Covid-19 Update - January

Thank you for visiting my website. If there is anything you would like to ask about travel in 2021, please do get in touch and I’d be delighted to assist you.

There is some light at the end of the tunnel and we are looking forward to exploring the battlefields of Europe once again.

1) Government Guidelines

Sophie’s Great War Tours is always reviewing the Government guidelines to understand how we can operate safely.

In the months leading up to a tour departure, if it becomes obvious that a trip may not go ahead as planned, due to local or national lockdowns, guests will be informed with plenty of time so that plans can be rearranged.

2) Our Covid-19 Guarantee

If we need to move a tour to a later date due to Covid-19, no customer will incur any increases on the cost of that tour: the price you were promised will stay at that rate.

3) Financial Protection for Customers

As a UK Tour Operator, Sophie’s Great War Tours operates in line with the Package Travel Regulations 2018. Your deposit monies and final balance payments for tours are held securely in a Travel Trust Account to ensure enhanced financial protection for all customers.

4) Our Cleaning Regime

Before the outbreak of this pandemic, we at Sophie’s Great War Tours ensured that our vehicles were cleaned regularly throughout the day, to create a comfortable environment for customers to relax and enjoy.

All customers will be issued with their own hand sanitizer bottle and the cleaning programme has stepped up another notch too.

Are there any 1WW trenches to see?

Hundreds of miles of trenches had been built during the First World War, but what remains for visitors to see now?  Here are some of the original trenches that remain for you to experience on one of my First World War battlefield tours. 

Beaumont Hamel, Somme, France 

The Newfoundland Memorial Park on the Somme is perhaps one of the most visited sites anywhere on the Western Front.  This is probably because visitors can get a feel of how the battle unfolded here on 1st July 1916.  By walking the whole of the park, you can view the battle from both the Allied and German perspectives.  As you enter the park, you walk past the reserve line of trenches which were occupied by men of the Newfoundland Regiment and of the Essex Regiment that July morning.

Walking on, you go past and can see the support line trenches and then the communication trenches that weave their way through to the British front line.  Today these communication trenches are reinforced with modern decking that allows you to walk safely through them, as you zig-zag your way to the front.  As well as the trenches which can be seen and walked through, the land is pitted with shell holes - a stark reminder of what happened here more than 100 years ago.  No trip to the Somme battlefields is complete without understanding what happened here on 1st July 1916. 

Vimy Ridge, France 

As you drive through the Vimy Ridge Memorial Park, you go past several craters and shell holes.  Once parked up, you can walk through a small section of the line here, preserved in the 1930s and now presented as concrete sandbags to ensure the trenches will be here for decades to come.  What fascinates visitors is just how close the opposing trenches came to be here.  Once you have explored above ground, you can also take a guided tour underground to learn more about the terrifying nature of tunnelling warfare.  

Verdun, France  

If walking through original trenches is what you really want to do, you can’t miss Verdun.  The region is peaceful now, but it is almost like nothing has changed here.  There is so much to see!  Trenches, bunkers, tunnels and large fortifications are all still here to be explored.  Be warned, however, much of the terrain can be dangerous, with openings to tunnels hidden in the undergrowth.    

At the Butte de Vauqouis you can explore the extraordinary story of the French and German armies grappling for control of this hill.  In 1914, the village with its 168 inhabitants perched atop this hill.  The Germans took the heights in September 1914 and in 1915 the French wrestled back control.  From that point on, both sides would use extensive mine operations literally to blow each other from the hillside.  In total, just over 500 mines were laid, resulting in complete devastation for this village: it ceased to exist.  Today you can walk through German trenches here, get underground into some of the tunnels that still exist and see the incredible landscape that is left – breathtaking.

The Trench of Death at Dixmunde, Belgium

Here the French and German lines were just metres apart, separated by the canal.  This reconstructed network of trenches and dugouts was one of the most dangerous Belgian positions on the Western Front, being constantly under fire from artillery, snipers and machine guns.  Today, you can walk along the trench, get into bunkers and see exactly how close the Germans were here.  A new visitor centre and toilet facilities are on site.

Hill 62, Ypres

This is often the 'go-to' stop for school groups and families when in the Ypres Salient.  Don’t forget your boots as it can get quite muddy here as you explore this extensive trench system.  There are also tunnels that connect trenches and you will need a torch if you want to be brave enough and get through.  I used to do it all the time as a kid, but these tunnels get smaller and smaller as you grow! The small museum is good here – lots of artefacts to see, but don’t expect them to be in good shape or helpfully labelled.

The Story Behind The Roaring Lion!

On this day (30th Dec) in 1941, one of the most famous portrait photographs was taken.

This is The Roaring Lion, a portrait of Winston Churchill shot by Yousuf Karsh.

Yousuf tells us in his book how that day unfolded. He was waiting for Churchill to finish his speech to the Canadian Parliament.

He was in no mood for portraiture and two minutes were all that he would allow me.

Churchill proceeded to pull out a cigar and starting chomping on it as he did.

Churchill’s cigar was ever present. I held out an ashtray, but he would not dispose of it. I went back to my camera and made sure that everything was all right technically. I waited; he continued to chomp vigorously at his cigar. I waited. Then I stepped toward him and, without premeditation, but ever so respectfully, I said, “Forgive me, sir,” and plucked the cigar out of his mouth. By the time I got back to my camera, he looked so belligerent he could have devoured me. It was at that instant that I took the photograph.

By plucking the cigar from Churchill’s mouth without permission, Karsh was able to create this now world famous photograph. His facial expression is a direct result of his being annoyed by the photographer!

It was said that Churchill exclaimed, “You can even make a roaring lion stand still to be photographed”.

Thus, Karsh titled the photo, The Roaring Lion.

Special Memories from Ploegsteert

Every time I go to Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing or see photos of this stunning memorial, I am reminded of a wonderful tour I took there.

A group of student teachers were with me for a couple of days, taking in key sites that would help them in their teaching of First World War history when they got into the classroom.

We were in the area to discuss the Christmas Truce and whether teaching the myths of history was an acceptable thing to do if it gets a new generation of young people interested in the topic.   

After some great debate, we headed to Ploegstreet Memorial and the Royal Berks Cemetery Extension to visit a few men and hear their stories.  It was at this point that one of the trainee teachers wandered off to look at the cemetery register. 

After some time, she came back to the group in tears.  She knew she recognised the name of the cemetery but couldn’t work out why.  A look at the cemetery register and she was directed to one grave in particular: it was that of her great uncle and she was the first member of the family to visit him in a hundred years. 

It was an incredibly moving experience for her, but also for me.  It was yet another reminder of how special a tour can be, in helping people to connect with their past and pay their respects to fallen heroes.  

The Epitaphs that stay with me

If you are reading this, you have probably visited many cemeteries and walked past literally thousands of headstones, each one representing a person with a story to tell and a life cut short.

Each of us will be drawn to a headstone for a different reason.

In this post, I want to discuss the headstones I have seen on my travels that have stayed with me, and what it is that makes them special.

Devonshire Trench

My first trip to the Somme (that I remember; I note that I made my actual first trip was when I was only 5 months old!) was in 2005.  Everywhere I went was truly special but my first lump-in-throat moment came at the Devonshire Trench cemetery.

The story of the men of the 8th and 9th Devonshire Regiment who were in position here on 1st July 1916 is one that once heard is never forgotten.

Captain Martin of the 9th was aware that a German machine gun nest was located on the outskirts of Mametz village, the location of their objective for that morning. This machine gun position would be a major obstacle to his men’s success on the day, so he duly requested that additional artillery fire be targeted in order to silence the gun.  Captain Martin, a pre-war artist, made a plasticine model highlighting the exact location of the machine gun position.

Just before zero hour at 07:30, the lads of the Devonshire Regiment left their trenches under the cover of a mortar smoke screen.  As they crossed the ground in front of them, the machine gun about which Martin was so concerned opened fire.    

The Devonshire Trench Cemetery is the final resting place of 163 men, including Captain Duncan Martin.

Just before you walk through the gates to the cemetery, you pass a stone with an incredibly moving inscription:

“The Devonshires Held this Trench, The Devonshires Hold it still”.

Raymond Asquith

Social class or status did not make one immune from the hardships of war or the consequences of it.  The then Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith, lost his eldest son on the Somme.  So too did the then Labour Leader, Arthur Henderson.

Raymond Asquith of the Grenadier Guards led his men, under intense shellfire, on their way to capture a position near Ginchy. 

He was shot in the chest and despite knowing instantly that he could not survive the severity of his wound, it is said that he did not want his men to be affected.  As he was picked up by a stretcher bearer, he lit up a cigarette and smiled over to his men.

He is buried in the Guillemont Road Station Cemetery on the Somme.  The inscription on his headstone reads,

“Small time, but in that small time most greatly lived this star of England”.

The reason this spoke to me was that although the sentiment was deeply personal from the Asquiths to their son, the words I’m sure were echoed by families throughout the land.

The inscription also perfectly captures the sentiment that a generation of bright young men lost their lives.

Raymond, from Hampstead, was 37 years old and married with two daughters and a baby son.

Raymond Asquith grave

Ronald Butcher

Some inscriptions are expressions of pure grief.  They are not a message written from the perspective of the loved talking to the soldier that has been killed.  They are instead an outpouring.  You can only imagine that in this case, James and Ellen Butcher of Kidderminster, Worcestershire could summon only this thought:

“The sorrow we felt we cannot explain, the ache in our hearts will always remain”

It is a beautifully crafted sentiment, but it makes me think that they are all-consumed by this grief and cannot see a way through it. 

We often overlook the experience of loved ones waiting at home for news.  This epitaph brings it back vividly.

Ronald is buried in Wormhoudt Communual Cemetery, France.

John George Dunlea

Overtly political or inflammatory messages were not allowed to be inscribed on headstones.  John’s subtle inscription is, however, very powerful and makes you think about all the reasons why men joined up to fight. 

It also reminds us also of the political turmoil that was happening across the UK – a fact that spurred many on to volunteer, but with the hope of two very different outcomes.

“An Irish Volunteer, He died for the freedom of small nations”

John is buried at Auchonvillers Military Cemetery.

All

All headstones tell you a story.  You can learn something about the man or about the war itself.  Next time you find yourself in a local parish church, see if you can find one of those beautiful white stones, or stop in a Commonwealth War Graves site and read the epitaphs.  They will speak to you.  

Covid-19 Update - November

As we draw towards the end of 2020 and what has been a horrendous year for most of us, we look ahead and try to work out what we can expect from the New Year.

I wanted to share with you details of my 2021 Covid-19 guarantee so that you can feel comfortable in making a booking with me.

1) Government Guidelines

Sophie’s Great War Tours is always reviewing the Government guidelines to understand how we can operate safely.

In the months leading up to a tour departure, if it becomes obvious that a trip may not go ahead as planned, due to local or national lockdowns, guests will be informed with plenty of time so that plans can be rearranged.

2) Our Covid-19 Guarantee

If we need to move a tour to a later date due to Covid-19, no customer will incur any increases on the cost of that tour: the price you were promised will stay at that rate.

3) Financial Protection for Customers

As a UK Tour Operator, Sophie’s Great War Tours operates in line with the Package Travel Regulations 2018. Your deposit monies and final balance payments for tours are held securely in a Travel Trust Account to ensure enhanced financial protection for all customers.

4) Our Cleaning Regime

Before the outbreak of this pandemic, we at Sophie’s Great War Tours ensured that our vehicles were cleaned regularly throughout the day, to create a comfortable environment for customers to relax and enjoy.

All customers will be issued with their own hand sanitizer bottle and the cleaning programme has stepped up another notch too.

We can’t wait to see you in 2021 for a memorable tour, so if a Battlefield Tour has always been on your bucket list, or you are keen to visit the grave on an ancestor killed in the Great War, drop us a line today!

Thank you. Sophie

Travel in 2021!

Email: sophie@sophiesgreatwartours.com

Call: 07973 956373

Wow Sophie, how did this all start?

When I meet new people and tell them about my work, after the ‘wow, that’s so fascinating’, the next question I get is, ‘how did you get into that Sophie!?’

I first visited the Somme in 1990 as a babe in arms on the 74th anniversary of the Battle’s first day.  My father had decided the night before that he wanted to get to Beaumont Hamel by 07:30 the next morning and so as a family we set out upon a mad dash to Dover.  After taking a night ferry and a drive across France, we arrived just in time for my parents to hear the whistles blow and echo across the Somme battlefield.  

Fast forward 15 years, and growing up with a father that loved all things military history meant that I was bound to inherit that fascination.  I read history at the University of Birmingham and under the guidance of some excellent tutors, I grew my knowledge and love of military history.   

My research uncovered that 16 Shrubsoles were killed in the Great War, eight of them on the Somme.  More family members served but thankfully made it home.

I started my business after finding myself offering help & answering questions to those on the battlefields staring at maps, looking a little lost. Overhearing some dodgy stuff pushed me further and the desire to leave the London rat race was the final push before Sophie’s Great War Tours was born.

It fascinates and moves me that so many young men either chose to go or were forced from their lives to bear arms.  I feel that it is a duty to tell their stories, both of their lives before wearing khaki and the experiences they had in the Great War.

The conflict may have been over 100 years ago, but it shaped and continues to shape the world we live in today. 

We Will Remember Them.  

Sophie's Great War Tours Privacy Policy

Sophie’s Great War Tours – PRIVACY POLICY

We at Sophie’s Great War Tours understand that your privacy is important to you and that you care about how your personal data is used and shared online.  We respect and value the privacy of everyone who visits our site, www.sophiesgreatwartours.com and will only collect and use personal data in ways that are described here, and in a manner that is consistent with our obligations and your rights under the law.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully and ensure that you understand it.  You will be deemed to have accepted our Privacy Policy when you first use our site.  If you do not accept and agree with this Privacy Policy, you must stop using our site immediately.

1.          Definitions and Interpretation

In this Policy, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 

“Cookie” means a small text file placed on your computer or device by our site when you visit certain parts of our site and/or when you use certain features of our site.  Details of the Cookies used by our site are set out in section 12, below;

“Personal data” means any and all data that relates to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified from that data.  In this case, it means personal data that you give to us when you use our site.  This definition shall, where applicable, incorporate the definitions provided in the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (“GDPR”); and

“We/Us/Our” means Sophie’s Great War Tours Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales under company number 08610063 whose registered address is at 8a Pump Close, Leybourne, Kent, ME19 5HH.

2.          Contacting Us

Our main point of contact for data protection related queries is Sophie Shrubsole and can be contacted by email at sophiesgreatwartours@gmail.com by telephone 07973 956373 or by post 8a Pump Close, Leybourne, Kent, ME19 5HH. If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or ours site, please contact us using this email address.  Please ensure that your query is clear, particularly if it is a request for information about the data we hold about you (as under section 12).

3.          What Does This Policy Cover?

2.1  This Privacy Policy applies to our use of personal data collected when you become a customer of ours, when you enquire about our services or when you visit our Site. 

2.2  Our Site may contain links to other websites, including social media links.  Please note that we have no control over how your data is collected, stored, or used by other websites and we advise you to check the privacy policies of any such websites before providing any data to them.

4.          Your Rights

4.1        As a data subject, you have the following rights under the GDPR, which this Policy and our use of personal data have been designed to uphold:

4.1.1        The right to be informed about our collection and use of your personal data;

4.1.2        The right of access to the personal data we hold about you (see section 12);

4.1.3        The right to rectification if any personal data we hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete (please contact us using the details above);

4.1.4        The right to be forgotten – i.e. the right to ask us to delete any personal data we hold about you (we only hold your personal data for a limited time, as explained in section 6 but if you would like us to delete it sooner, please contact us using the details above);

4.1.5        The right to restrict (i.e. prevent) the processing of your personal data;

4.1.6        The right to data portability (obtaining a copy of your personal data to re-use with another service or organisation);

4.1.7        The right to object to us using your personal data for particular purposes; and

4.1.8        Rights with respect to automated decision making and profiling.

4.2        If you have any cause for complaint about our use of your personal data, please contact us using the details provided in section 13 and we will do our best to solve the problem for you.  If we are unable to help, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK’s supervisory authority, the Information Commissioner’s Office.

4.3        For further information about your rights, please contact the Information Commissioner’s Office who can be contacted via its website www.ico.org.uk, or telephone 0303 123 1113.

5.          What Data Do We Collect?

5.1        Depending upon your use of our site, we may collect some or all of the following personal and non-personal data (please also see section 13 on our use of Cookies and similar technologies):

5.1.1        name;

5.1.2        email address

5.2        If you use our site to provide us with the personal data of any other person, it is your responsibility to ensure you have gained consent from that person to transfer their personal data to us.

6.          How Do We Use Your Data?

6.1        All personal data is processed and stored securely, for no longer than is necessary in light of the reason(s) for which it was first collected.  We will comply with our obligations and safeguard your rights under the GDPR at all times.  

6.1.1        Your personal data will be deleted 24 months after being on a tour.

6.1.2        Where we have a legal obligation to keep it longer, we will delete it as soon as our legal obligation has expired.

6.2        Our use of your personal data will always have a lawful basis, either because it is necessary for our performance of a contract with you, because you have consented to our use of your personal data (e.g. by subscribing to emails), or because it is in our legitimate interests. Specifically, we may use your data for the following purposes:

6.2.1        Providing and managing your access to our site;

6.2.2        Contacting you about your tour

6.3        Where our processing of your data is based on our legitimate interests, we will have ensured that such processing is necessary and will not do so where our interests are over-ridden by yours.

6.4        Our legitimate interests include

6.4.1        Contacting you about your tour arrangements

6.5        With your permission and/or where permitted by law, we may use your data for marketing purposes which may include contacting you by email with information, news and offers on our services.  We will not, however, send you any unsolicited marketing or spam and will take all reasonable steps to ensure that we fully protect your rights and comply with our obligations under GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.

6.6        You have the right to opt-out or unsubscribe at any time.

6.7        Third parties whose content appears on our site may use third party Cookies, as detailed below in section 13.  Please refer to section 13 for more information on controlling Cookies.  Please note that we do not control the activities of such third parties, nor the data they collect and use, and we advise you to check the privacy policies of any such third parties.

7.          How Do We Store Your Data?

7.1        Data security is very important to us and to protect your data, we have taken suitable measures to safeguard and secure data collected through our site.

7.2        We store your data on an internal Excel sheet which is password protected

7.3        We only keep your personal data for as long as we need to in order to use it as described above in clause 6, and/or for as long as we have your permission to keep it.

7.4        We endeavour to keep all of your personal information in the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA includes all EU Member States plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

8.          Do We Share Your Data?

8.1        We may sometimes contract with other third parties to supply services to you on our behalf.  These include Jo Hook Tour Guide, The London Jet Company, Albion Hotel Ypres, Arianne Hotel Ypres. In some cases, these third parties may require access to some or all of your data. Where any of your data is required for such a purpose, we will take all reasonable steps to ensure that your data will be handled safely, securely, and in accordance with your rights, our obligations, and the obligations of the third party under the law.

8.2        We may compile statistics about the use of our site including data on traffic, usage patterns, user numbers, sales, and other information. All such data will be anonymised and will not include any personally identifying data, or any anonymised data that can be combined with other data and used to identify you. We may from time to time share such data with third parties such as prospective investors, affiliates, partners, and advertisers. Data will only be shared and used within the bounds of the law.

8.3        We may sometimes use third party data processors that are located outside of the European Economic Area (“the EEA”) (The EEA consists of all EU member states, plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein). Where we transfer any personal data outside the EEA, we will take all reasonable steps to ensure that your data is treated as safely and securely as it would be within the UK and under the GDPR.

8.4        In certain circumstances, we may be legally required to share certain data held by us, which may include your personal data, for example, where we are involved in legal proceedings, where we are complying with legal requirements, a court order, or a governmental authority.

9.          What Happens If Our Business Changes Hands?

9.1        We may, from time to time, expand or reduce our business and this may involve the sale and/or the transfer of control of all or part of our business. Any personal data that you have provided will, where it is relevant to any part of our business that is being transferred, be transferred along with that part and the new owner or newly controlling party will, under the terms of this Privacy Policy, be permitted to use that data only for the same purposes for which it was originally collected by us.

9.2        In the event that any of your data is to be transferred in such a manner, you will not be contacted in advance and informed of the changes.

10.       How Can You Control Your Data?

10.1     In addition to your rights under the GDPR, set out in section 3, when you submit personal data to us via email or via our site, you may be given options to restrict our use of your data.  In particular, we aim to give you strong controls on our use of your data for direct marketing purposes (including the ability to opt-out of receiving emails from us which you may do by unsubscribing using the links provided in our emails, at the point of providing your details and by contacting us).

10.2     You may also wish to sign up to one or more of the preference services operating in the UK: The Telephone Preference Service (“the TPS”), the Corporate Telephone Preference Service (“the CTPS”), and the Mailing Preference Service (“the MPS”). These may help to prevent you receiving unsolicited marketing. Please note, however, that these services will not prevent you from receiving marketing communications that you have consented to receiving.

11.       Your Right to Withhold Information

11.1     You may access certain areas of our site without providing any data at all.  However, to use all features and functions available on our site you may be required to submit or allow for the collection of certain data.

11.2     You may restrict our use of Cookies.  You can choose to enable or disable Cookies in your internet browser.  Most internet browsers also enable you to choose whether you wish to disable all cookies or only third party Cookies.  By default, most internet browsers accept Cookies but this can be changed.  For further details, please consult the help menu in your internet browser or the documentation that came with your device. 

12.       How Can You Access Your Data?

You have the right to ask for a copy of any of your personal data held by us (where such data is held). Please contact us for more details using the contact details above.

13.       Our Use of Cookies

13.1     Like many other websites, ours uses cookies. Cookies are small pieces of information sent by an organisation to your computer or device and stored on your computer or device to allow a website to recognise you when you visit. They help us collect statistical data about your browsing actions and patterns but should not contain personal data (other than the cookie itself, which is defined as personal data under GDPR).

13.2     All Cookies used by and on our site are used in accordance with current Cookie law.

13.3     Before Cookies are placed on your computer or device, you will be shown a pop-up requesting your consent to set those Cookies. By giving your consent to the placing of Cookies, you are enabling us to provide the best possible experience and service to you. You may, if you wish, deny consent to the placing of Cookies; however certain features of our site may not function fully or as intended.

13.4     We may place and access the following Cookies on your computer or device, to facilitate and improve your experience of our site and to provide and improve our services:

Cookie Name

Description & purpose

Squarespace

By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies. We use cookies to provide you with a great experience and to help our website run effectively.

13.5     Certain features of our site depend on Cookies to function there are four types of cookies.

13.5.1      Strictly Necessary Cookies –These are essential to make a website work and provide features you’ve asked for. Generally, these are used to provide shopping baskets and similar. Without these cookies the website may not work as intended.

13.5.2      Performance Cookies – These collect anonymous information about users for the purposes of tracking the performance of a website. Common uses include well known analytics tools such as Google Analytics.

13.5.3      Targeting / Advertising Cookies – These are similar to performance cookies. However, they are used to track users’ behaviour and that information is then used on a “per user” basis to advertise products / services on the basis of the behavioural information collected.

13.5.4      Functionality Cookies – These are used to remember automatically the choices that users have made in order to improve their experience on the website; for example, selecting desired layout or language.

13.6     Your consent will not be sought to place these Cookies, but it is still important that you are aware of them. You may still block these Cookies by changing your internet browser’s settings, but please be aware that our site may not work properly if you do so. We have taken great care to ensure that your privacy is not at risk by allowing them.

13.7     Our site uses Google Analytics.  Website analytics refers to a set of tools used to collect and analyse anonymous usage information, enabling us to better understand how our site is used. This, in turn, enables us to improve our site and the services offered through it. You do not have to allow us to use these Cookies, however whilst our use of them does not pose any risk to your privacy or your safe use of our site, it does enable us to continually improve our site, making it a better and more useful experience for you.  Google's privacy policy is available at: www.google.com/policies/privacy. 

13.8     You can choose to delete Cookies on your computer or device at any time, however you may lose any information that enables you to access our site more quickly and efficiently.

13.9     It is recommended that you keep your internet browser and operating system up-to-date and that you consult the help and guidance provided by the developer of your internet browser and manufacturer of your computer or device if you are unsure about adjusting your privacy settings.

14.       Changes to Our Privacy Policy

We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time (for example, if the law changes). Any changes will be immediately posted on our site and you will be deemed to have accepted the terms of the Privacy Policy on your first use of our site following the alterations. We recommend that you check this page regularly to keep up-to-date.

New Place, Hampshire - A Stunning Lutyens Design

Edwin Lutyens was an eminent architect in the early part of the 20th Century who designed beautiful country homes up and down the UK.

For the battlefield pilgrim making their way to the Somme, no visit is complete without stopping at Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, perhaps Lutyens’ greatest piece of work.

Thiepval Memorial to the Missing

In these days of not being able to freely travel to the battlefields as we get through the pandemic, I was delighted to do the next best thing and get up close to a Lutyens design.

New Place, Hampshire

In 1904, Mrs Franklyn commissioned Lutyens to design a house that would incorporate the magnificent interior of an early 17th Century mansion in Bristol which was scheduled for demolition and which she had inherited.

New Place was built in 1906, ready to live in by 1908 and given by Mrs Franklyn to her son, Captain Henry Arden Franklyn, as a wedding present.

Fast forward to the present, and New Place is a hotel and venue for lots of happy couples on their big day.

Hotel rooms are located in a modern purpose-built block but you can wine and dine inside the stunning Lutyens building. On a lovely evening you can sit on the terrace overlooking the lawn and take in the beauty of another Lutyens design.

Covid-19 Update - August

The ongoing pandemic is moving quickly in terms of the advice coming from UK Government.

Last week, Belgium was put onto the quarantine list. Travellers and holiday-makers coming from this country must place themselves into 14 days of isolation when arriving in the UK.

We are expecting France also to be added this week or very shortly.

Tours with Sophie for the rest of 2020

If you would like to get to the battlefields from now until the end of the year, please do contact me and we can discuss what options there are available to us.

Tours in 2021

My scheduled tours for next year start in March and I have lots of fantastic opportunities for you to join a memorable trip to either the First or Second World War battlefields.

Please feel free to get in touch with any questions about itineraries, bespoke private tours and financial guarantees when booking.

I look forward to welcoming you to a memorable battlefield tour soon.

Sophie

Jo Hook Joins the Sophie's Great War Tours Family

I’m delighted to announce that Jo Hook has joined the Sophie’s Great War Tours family as one of our expert guides.

Jo will be leading tours to Arnhem and Normandy and will also be our expert guide on a specialist trip looking at action in both 1918 & 1940.

Providing the very best experiences for my customers is always my number one priority, and so bringing onboard an amazing guide like Jo to lead certain tours was a no brainer.

Jo Hook

The daughter of a Second World War Soldier, Jo first became interested in military history when listening to her father talk of his wartime experiences in North Africa.   In adult life, Jo worked for the MOD in Hong Kong. On her return to the UK, she enlisted in the Territorial Army as a Royal Signals soldier. It was at this stage that Jo first got involved in the planning and management of a series of Battlefield Studies for her unit.  A move to Germany allowed her to study Operation Market Garden and to build up crucial experience as a guide, working for a Battlefield Tour Operator.  Enthused by guiding, Jo joined the International Guild of Battlefield Guides in 2004. She gained accreditation status and was awarded her GBG Badge by the late Professor Richard Holmes in 2010. 

Jo has wide ranging interests across numerous aspects of military history. Having served as a Royal Signals soldier on operations in Bosnia in 1995, she feels she has the ability to empathise with the men and women who fought during both world wars. It is the combination of her own personal experiences on operations, and her enthusiastic study of military history and battlefields that allow Jo to empathise with the soldiers of the past. On every tour Jo consistently does her utmost to help her group view the battlefields and the events that took place there, through the eyes of those who fought.

In 2017 Jo achieved a Masters Degree in military history from the University of Wolverhampton under the tutelage of Professor Gary Sheffield.   She has also worked with Battlefield History TV in the production of a series of DVDs concentrating on Operation Market Garden.

Covid-19 Update - July (open for travel)

The Government has updated its policy on non-essential travel.

Some countries are still deemed to pose a threat to UK travellers and remain on a the list of countries that may not be visited unless for essential travel. If you visit one of those countries, you are required to place yourself in quarantine on return to the UK.

Travel to France and Belgium

A list of 60+ countries has been published and these countries are deemed acceptable to travel to, giving the chance for holidays and tours to resume. Quarantine when in these countries and on return, is not mandatory.

We must be aware also, that the re-introduction of national or localised lockdowns is a possibility.

Tours with Sophie for the rest of 2020

If you would like to get to the battlefields from now until the end of the year, please do contact me.

All small tour vehicles used, go through a vigorous daily cleaning regime and each tour member will be given their own hand sanitizer bottle.

I look forward to welcoming you to a memorable battlefield tour trip.

Sophie

Covid-19 Update - June

Finally it seems there may be some light at the end of the tunnel, as yesterday the UK Government announced that as of 6th July, travel to France without the need to quarantine on return would be permitted. Belgium is also set to be added to the list of countries we are allowed to visit.

If you would like to discuss options for travelling to the battlefields with me this year, please do get in touch and I’d be delighted to talk through the options. I will let you know also about the methods we are putting in place to keep safe and healthy whilst on tour.

I will shortly be announcing a list of tour dates for 2021 including a number of brand new and exclusive tours, so please do watch this space.

See you soon and stay well,

Sophie

And Then There Were 3

I’m delighted to see that the lone bugler at the Menin Gate, Ypres, has been joined by two friends.

From Monday 11th May, two sets of three buglers will take it in turns to play the Last Post. Members of the public however, are still asked to stay away from the ceremony, and no one other than the buglers are allowed under the gate itself.

This is a small step towards normality, but in these difficult times I think it important we look for all the positives we can.

Stay safe all and I look forward to seeing you when I can.

Sophie

VE Day 75

Last Friday, 8th May marked 75 years from the end of the war in Europe, more commonly referred to as VE Day.

Sadly, because of reasons we are all now very familiar with and I’m loath to say the name, the nationwide celebrations (and beyond) were cancelled.

Instead, those that were leading the commemorations came up with other ways that we could mark the day in the comfort of our our homes.

We began at 11:00 with a two minute silence. Churchill’s victory speech was broadcast at 15:00 and the nation was encouraged to toast ‘those that gave so much, we thank you’.

Socially-distanced parties were encouraged for anyone that had a garden or area in which to sit out. Despite living in the same place for 8 years, I barely knew my neighbours, other than to exchange the usual pleasantries. This current horrible situation—coupled with this great day to celebrate those who fought for freedom and suffered so many hardships to get our nation through war—actually brought people together 75 years later.

Here are a few pictures from my day. I was remembering in particular my grandfather, Private Ron Shrubsole of the Royal Artillery, who fought in Africa and then Italy. Also I thought of my maternal grandfather, Private Bill Covington, who was dispatched to India in 1945. I also displayed a photograph of my Nan, Betty Shrubsole, who stood on a train platform in the South East and handed food to soldiers through train windows as they returned from Dunkirk. A few years later when she was old enough, she headed into the munitions factories. It was and is important that we remember the sacrifices that everyone made in order to get through the war.

I’d love to see your photographs and hear about how you celebrated VE Day 75—so please feel free to get in touch.

A Lone Bugler

It is quite a sight—a lone bugler at the Menin Gate, playing only to those men that are engraved on its walls.

The Covid-19 outbreak has forced change upon the nightly service in Ypres: members of the public are not allowed to stand under the Gate and are in fact asked not to come to the area at all.

Keeping the ceremony going each night is so important. The gate was unveiled on 24 July 1927, with the Last Post being sounded for two months. It was played again when the then Prince of Wales came to visit in 1928, and became a nightly occurrence in 1929. The only time the ceremony was stopped was during the Second World War, from 20 May 1940 to 6 September 1944 when Ypres was liberated.

I’m looking forward to getting back as soon as we can safely do so.

Long Bugler at the Menin Gate, Ypres. Picture taken from the Last Post Association website

Update on Covid-19 & Tours with Sophie

It has been just over a month since my last update on the Covid-19 pandemic so I wanted to keep you updated on tours with Sophie’s Great War Tours.

My first priority at all times has and always will be the health and well-being of my guests.

All my customers that had bookings in the Spring and Summer months have successfully had their tours moved to 2021 with no financial implications for them.

I am working on tours to be resumed from September 2020 but shall continue to closely monitor the situation and will strictly follow UK Government advice.

The current situation in Ypres, Belgium is that hotels, restaurants and museums are closed.

While this situation is undoubtedly worrying, it won’t last forever and I look forward to seeing you in a few months time for some excellent trips together.

Please get in touch if you have any questions at all: sophiesgreatwartours@gmail.com

Belsen 75

Today, 15th April 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

British troops of the 11th Armoured Division entered the camp and were utterly shocked by the horror they were met with. Thousands of bodies were lying in the open, others barely alive were too ill to move. But some threw themselves upon the liberators wanting to feel the embrace of someone who wished them no harm, but hope.

The people they liberated were often the only survivors of their families, towns and in some cases, entire communities.

The British Army struggled for weeks to provide the best care they could for those that had survived, but tragically more than 13,000 people that made it to liberation would die afterwards.

British soldiers that entered the camp and were on hand as part of the relief effort would be forever traumatised by what they had witnessed. As one soldier remarked, “now I know what I have been fighting for”.

A number of survivors later made Britain their home and for decades since, have told our country of what had happened to them under the Nazis. You can follow the stories of survivors today from the Holocaust Educational Trust on Twitter by searching for the hashtag #Belsen75 #ThisIsOurStory

We must never forget.

Statement on Covid-19

Given the unprecedented situation in which the world finds itself, I wanted to provide an update on my tours service.

My first priority at all times has and always will be the health and well-being of my guests.

As such, I will not be conducting any tours in April or May 2020.

The current situation in Ypres, Belgium is that museums are closed or plan to close and Ypres Town Council is suggesting that the Last Post ceremony should be stopped at the Menin Gate each night. It is thought that the French borders will close in the next couple of days.

While this situation is undoubtedly concerning, it won’t last forever and I look forward to seeing you in a few months time for some excellent trips together.

Please get in touch if you have any questions at all: sophiesgreatwartours@gmail.com