The UK to Dieppe Tour with historian David O'Keefe
Discover the highlights and best bits about this exciting exploratory tour as led by professor and historian David O'Keefe in 2022...
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David O'Keefe's
The UK to DIEPPE battlefield tour
Overview of Dieppe
In the early waking hours of August 19th, 1942 - 5,000 Canadians, 1,000 British, and 50 US Army Rangers stormed Dieppe's coastline along six beaches. In less than 10 hours, a total of 3,367 out of the 6,086 were either killed, wounded, or captured. To walk the ground of Dieppe is to get the truest sense of this tragedy.
On this tour, Historian and Professor David O’Keefe, will lead us on an expanded tour of Dieppe Uncovered - from the UK to Dieppe. This is a custom tour created for Canadians who wish to participate in an explorative tour alongside our experienced team.
Join our long time Battlefield team, along with the guidance of professor and historian David O’Keefe throughout this tour
^^^ Explore by scrolling through the cities we will be visiting, and zoom in to get familiar with where we will be visiting on this tour.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Join us to explore and honour the story of Dieppe - from the UK to Dieppe and all that lies in between
Enjoy beautiful, independent, superior class accommodation throughout our stay with our favourite hoteliers
Extended visits at Bletchley Park, Aldershot, and Dieppe - including a private orientation by CWGC staff at Brookwood Cemetery
A farewell dinner in Paris France at our favorite local family restaurant, Jardin du Notre Dame near the Notre Dame Cathedral
Executive coach transportation, with washrooms, air conditioning, and now ozone filtration!
Join our long time Battlefield team, along with the guidance of professor and historian David O’Keefe throughout the tour
-- Friday, July 1st
Depart from Toronto’s Lester B Pearson International Airport for your flight to Heathrow. [Dinner and breakfast will be served onboard]
Day 1 | Saturday, July 2nd
Upon arrival into Heathrow, you will be welcomed by the team, including our guide, historian and professor David O’Keefe. We begin with a short journey to Windsor for lunch and a visit to the Commonwealth Air Force Memorial overlooking Runnymede before heading to our hotel for early check-in & some time to rest. Tonight, enjoy our welcome dinner in Milton Keynes. [Overnight – Milton Keynes (D)]
Day 2 - Sunday, July 3rd
After breakfast this morning, we’ll take the drive to Bletchley Park, the centre of British code-breaking activity during World War II. Discover the determination and brilliance behind the codebreakers who worked here. Enjoy the rest of your evening to explore and dine, may we suggest taking the train into London! [Overnight - Milton Keynes (B)]
Day 3 - Monday, July 4th
Today, we say our farewells to Milton Keynes before travelling down to Aldershot for a private visit to the Aldershot Military Museum, housed in Victorian barrack blocks. The museum tells the civilian and military history of Aldershot, Farnborough and Cove. We will also be greeted by the CWGC staff at the Canadian Military Cemetery at Brookwood before travelling on to Portsmouth. Before we check-in to our hotel, enjoy a short orientation tour of the port city. [Overnight – Portsmouth (B, D)]
Day 4 - Tuesday, July 5th
After breakfast, we head to Gosport Hardway, an embarkation point for Op Jubilee. We’ll enjoy the day to explore the new D-Day Museum, where we will pay special attention to the amphibious preparations Portsmouth was responsible for. Before lunch, you’ll explore the recently installed LCT 7074. This afternoon, enjoy the option to stop at the Portsmouth Dockyards for a chance to see the HMS Victory and the Mary Rose. Tonight, enjoy dinner at your own pace, and may we suggest a visit up the Spinnaker Tower for an impressive aerial view of the channel and historic harbour. [Overnight – Portsmouth (B)]
Day 5 - Wednesday, July 6th
After leaving Portsmouth we’ll travel the short distance to Rowlands Castle to see the Canadian Army’s Battle Drill School, placed in 1942. From here, we transfer to Newhaven for our Channel Crossing to Dieppe (PM Crossing - DFDS Ferries). We will take the same routing our forefathers took in August 1942, with a chance to see the cliff tops of Dieppe at last light. Enjoy dinner on board. Upon our arrival, we will disembark and transfer to our hotel for our overnight. [Overnight - Dieppe (B, D)]
Day 6 - Thursday, July 7th
This morning, we start with a visit to the Hess Battery - of which No. 4 Commando successfully knocked out. Then, we head to Green Beach in Pourville before a visit to the Red & White Beaches of the main beachfront in Dieppe. Take a stroll through the Canadian Memorial Garden before our private tour with the group director of the Memorial Museum of Dieppe, Daniel Jaspart. After lunch, we head up to Pollock Cliff to see the gun emplacements along the cliff tops. En route, we will stop to see Église Notre-Dame de Bonsecours and The School of Paul Bert, where so many POW’s were first held capture. We continue back into Dieppe’s Harbour to visit Hotel Les Arcades to meet with the owners and hear the tale of the pinch raid. Tonight, enjoy some free time with dinner on our own to explore the harbour. [Overnight – Dieppe (B)]
Day 7 - Friday, July 8th
After breakfast, we will take the full morning to explore the beaches east of Dieppe. We begin with a visit to Yellow Beach where No. 3 Commando’s came ashore to assault the Goebbels Battery. We’ll walk up the beach to Berneval, recounting where the first US Rangers would be killed in action in Europe. We continue to Puys, Blue Beach. It is here that one can attain an understanding of the tragedy. Observe the beach, bunkers, and obstacles the men faced that morning. From the beach we retrace the POW’s footsteps to the church in Envermeu, before continuing to the old Clock Factory in Saint-Nicolas-d'Aliermont, where the men were held overnight. Before heading back to our hotel, we will take some time at the Dieppe Canadian Cemetery to pay our homage. Discover a unique history about this particular Commonwealth War gravesite. Tonight, enjoy another evening with dinner at your own leisure. [Overnight – Dieppe (B)]
Day 8 - Saturday, July 9th
Today is our last day in Dieppe - and we will spend the day exploring the port from a different perspective - the sea. Dieppe Voiles et Falaises takes us out on the open water in their comfortable 9.5 metre Bénéteau 31.7 sail boat. As we sail along the Alabaster Coast, take in what the Canadians saw in the early hours of that ill-fated morning. This afternoon, enjoy the rest of the day to explore anything more you wish to see - perhaps a visit to the Chateau du Dieppe or a chance to shop at the fish market. Tonight, we enjoy our farewell dinner together at one of our favourite local restaurants. [Overnight – Dieppe (B, D)]
Day 9 - Sunday, July 10th
After breakfast, we say our farewells to Dieppe and head to Paris. Upon arrival, we’ll see the restoration of the Notre Dame of Paris before an early farewell dinner with our dear friends at the Jardin du Notre Dame - a local family restaurant serving Parisian food in the bohemian area of Les Halles. [Roissy CDG Airport (B, D)]
Day 10 - Monday, July 11th
This morning, we’ll transfer to Paris CDG International Airport for our return flights home. [(B) Meals onboard]
TOUR END.
^^^ Stretching our legs on the Windsor High Street
^^^ Exploring Bletchley Park
^^^ The D-Day Story Museum in Portsmouth
^^^ Ferry Crossing to Dieppe, France
^^^ A private visit at the Memorial Museum in Dieppe
^^^ Exploring the coast with Dieppe Voiles et Falaises
^^^ Farewell Dinner at the Jardin du Notre Dame Paris
***This itinerary is subject to changes***
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Thinking about arranging a custom pre-tour trip or post-tour trip extension?
We encourage it!
LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
Coach & Hotel Space made available for a maximum of 24 people per 40 seat coach
Minimum Tour Capacity:
15 Travellers per 30 seat coach
Tour pricing comes with the following inclusions & exclusions:
Some Lunches (L) &
Some Dinners (D)
Single Room Supplement
Gratuities to your drivers and guides
Porterage (luggage handling to your room is available upon request)
Travel Insurance (please contact your travel agent / DH Tour if you need assistance booking medical or trip cancellation insurance)
Accommodations in Superior Tourist Class Hotels throughout (3-4*)
All Entrances as per your Itinerary
Ferry Transport
Full-Time Tour Manager & Escort
Transportation in fully air-conditioned, ozone filtered executive coaches
Breakfast (B) throughout, Most Dinners (D) and some Lunches (L)
Online Map Kit, Tour Resource & Info Guide
All service fees, surcharges, fees, and departure taxes
$6218 CAD
$7818 CAD
$1305 CAD
Land only - per person, based on twin occupancy
Land & Air - per person based on twin occupancy
*Group air from YYZ Toronto
Single Supplement
**Air is available from all major Canadian cities - please contact your Travel Agent for more information**
TOUR PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Initial Deposit: $500, ($300 of which is non-refundable) to guarantee your space is due immediately
Your Remaining Balance: Due 90 days prior to departure
METHOD OF PAYMENT
All funds will be collected by our host agency, DH Tour. If you would like to use your credit card, our agency will collect your payment details over the phone after you have registered. DH Tour accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, as well as cash and cheque payments.
Personal cheques can be made to:
“DH Tour”
Attn to: Karen Burwood [Travel Manager]
Mail to:
2289 Fairview Street, Suite 321,
Burlington, ON
L7R 2E3
Please review our Groups Terms & Conditions before booking with us.
REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
Early registration is recommended for this battlefield program - we suggest you register as soon as possible to hold your space
An initial deposit of $500 CAD ($300 is non-refundable) is due immediately to reserve/secure your spot.
Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure