Whether you’re looking for a professional guide to take you on a battlefield tour, or you’re already a Battlefield Guide, just interested in finding out what battlefield guiding is all about, considering a future in battlefield guiding or improving your battlefield guiding skills, or simply have a general interest in battlefields – the International Guild of Battlefield Guides is for you. Our Honorary Members include Tonie and Valmai Holt – the pioneers of battlefield guiding – and Guild President Doctor Spencer Jones – the acclaimed First World War historian – the Guild is the foremost organisation in the world dedicated to Battlefield Guiding.
Coming Up
Guild Recce – Redcoats in the Pyrenees: 26-30 July 2019
A Pyrenees Recce is scheduled for 26-30 July.
This 5-day Recce visits the 1813-14 Peninsular War battlefields of the Pyrenees and follows the footsteps and actions of an army that had been built and nurtured by a great leader over the five preceding years. We visit the battlefield of Vitoria where Wellington achieved one of his greatest victories. We walk the land bridge at Sorauren to look at Foy’s demise then gain the heights of the Pass at Maya. We tour the Vera, San Marcial, and the Nivelle battlefields. We take in the San Sebastian siege and assault and the Crossings of the Bidassoa. The Guggenheim Museum is so close. To pass by would disappoint those who would want to experience this world-renowned museum.
4 Nights / 5 Nights: Fly In 26 Jul (before 1300 Hrs) Out of Bilbao 30 Jul (no earlier than 1600 Hrs)
First come first served: Members wishing to attend are asked to register with Graeme Cooper at cooper@waterlootours.co.uk
To provisionally book a place contact cooper@waterlootours.co.uk confirmation and commitment in January.
Badged Guides Dinner 9th August 2019
The Annual Badges Guides Dinner will be held on Friday 9th August 2019 at a location that will be disclosed on the day!!
For further details contact Graeme Cooper.
13th Annual Golf Championships 2019 16th August 2019
Every year The Guild of Battlefield Guides holds its Annual Golf Championships at the John O’Gaunt Golf
Club. Prior to the 2019 Championship the Guild presentation will be ‘Trafalgar’.
Validation Day
Want to progress towards Accredited Membership? Need to do a face-to-face assignment? Can't get to a Guild Weekend? Here's your opportunity! You'll be able to attempt Assignment 1, Assignment 5 and/or Assignment 6. Send your request to the Validation Secretary and put the date in your diary now!
Guild Recce, Berlin
A five-day recce (Monday to Friday) of Berlin, including visits to Seelow, Potsdam and Gatow. There is an option on the Friday for additional visits to Sachsenhausen, Templin and a hunt round Soviet SA2 and SA3 sites north of Berlin.
Validation Event Museum of Army Flying Middle Wallop
As well as the validations that take place at Core Weekends, the Validation Team provide one day events located around the country at which members can undertake and observe Assignments 1, 5 and 6.
Guild Christmas Lunch
Full details will be published in September but an opportunity for members to make sure they put the date in their schedule. Last year the event was oversubscribed suggesting that early booking is advisable.
A good response so far and places limited to 50 and so now is a good time to sign up to guarantee your place. Full details in the early autumn - a great venue, great company and a great way to relax at the end of the year.
Contact Andy Thompson andy.ewt@gmail.com (please note this is his new email address).
Annual Conference and AGM 2020
Our Annual Conference and AGM weekend will be held in the Mercure Great Danes Hotel, Maidstone. The hotel is located just off Junction 8 of the M20. Our theme for the weekend will be the Battle of Britain and we plan to include the usual mix of activities - validation opportunities, Guild AGM (Saturday afternoon), Guild Awards Dinner, a quiz, bring-and-buy stall, and a range of speakers.