Mons – Le CateauAugust 2014

10th Chippenham Air ScoutsAston Clinton Scouts

Endeavour Explorer Scouts Unit

August 21st: Travel & explore Mons

• Leave Chippenham by minibus for Channel Tunnel• Rendezvous with Aston Clinton Scouts and Bristol University OTC• Proceed to Mons to meet up with Belgian, French and German Scouts.• Afternoon and evening, make camp and explore the City (hosted by Belgian scouts)

August 22nd: Mons & Gussignies• Scout activities in morning. • Break camp and depart for Chateau de

Gussignies• Set up camp in Gussignies• Scout activities to include learning about

the Chateau’s and villages story during August 1914 and subsequent occupation.

August 23rd: Mons - Gussignies• Visit to St Symphorien Cemetery and the

grave of Lance Corporal Green, Wiltshire Regiment. Opportunity for all nationalities to pay their respects to British and German soldiers.

• Visit City’s exhibition. Lunch. • 14h00: Commemoration led by the City of

Mons. Scouts plant a tree in memory of the fallen. Attendants will include Belgian Prime Minister, UK Ministers of State, Ambassadors from UK, France, Germany. 200 senior officers from SHAPE. Crowds of up to 5,000 expected to attend

• 15h00: Scouts march off Place du Parc for transport to Ciply (position held by the Wiltshire Regiment on August 23rd)

• Hike to Gussignies, approx. 20km / 15m, arrive late evening

• Gussignies chosen as site in lieu of Bavay due to availability

August 24th: Gussignies – Le Quesnoy• Break camp• Hike to Le Quesnoy via Saint Waast-

la-Vallée and Gommegnies.• Distance 10 miles.• Campsite to be finalised. • Note: 1st Wilts passed through Saint

Waast-la-Vallée and Gommegnies en route to Le Quesnoy but from Bavay.

August 25th: Le Quesnoy – Solesmes• Break camp• Hike to Solesmes via

Beaudignies and Romenes.• Distance circa 15km / 10 miles.• Camp site identified on school

playing fields. • Note: 1st Wilts fought rear

guard action at Solesmes on this day. Visit to Solesmes Cemetery, number of Wiltshires buried here.

August 26th: Solesmes – Caudry – Le Cateau• Break camp & hike to Caudry.

Distance circa 10km / 6 miles.• Vist Caudry Cemetery where

Wiltshires lie• Transport to Le Cateau, march into

town and to Suffolk Hill• 10h30 Le Cateau Commemoration.

Mass to be followed by wreath laying. Numbers uncertain. British Consul to attend. Deputy Mayor estimates 200-400 attendees.

August 26th: afternoon• Make camp in Ors, site is a

former French army camp now owned by the local Communauté de Communes.

• Find swimming pool in Le Cateau.

August 27th: Rest day• Rest day.• Opportunity to visit the “Maison Forestière” (Foresters house), the house

where Wilfred Owen spent his last night. Wilfred Owen’s grave is nearby.

August 28th: Fun & travel• Break camp.• Find a fun park to spend the day in en route to Channel Tunnel.• Say goodbye to our new Scouting friends.• Arrive home late evening.

Mons – Le CateauAugust 2014

10th Chippenham Air Scouts