About Us
Established in 1986, by a group of enthusiasts who where privileged to accompany remaining ‘Tommies’ of the Great War, back to the scene of many of their original engagements. The spirit, which endured through the ‘Old Bill Bus’, enabled them to join with a merry band of family and close friends in re-visiting the battlefields of the Western Front, where they recounted their original involvements in the battles at Ypres, Arras and The Somme, and reminisced about their ‘Cheerful Sacrifice’. In many cases their greatest memory was not of the death, destruction and savagery of the War, but of the friendship and companionship they had found in the company of their peers and fellow countrymen from all walks of life during their service at the front. Our tours rekindled that feeling of belonging and comradeship, which they thought they might never hold again, enabling them to talk openly and frankly about their involvement, whilst enjoying a rip-roaring time. Sadly our veterans have since gone to the ‘Great parade ground’ in the sky, however their stories of the ‘Great Adventure’ remain a testament to their powers of endurance recounted for a new audience. One, which perhaps has more than just a passing, interest in the ‘Lost Generation’, either through a more comprehensive understanding of the conflict itself, and its impact on the people of our country and the Commonwealth. or investigations which may have possibly uncovered their own family’s involvement in it. ‘Old Bill Bus’ tours offer a very special service to those wishing to visit the battlefields of the Great War. We can cater for both large (max 48 persons) or small (min 4 persons) group bookings. Our large bookings include luxury coaches, high quality accommodation and varied and involved itineraries, guided throughout. Alternatively, for smaller parties we can put together a more personalised experience including walking tours through the battlefield areas, whilst staying at farmhouse accommodation or under tent (probably the best ever way to experience a battlefield tour). Either of these options allow the individual to experience first hand the awesome scale and of the war and its historic legacy, whilst receiving a comprehensive guided history, and enjoying the stunning scenery and countryside of Picardy and Flanders.
The Great War 1914-1918 was an extraordinary period in this countries history. From the early days of 1914, the British Expeditionary Force, referred to as that ‘ Contemptible Little Army’, by Kaiser WILHEM 11, was rushed to the front in a fleet of hastily commandeered London Buses. They fought the Imperial German Army to a standstill in the first battles of the Great War. The names of those battles were proudly daubed on the sides of the khaki painted vehicles, Mons, Le Cateau, the Aisne and the Marne and of course Ypres.
The ‘Tommies’ arrived with an optimistic viewpoint to make a ‘Cheerful sacrifice’. Four years later they had endured the ‘Unending War’, of unbelievable suffering and sacrifice, which would become a testament to the bravery of every man who fought and died in a foreign field.
Later in the War the same buses appeared on the Somme and Arras. As these machines trundled up and down the lines they acquired a soft spot in the hearts of the footsore Tommies. In the military phonetic alphabet of the day the letter ‘B’ was represented by the word ‘Bill’, therefore the 1914 London Bus Company Type ‘B’ Omnibus became forever famous as the Old Bill Bus.
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