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In the footsteps BATTLEFIELD TOURS

A Bridge Too Far Tour

Operation MARKET GARDEN, September 1944

16th to 19th September 2008

A four-day/three-night tour of the ambitious attempt by the Allied Airborne Forces to capture the five key bridges that stood between Field Marshal Montgomery's 2nd British Army and the frontier of Hitler's Nazi Germany. Our tour begins with the crossing of Joe’s Bridge at Lommel by the Irish Guards who were the spearhead of XXX Corps. It follows the route of “Hell’s Highway” through the operations of US 101st 'Screaming Eagles' Airborne Division who were responsible for capturing the first two bridges at Eindhoven and the US 82nd 'All American' Airborne Division before culminating in a study of the operations of the British 1st Airborne Division and 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade at Arnhem, which proved to be A Bridge Too Far.

Tuesday 16th September 2008 We start our tour at Harwich Ferry Terminal and board our ferry to cross the North Sea on the overnight ferry.

Wednesday 17th September 2008 After breakfast on the ferry we dock at Hook of Holland and drive to Lommel Bridge.

At Lommel Bridge we begin our story with the British XXX Corps as they wait to cross the bridge and drive up the road that became known as ‘Hell’s Highway’.

We follow this route north bypassing Eindhoven to Son en Breugel where we discuss the actions of the US 506th PIR.

From Son we drive west towards Best where we discuss the actions of the US 502nd PIR on 18th September 1944 and Private Joe E Mann who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions that day.

We rejoin ‘Hell’s Highway’ and continue our drive north to stop at Grave Bridge to discuss the actions of the US 504th PIR. From Grave Bridge we drive to Overasselt and the DZ ‘O’ Memorial to continue our story of the US 504th.

Our next stop is Grosbeek where we see the General Gavin Memorial and DZ ‘N’ before visiting the excellent National Liberation Museum. From here we drive to Nijmagen to discuss the actions of the US 82nd Airborne at the bridge before continuing north to book into our tour hotel.

Thursday 18th September 2008 We spend the morning looking at the British Airborne landings and the actions that took place as they tried to get to Arnhem Bridge. We visit the road junction where Lance-Sergeant John D Baskeyfield won the Victoria Cross and other famous sites in the vicinity.

In the afternoon we visit the Airborne Museum and the nearby CWGC Cemetery to pay our respects.

Friday 19th September 2008 In the morning we drive to Arnhem Bridge where we discuss the actions of Lt Col John Frost’s 2PARA before making our way back to the Hook of Holland.

On our return to Hook of Holland we offer you the opportunity to call in at one of the many wine warehouses to top up on your supplies before entering the ferry port to catch our return ferry to Harwich.

£475.00 per person.

Please note:

All prices based on two to a room.  If single occupancy is required a supplement of £135.00 GBP (£45.00 per night) will apply.

All tours are open to individuals to book, but are subject to a minimum take up of 3 or more people.

What your tour includes

Your set date tour with In the footsteps includes:

• En-suite bed and breakfast accommodation in one of our carefully selected hotels.

• Travel around the tour area in our air-conditioned Santa Fe 4x4 SUV, allowing us to visit the sites that the larger coach tour operators cannot access.

• Pick-up and drop-off at our UK ferry port (or other agreed location).

• Cross Channel Ferry crossing.

• Our exclusive and informative tour pack.

• All museum entrance fees.

• On-board refreshments during the tour.

• All planning, preparation and research for the tour.

• Services and personal attention of our experienced and dedicated tour guide.

• The comfort that travelling in a small party affords.