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Toddington

 

 

To see a clip of our  2014 service follow this link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ogBA1MaE-8

 

 To view  photos of our 2015 service please follow this link.

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To view a video of the service please follow this link.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur3RIG2N7X0

The committee of Toddington branch RBL would like to offer a very special thank you to Alan Higgs and Dave Ward for their photography and video magic.
 
Photos of our standard bearer Pippa Brazier at The Royal Albert Hall are now in our photo gallery.
                     
                     
                             
                                                                                                
                     

WWI Private Group Battlefield Tours Somme & Ypres Salient

  Next year represents a major milestone in the history of the First World War as it marks the centenary anniversary of the end of the conflict.
The war ended at 11am on the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 when Germany signed the armistice. When the guns fell silent people from all over celebrated the end of war. It was a war that had lasted four years and four months.                        
                             
                     
                                                    In the Footsteps Battlefield Tours® wants to commemorate this important occasion by offering specially designed tours throughout 2018                        
                             
                     
Our tours will ensure that you experience the battles through the eyes of the soldiers who fought there. As well as the histories of what happened, we draw extensively on contemporary accounts and soldiers’ letters home. We also use the poetry and art of the time to help tell the stories. We want to put you there - in the footsteps - of the men and women involved, sharing their thoughts and emotions, listening to their own words.    At each site we will set the scene and explain what happened, where and why, in a clear and succinct way. We won’t confuse you with complicated ‘military speak’ or bore you with confusing detail you’ll never remember!   And it’s not just about the battlefields. We know that each tour is a holiday as well as a learning experience so we ensure that guests have time to experience some of the culture of the countries they will be visiting in a convivial and relaxed way.     
                             
                     
 
                             
                            
The war ended at 11am on the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 when Germany signed the armistice.This is the railway carriage at Compiegne where the signing of the Armistice took place in1918 
 
                            
Ian Gumm, owner of 'In the Footsteps' is a serving officer in the Royal Welsh. He and our specially selected expert guides have toured with members of the Royal British Legion; Rotary Clubs; History groups; the military; cadets and many more.
                     
Each of our tours are led by one of our expert battlefield guides. An excellent guide is, in our opinion, key to the guest enjoyment of the tour experience. The ‘In the Footsteps’ guides who will lead you through the stories of each battle are all professionals. Each is selected for the depth of their knowledge, their enthusiasm and their ability to tell the story in an entertaining and engaging way. Most are members of the prestigious Guild of Battlefield Guides.
During the Centenary period, many RBL branches have been looking into their local fallen heroes. We have previously worked with branches over the past few years to create bespoke tours to incorporate visits to the graves, memorials and battlefields of those named on their local war memorial as part of their continued work to remember those that fought, and the many that fell, during the 1914-1918 war.  
We know each client is individual and we are always happy to work with you on the development of specific tours to suit individual RBL Branches. If our published tour is not quite what you want please contact us. Itineraries can be altered to suit the locations you want to visit, your budgets, the length of tour and what you are looking to achieve. We are also flexible on dates and the type of accommodation used, subject to availability
 
We also specialise Second World War tours, pre 20th century tours and individual personal tours.
To speak to one of the team please either email or ring us with your requirements and we will get back to you.
Tel: 01989 565599  Email: jo@inthefootsteps.com Website: In the Footsteps Battlefield Tours
                             
                     
 
Our Battlefield Tours will leave you with memories that will last a lifetime
                             
                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                          
                        
            
                     

                        
                             

 

This is a very poingnant poem a member, James Stevens would like to share with you:

                                THE VETERANS POEM

 He was getting old and paunchy

 And his hair was falling fast,

 And he sat around the Legion,

 Telling stories of the past.

 

  Of a war that he once fought in

 And the deeds that he had done,

 In his exploits with his buddies;

 They were heroes, every one.

 

 And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors

 His tales became a joke,

 All his buddies listened quietly

 For they knew where of he spoke.

 

  But we'll hear his tales no longer,

 For ol' Joe has passed away,

 And the world's a little poorer

 For a Veteran died today.

  

 He won't be mourned by many,

 Just his children and his wife.

 For he lived an ordinary,

 Very quiet sort of life.

  

 He held a job and raised a family,

 Going quietly on his way;

 And the world won't note his passing,

 'Tho a Veteran died today.

 

  When politicians leave this earth,

 Their bodies lie in state,

 While thousands note their passing,

 And proclaim that they were great.

 

  Papers tell of their life stories

 From the time that they were young,

 But the passing of a Veteran

 Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

 

  Is the greatest contribution

 To the welfare of our land,

 Some jerk who breaks his promise

 And cons his fellow man?

  

 Or the ordinary fellow

 Who in times of war and strife,

 Goes off to serve his country

 And offers up his life?

  

 The politician's stipend

 And the style in which he lives,

 Are often disproportionate,

 To the service that he gives.

  

 While the ordinary Veteran,

 Who offered up his all,

 Is paid off with a medal

 And perhaps a pension, small.

 

  It is not the politicians

 With their compromise and ploys,

 Who won for us the freedom

 That our country now enjoys.

  

 Should you find yourself in danger,

 With your enemies at hand,

 Would you really want some cop-out,

 With his ever-waffling stand?

 

  Or would you want a Veteran

 His home, his country, his kin,

 Just a common Veteran,

 Who would fight until the end.

  

 He was just a common Veteran,

 And his ranks are growing thin,

 But his presence should remind us

 We may need his likes again.

  

 For when countries are in conflict,

 We find the Veteran's part,

 Is to clean up all the troubles

 That the politicians start.

  

 If we cannot do him honour

 While he's here to hear the praise,

 Then at least let's give him homage

 At the ending of his days.

 

  Perhaps just a simple headline

 In the paper that might say:

  

 "OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,

 A VETERAN DIED TODAY."