Testament of Youth

Tour Details

To be confirmed

Tour Introduction

The critics called it 'the best film of 2015' and there's no doubt that Testament of Youth's tale of love and duty set against the bloody sacrifice of the First World War stormed the box office. Well, one hundred years after it all happened, we will take you to where the harrowing events of the book and film took place.

Vera Brittain told her own and her generation's story with an eloquence that few others achieve. The glorious middle months of 1914 proved to be the last summer of peace and saw Vera becoming terribly close to her brother and his two friends, the 'Three Musketeers' as they were known at school in Uppingham. Yet the strands that bound the three boys with Vera were all shattered by war. First, the poet Roland Leighton's love for Vera died in the mud of Ypres when he was killed with 1/7th Worcesters in December 1915. Then the next Musketeer was struck down at Arras in April 1917. Blinded by a rifle bullet, Victor Richardson was serving with 9th King's Royal Rifle Corps whilst attacking a series of German trenches: he died of his wounds in June just as the award of his MC was announced.

Overarching the stories of these men, though, is the love of brother and sister. Vera had no friend closer than her brother Edward and she suffered almost as much as he did when he was wounded on the First Day of the Somme with 11th Sherwood Foresters. Serving as a nurse with the Voluntary Aid Detachment at Etaples, she saw the full horror of war, though she hoped and felt that Edward's wounds and MC would probably be enough to steer him safely away from further fighting. Sadly, she was wrong: 11th Sherwoods under Lt Col Charles Hudson DSO MC (and later VC) were later sent to the Italian Front where Edward was killed in early 1918.

Highlights

With soldier and expert Patrick Mercer
Expert lectures throughout
Enjoy a variety of restaurants in Arras
Premier class Eurostar travel

Background

Testament of Youth must rank as one of the most moving, humbling and inspiring books of its time. Illustrated with the Musketeers' and Vera's letters and Roland Leighton's poetry, this battlefield tour will visit all of the landmarks of this moving story: they are some of the most poignant sites of the Western Front.

Your guide, Patrick Mercer, has had a long association with the Regiments involved in Testament of Youth. His father fought with 14th Bn Sherwood Foresters in the desert and Italy during the Second World War whilst he commanded 1st Bn the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters 1995-1997. Patrick became fascinated with Vera Brittain's story as a young officer and knows members of her family well. His lectures will reflect that intimate knowledge.

"“I would like to thank Patrick Mercer for an excellent tour. His knowledge of the army is impressive and he used it to good effect”"

What You Said: Mons & Le Cateau 2014

Itinerary

Day 1 - Ypres

We meet at London St Pancras at the spot where Vera and Roland Leighton saw each other for the last time. Depart for Lille by Eurostar and drive to Plugstreet Wood, 1/7 Worcesters' first taste of action which inspired Roland to write the poem, 'Violets'. Thence to Calvaire Cemetery near Montbrehain to see the grave of LCpl John Beagin, the first man in Roland's company to be killed and whose death so affected him. We'll see just where Beagin won his DCM which, as Roland said, '...he was never able to wear.' From there to our hotel in Arras and a pre-dinner lecture by Patrick Mercer on the literature and poetry of the First World War

Day 2 - Louverncourt

Having looked at one of the very few British 'female' tanks to be in private hands near Cambrai, we'll drive to Hedauville to see where Roland was fatally wounded before going to his grave at Louvencourt and to hear his final poems. This afternoon we will follow the fortunes of 9 King's Royal Rifle Corps and the operations around Arras where Victor was shot and blinded. At our hotel Patrick will lecture on Victor Richardson, the next Musketeer

Day 3 - First day of the Somme

The day is dedicated entirely to Edward and his sister Vera's work on the Western Front. We follow the 'Men from the Greenwood,' 11th Sherwood Foresters part of 70th Brigade of the 8th Division as they formed up in the trenches of Authuille Wood in 'Blighty Valley'. Like so many New Army units on The Somme, this was the Battalion's first, proper taste of war and the casualties were dreadful. Amongst them was Edward: we'll see where he was wounded and where he first showed the mettle that was to gain him the MC. We'll also look at the fortunes of Charles Hudson's company who, later, as the 11th Battalion's Commanding Officer won the VC. In the evening Patrick will talk about Edward's last attack where he met a death now covered in controversy.

Day 4 - Passchendaele

In October 1917 Edward, by this time recovered from his wounds and sporting the ribbon on the Military Cross, took part in the Battalion's final action on the Western Front at Passchendaele. From there it's back to Lille and on to St Pancras.