David O’Keefe’s Black Watch Battlefield Tour

After an early breakfast this morning, we’ll head out to explore the Canadian beaches and battlefields of Normandy. We will start with a visit to the darkly notorious Abbayes des Ardennes. This 11th Century Gothic Structure became the Headquarters of the 12th SS Hitler Youth Division in the time leading up to the Allied Invasion. We continue on to Point 67. This strategic position overlooks the Battlefield of Verrieres Ridge, one of the enemy’s strongest lines of defense in all of Normandy. During Operation Spring on July 25th, 1944, The Black Watch of Montreal was virtually wiped out. A complete overview of this highly controversial action will be explained from different angles. We continue from Verrieres to the CWGC Canadian Cemetery of Bretteville-sur-Laize to pay our respects. This afternoon, we visit the exhilarating and informative Juno Beach Center, located right off the dunes where the Royal Winnipeg Rifles landed under heavy fire on the early morning of June 6th. Here we will meet with the Juno Beach staff, see the original enemy bunkers, museum, and memorials along the beach. After lunch, we visit the first house liberated by Canadians, the Queens Own Rifles House. This home is a pilgrimage point for all Canadians to see. By midday, we will pay respects to the Canadian men who lost their lives fighting in the early weeks of the Normandy campaign at Beny-sur-Mer Canadian CWGC Cemetery. Two thousand forty-eight of our country’s bravest lie in peace at this immaculately kept sacred ground. Personal stories and accounts of a few of these individuals will be told for all to contemplate and reflect on. Tonight, enjoy a meal out on your own in the city of Caen. (B)

Accommodation: TBA, Caen

Saying our farewells to the Normandy region, we head east to the seaside resort town of Dieppe with a rest en route in the commune of Bourgtheroulde. Upon arrival in Dieppe, we’ll visit Green Beach at Pourville. We will also view the main landing beaches of Red and White on the Dieppe seafront. This evening, enjoy our welcome dinner in Dieppe. (B,D)

Accommodation: TBA, Dieppe

This morning, we will pay our respects at the Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery before continuing to Blue Beach at Puys. After exploring the bunkers, gun emplacements, and cliff tops, which, on Aug 19, 1942, were responsible for such terrible Canadian casualties, we say our farewells to Dieppe. We then drive up the coast to Antwerp, just as the Canadians cleared up the coast in September 1944. We’ll make a stop outside of Dunkirk in the small town of Spycker to speak of the difficult events that took place here in September 1944 as the Black Watch liberated the town. Tonight, we continue to Antwerp for our hotel check-in and dinner. (B,D)

Accommodation: TBA, Antwerp

After breakfast, we take the drive to Zeeland to visit the Liberation Museum of Zealand and Liberation Park to discuss the Battle of the Scheldt. Zeeland was the hardest-hit province in the occupation, and the effects of the Battle for the Scheldt were felt far beyond. This single operation cost the Canadians more casualties than any other operation during the whole of WWII. We then head to the small village of Woensdrecht. Here, the Black Watch and the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry engaged with the German 6th Paratrooper Regiment in a fierce battle on October 13th, 1944 – “Black Friday” as it is known, due to the high losses of men from both Canadian units – however, victory was achieved, and it paved the way in cutting off a large number of German forces in the Battle of the Scheldt. We end our day with a solemn visit to the Canadian CWGC Cemetery of Bergen-Op-Zoom before heading to Nijmegen to enjoy our welcome dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Accommodation: TBA, Nijmegen

After breakfast this morning we spend some time exploring Nijmegen. Here, Canadian units faced fierce German counter-attacks and infiltrations, artillery shelling, dangerous patrols, rain, wind, and bitter cold. See the remains of the Canadian foxholes. After lunch, we will enter Germany from Groesbeek to discuss the Battle for the Reichswald during Operation Veritable. British and Canadian units attacked from the north, while the Americans closed the trap from the south. To conclude our day, we’ll pay a visit to the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. Tonight, enjoy exploring this historic city with dinner on your own. (B)

Accommodation: TBA, Nijmegen

After breakfast, we depart for Wageningen to see the Airborne Museum before an extended visit at the Commonwealth Military Cemetery in Holten with a chance to see the extended information center. Before returning to our hotel, enjoy lunch at the Canadian Clubhouse, home to the 005 Canadian Legion of the Netherlands. We’ll end the day with a private visit of the ​​Liberation Museum in Lochem before returning to Nijmegen. Enjoy exploring this historic city with dinner on your own. (B, L)

Accommodation: TBA, Nijmegen

After breakfast, we say our farewells to Nijmegen before making a stop in Gorssel to discuss Operation Cannonshot and the crossing of the River IJssel. In Apeldoorn, liberated on April 17, we will take a moment at the ‘The Man with Two Hats’, Canada’s National Monument. After lunch, we continue the drive up to Groningen, where we will pay attention to Operation Amherst, the last airborne operation carried out by French SAS paratroopers to support the Canadian advance. (B, D)

Accommodation: TBA, Groningen

After breakfast, we walk through Groningen with our fellow friend and battlefield guide Joël Stoppels, learning more about the Battle of Groningen. After lunch, we’ll visit the Canadian Liberation Forest in Groningen. Opened in 1995 on the 50th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands, you’ll find 30,000 maple trees here, planted to pay tribute to the Canadian troops who liberated the City. We then drive via Appingedam to the port of Delfzijl where the last fighting in the Netherlands took place during the Battle for the Delfzijl Pocket in April and May 1945. Tonight, enjoy our farewell dinner before we prepare for tomorrow’s journey home. (B, D)

Accommodation: TBA, Groningen

This morning, after breakfast, we say our farewells to Groningen and head back to Amsterdam AMS Schiphol International Airport for our return flights home… unless extending your stay. (B)