HCGWS’s own Voie Sacrée ("Sacred Way")

Our journey down the Sacred Way started in 2019, with the Committee deciding to run a trip to Verdun in May 2020. A Coach, Hotel and Channel Crossing were booked and our two guides, Terry and Jim, started writing their scripts.
Then came Covid. The trip in 2020 was cancelled, as was its replacement in 2021. A last attempt was to be made in 2022. Fortunately, the threat of covid receded and the restrictions were lifted in time for us to go ahead with the 2022 trip.
We arrived at Police HQ at 6am on the Friday 6^th May, delighted to see Colin at the wheel of our big green Dews coach. A long journey ensued, stopping at Folkstone for the Channel crossing by train and for lunch at St Quentin.
At St Quentin Terry also gave a presentation about the British Surrender 1914 in the main square.
We then travelled on to our billet. The Hotel Orchidees on the outskirts of Verdun.

On Saturday we first made the short trip to The Verdun Memorial Museum. An excellent Museum with a virtual reality experience.

From there we travelled a short distance to the Verdun Ossuary and the French National Cemetery.

We then went to the famous Trench of Bayonets, the architecture of which caused some debate.

We then continued to the ruined village of Douaumont, before lunch at the original Pilgrims Café at Douaumont.

After lunch we had a short walk through the forest to Fort Douaumont, where we were taken on a fascinating guided tour through the Fort by one of its staff.

We then visited the roof of the Fort.

Then to return to the Hotel for some R & R and a meal.

On Sunday we visited the site of the French Unknown Warrior at a cemetery just down the road from the hotel. Whilst there we also paid our respects to five British and two Canadian airmen from the Second World War, who are buried there.

We then had a drive to the beautiful 130 acre American Cemetery at Romagne. Where the American Head of Staff gave us an excellent tour and talk.

We then went for lunch at Harlequin Brasserie, Verennes.
Following lunch, we drove to Vauquois Tunnels. Split into two groups, half looked at the museum, whilst half donned protective helmets to go into the tunnels. We then swapped over.