Anzac Day in Villers-Bretonneux 2018

[Katie]

For anyone who is keen to sign up to attend the dawn service on Anzac day in Villers-Bretonneux, registration seems to be open. The link isn't active on this page in the service name column, but I managed to successfully register myself, +1 and the kid on Anzac day.

We have been planning to attend this service for years, very excited about it, after attending the first dawn service there in 2008.

 

[straitman]

For anyone who is keen to sign up to attend the dawn service on Anzac day in Villers-Bretonneux, registration seems to be open. The link isn't active on this page in the service name column, but I managed to successfully register myself, +1 and the kid on Anzac day.

We have been planning to attend this service for years, very excited about it, after attending the first dawn service there in 2008.

Interested.

 

[RB]

I am interested to follow peoples thoughts on this. I see this is in the Destination Guide section- we visited the week after Anzac Day 2009. We caught the train from Paris, stayed for a while in Amiens for a walk around, visited the Cathedral & then caught another train to Villers-Bretonneux. We had lunch in a little local cafe and then walked out to the memorial. Without the crowds we found the names of Mrs RB relatives fairly easily & took in the incredible atmosphere of the place. We walked back to town, looked around town & trained back to Paris to end a very long day.

 

[Deleted member]

Visited there this week with Mrs GPH and old school chum.

 

[Katie]

I am interested to follow peoples thoughts on this.

Some logistical comments:
We visited in 2003 (I think?) for Remembrance day, and have done the Anzac day services there in 2008 and 2011. For all of those trips, we either stayed in Amiens or in Glisy, which is on the outskirts of Amiens, towards Villers-Bretonneux. We have always had a car. For the two dawn services, we were able to drive up and park on the road that the Australian memorial is on. I know that's no longer possible for the dawn service, and I believe you must park in Villers-Bretonneux or Fouilloy, and walk from there.

I guess much like attending a service at Gallipoli vs visiting there when it's not bombarded by tourists - what is of interest to you? We are interested in the service aspect, as well as toodling around the area (the 2008 trip we spent another 2-3 days visiting every cemetery in the Somme - OK, not exactly, but it felt like it to our 18 month old!!). If you are not so interested in the service, then visiting at another time is perfect.

Based on what I observed in 2008 and 2011, the area around the memorial is extra busy with visitors the day before, but they tend to leave by mid-morning/lunch time on the 25th. A number of people being on tours helps a bit with that - have to get on the bus to the next stop in the tour. Immediately after the service, there are some crowds, but they do tend to dissipate, and you can get closer to the memorial and find spots to be quiet and take in the sense of place and atmosphere. The services I've been to felt like some of the larger, local services you would find in Australia, but with some French speeches, the French anthem, and the ability to be seated! Handy when the temperature drops down further before dawn.
Next year may be different with the opening of the Monash centre around the back of the memorial.

Another option to consider for those who are interested - though it's likely to be much colder - is the services in the area on 11 November for 100 years since Armistice.

(I wasn't sure where to put this post, so I picked Destination Guide??!!)

 

[Katie]

Mr Katie's best mate has also registered for the service, and will likely join us at some point after the Commonwealth games to attend.

We are already looking forward to post-service pain au chocolat and croissants from the boulangerie in V-B. And seeing what some of the local entrepreneurs get up to re creating merchandise to sell (t-shirts of the memorial, etc). At least unlike 2008, random politicians won't attempt to pick up the kid and cuddle/kiss her. (cough cough former Prime Minister cough cough )

 

[RB]

A few photos from our day out there. The walk out certainly provoked some thoughts-I was seeing beautiful countryside! The photos show how quiet it was while we were there.

 

[RB]

A few more photos

 

[Katie]

Wow, RB, that was before the trees were removed! It's taking a while for the new trees to grow (I guess those ones were 60 or 80 years old, so it will take a while).

 

[RB]

Wow, RB, that was before the trees were removed! It's taking a while for the new trees to grow (I guess those ones were 60 or 80 years old, so it will take a while).

Didn't realise there had been a change-must look up some current photos. Our day was quite an experience & glad we made the effort

 

[Katie]

Didn't realise there had been a change-must look up some current photos. Our day was quite an experience & glad we made the effort

Yup, those trees were removed in 2009 as they were near the end of their lives.



This pic is from our 2011 trip.



Contrasted with this one in 2008 (same kid, not quite same spot, but definitely same side of the memorial).

So glad you made the effort. Villers-Bretonneux and the national memorial are truly remarkable places. I think we'd go back to the Somme any day over Paris.:shock:

 

[Katie]

18 days until we leave ... we are flying on AY J tickets, purchased early this year during one of their specials. Going over via Tokyo, due to a professional conference, and why not check out some Cherry Blossoms while we're at it.
Then, we stop in Oslo, Copenhagen, Billund, Amseterdam (hire a car here), Waterloo, Ypres, Bruges, Calais, Amiens, Paris airport hotel, and back home with a daytime layover in Bangkok (arrive 7am, depart 6pm). PHEW!

 

[Geegeela]

18 days until we leave ... we are flying on AY J tickets, purchased early this year during one of their specials. Going over via Tokyo, due to a professional conference, and why not check out some Cherry Blossoms while we're at it.
Then, we stop in Oslo, Copenhagen, Billund, Amseterdam (hire a car here), Waterloo, Ypres, Bruges, Calais, Amiens, Paris airport hotel, and back home with a daytime layover in Bangkok (arrive 7am, depart 6pm). PHEW!

You may like to book for The Sir John Monash Centre.

Sir John Monash Centre | Department of Veterans' Affairs

Sir John Monash Centre update | Sir John Monash Centre

 

[RB]

Looking forward to reading your observations. The press seems to be a bit low key so far this year.

At the end of last year Mrs RB's relatives (mentioned up thread) had their story covered in the Last Post Ceremony in Canberra-it was done in an excellent manner-you can do a search on the site
Last Post Ceremony | The Australian War Memorial

 

[Katie]

You may like to book for The Sir John Monash Centre.

Sir John Monash Centre | Department of Veterans' Affairs

Sir John Monash Centre update | Sir John Monash Centre

That’s Mr Katie’s job! Though already booked out for 24 & 25 April, not too surprising!

Looking forward to reading your observations. The press seems to be a bit low key so far this year.

At the end of last year Mrs RB's relatives (mentioned up thread) had their story covered in the Last Post Ceremony in Canberra-it was done in an excellent manner-you can do a search on the site
Last Post Ceremony | The Australian War Memorial

Thanks, RB, will check it out. It will be interesting to contrast to our experiences in 2008 and 2011. The info we’ve received from DVA suggests they are expecting ~8000 guests. Definitely no parking by the side of the road and walk a fee hundred metres to the service like back then!

 

[Deleted member]

Didn't realise there had been a change-must look up some current photos. Our day was quite an experience & glad we made the effort

Taken ANZAC day 2017

 

[Katie]

Rightio, we leave for our trip on Saturday, so really counting down now. Glad to have some extra time on Friday to be able to pack the suitcases. I just popped in to Kathmandu to get some ponchos for us in case it rains while we're waiting for the service.

I'm thinking about taking Little Miss 11's One-zee sleeping bag just in case. It's a bit bulky to lug all that way for one night, but it just might be perfect when the temps drop before dawn. I'll also visit the grave of my Grandfather's cousin in Calais; I didn't realise he was there the last time we toodled around the WWII battlefields in France.

Oh, and Mr Katie has booked our tour at the Monash centre.