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Gentlemen,
The time approaches where you will have to shed the comforts of your supportive partner, put your livers on the line and head off on a mission of much daring: The Attack on
Bruges.
We will assemble at the Eurostar Terminal at Waterloo at approximately 1700 hours and board the 1748 train to Brussels. We will then covertly transfer to a local train before arriving at
Bruges. We will immediately storm a local drinking establishment and dig in for a significant portion of the night.
The next morning, we will head off at about 0900, obtain transport (the Hertz hire car) and make our way to
Ypres (Ieper). Here we will visit the In Flanders Fields Museum (apparently excellent and has been invariably highly recommended) so as to provide an overview of the days forthcoming manoeuvres.
From there we will make our way to Hill 60 where Cpl Jackson Rtd will brief us on the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company activities in the area.
From there, in a flanking manoeuvre we will make our way to the Aust 5th Division Memorial at Buttes where Cpl Dermody Rtd will provide background on Australian activities in the region.
From there, we will make our way to the main Commonwealth cemetery at Tyne Cot where the first of our civilian advisers, Mr Mark Mullen will discuss the background and battles of this area.
Our penultimate objective will be the German cemetery at
Langemarck where your mission planner, Mr David Henderson will discuss war losses on the other side in the Western Front.
After this we will attack the centre of Ypres (Ieper) and observe the playing of the Last Post at the Menim Gates at
2000 hours.
From here, it will be compulsory for all to show a stiff upper lip, pack up the troubles in the old kit bag and head back to
Bruges for another night of tasting the product for which the area is justifiably famous....
Chocolate!
Gentlemen, you are expected to follow through with your missions and to be prepared to encounter stiff resistance, not least smart-arse comments or pedantic corrections from your comrades.
Sunday is genuine R&R where we can all go shopping for gifts for our partners for being so understanding to let us go.
Dismissed! |
