dunkirk Little Ships (included). This morning we will return to Dunkirk where you will view the
vessels of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships before they sail home to the U.K. You may also visit the Operation Dynamo collection of the Museum ‘Memorial du Souvenir’ (entrance fee not included). Then onto Calais and return home. B

B=Breakfast

Accommodation
We will be using a selection of 2-star and 3-star hotel in Belgium and northern France. Accommodation is at a premium for this important weekend, but all hotels will be no further than two hours’ drive from Dunkirk. All hotels will have a restaurant and bar, all bedrooms will have T.V. and en-suite facilities.

Extras
Optional Excursions.
Single room supplement £79
Travel Insurance - Standard from £29.95