The Doughboys Turn the Tide

The Doughboys Turn the Tide

American Expeditionary Force in The First World War

Military History and Battlefield Tours

14th - 18th September 2024
(5 Days)

Expert Historian : Dr Bruce Cherry

Tour price: £2,125

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The Doughboys Turn the Tide

American Expeditionary Force in The First World War

Military History and Battlefield Tours

Your Holiday Essentials

14th - 18th September 2024
(5 Days)

4-star hotels, meals as indicated, drinks with dinner, all entrance fees, tour manager and expert historian throughout, all internal travel and optional travel from UK.

Activity Level: 2

Expert Historian: Dr Bruce Cherry

Prices:

Standard price: : £1,845

Incl. travel from UK: £2,125
Room sole occupancy supplement: £250
Non-refundable deposit: £300

Booking open

click here to book

Interested in this tour but not ready to book? Register your interest using the link below and we will keep you updated on the progress of the tour.

click here to register your interest

Tour Introduction

The involvement of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), more affectionately known as Doughboys, is much overlooked and forgotten but during this tour we will explore the ground and hear the stories of their crucial and sometimes heroic contribution to the final victory. Travelling mainly in the Meuse-Argonne area which played a key part throughout the war, especially for the AEF, we will experience the deep valleys, thick forests and strong fortified positions that had to be overcome in those final months and weeks. We will be based out of Reims and Verdun, the latter historically one of the most strategically important fortified towns in France. In both we immerse ourselves into a rich culture of history and cuisine, a crucial ingredient of this exceptional tour.

This tour is immediately preceded by our Verdun tour and the two tours can be taken as a 9-day/8-night package. Contact us for further details.

This tour is immediately followed by our ‘Italy in WW1’ tour and the two tours can be taken as a 10-day/9-night package. Contact us for further details.

Background

The Americans were eventually drawn into the First World War in mid-1917 after the Germans inauguration of unrestricted submarine warfare and the debacle of the Zimmermann telegram. At first American troops were almost ‘drip-fed’ onto the frontline to shore up weakened positions, but by the war’s end there were 1.4 million US troops on the western front. Led by Major-General John Pershing, hero of the Spanish-American War, the AEF became a key player in the Hundred Days that broke the back of the German defence and ultimately bought the war to an end. Their heaviest involvement came in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, fought over much of the ground associated with the 1916 battle of Verdun. The American role in the final victory gave their President, Woodrow Wilson, a seat at the peace settlement where he would implement his 14 Points and found The League of Nations.

Highlights

  • Discover the American contribution to WW1
  • Patton’s first tank attack at St Mihiel
  • Chateau Thierry and the Meuse-Argonne offensive
  • The Aisne-Marne American Cemetery
  • The preserved battlefield of Belleau Wood
  • Discover the Lost Battalion in the Argonne forest.
  • Explore the Meuse Heights
  • The Montsec Memorial
  • US St Mihiel Cemetery

What's Included

  • Return Standard Premier Eurostar from London (optional)
  • Internal train journeys
  • 4 Star Hotels
  • Buffet breakfast each morning
  • Dinner parties hosted by your expert historian and tour manager
  • Two drinks i,e wine or beer at each dinner and a welcome drink on first evening
  • Dedicated Tour Manager
  • Entrance fees for sites included in itinerary
  • Modern, comfortable, air-conditioned coach
  • Tour information booklet
  • Access to the Cultural Experience app
  • Helpful and friendly travel advice
  • The company of like-minded travelers

Itinerary

Day 1: Outward
Eurostar train from London St Pancras to Lille Europe or join tour at Lille Europe. Travel by coach to Verdun, our base for two nights. Or join from our Verdun tour. Pre-dinner drinks and introductory talk. (D)

Day 2: St Mihiel Salient
Today we explore actions of the first independent American WW1 operation to reduce the German salient in September 1918. We’ll follow the exploits of George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur and America’s first tank attack led by LTC George Patton. Amidst the hilly and wooded terrain, we’ll explore the trenches and bunkers that gave the AEF its first experience of limited trench warfare and see how those actions are commemorated at the Montsec Memorial (atop a former German stronghold) and the US St Mihiel Cemetery. (B,D)

Day 3: Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The opening attack featured savage fighting for the Heights including the legendary action of Sgt. York, who stormed German machine gun nests taking 132 German prisoners almost single handed to earn the Medal of Honour. We’ll also hear of ‘The Lost Battalion’, the predominantly African-American ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ and the ‘Harlem Hellfighters’. Standing atop the Meuse Heights we will discuss their capture and visit the Montfaucon and Pennsylvania Division memorials and Romagne Cemetery, the final resting place of over 14,000 Americans whilst at the Sommepy American Monument on Blanc Mont Ridge we will be surrounded by trenches, dugouts and gun emplacements. Continue to Reims for two nights. (B,D)

Day 4: Belleau Wood
To the Château Thierry American Memorial and the preserved battlefield of Belleau Wood to learn about the contribution of Theodore Roosevelt's sons and follow in the footsteps of the US Marines. Among other of today’s indelible sites is the Rainbow Division memorial commemorating the battle at Croix Rouge Farm near city of Fère-en-Tardenois. We’ll also hear of the 34th Division’s action at Beugneux in late July to early August 1918 and visit the Aisne-Marne American cemetery, Belleau Wood memorial and the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery in Seringes-et-Nesles. (B,D)

Day 5: Fismes
Departing Reims, we head north to Fismes where the bridge monument commemorates one of the most violent of all Great War urban battles. On the two first days of the battle, the 32nd American Division lost 2,000 men in its efforts to cross the Vesle River. We travel along the legendary Chemin Des Dames, see the remarkable St Quentin canal and visit the Bellicourt American Monument at Bony arriving at Lille for the return Eurostar journey back to London (B).

Recommended Reading List

Dr Bruce Cherry

Dr Bruce Cherry

A former university lecturer with his PhD in military history, Bruce has been guiding on the Western Front since the late 1980s. Indeed for many years he operated a range of First and Second World War tours out of Lille. Amongst other titles, he is the author of ’They Didn't Want to Die Virgins; a study of Sex and Morale on the Western Front'. As an academic, his tours very much emphasise the learning aspect that is to be gained from battlefield touring.

Photo Gallery

  • Eagle at the centre of the St Mihiel American Cemetery
  • Bruce reading an account of the battle around Shearing by Col. Patten at th
  • Traversing the rough terrain at Vauquois
  • The vast Meuse-Argonne Cemetery
  • The Memorial du Domans
  • The Aisne-Marne Memorial
  • Taking in the 'understated' American monument at Montsec
  • Memorial de la 42 Division US, with Croix Rouge Farm in background
  • Intrepid explorers in the Apremont le Foret - Bois Brute, Croix de Redouts
  • Group photo at the Aisne-Marne Memorial

Your Holiday Essentials

14th - 18th September 2024
(5 Days)

4-star hotels, meals as indicated, drinks with dinner, all entrance fees, tour manager and expert historian throughout, all internal travel and optional travel from UK.

Activity Level: 2

Expert Historian: Dr Bruce Cherry

Prices:

Standard price: : £1,845

Incl. travel from UK: £2,125
Room sole occupancy supplement: £250
Non-refundable deposit: £300

Booking open

click here to book

Interested in this tour but not ready to book? Register your interest using the link below and we will keep you updated on the progress of the tour.

click here to register your interest

Tour Reviews

View our latest tour diary and gallery here

Take a look at some independent reviews of this tour by previous participants here

Photo Gallery

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