In the footsteps of the Australian troops between Sambre and Meuse in WW1 (December 1918 - April 1919)

(Collection F. Bondroit)

Australia entered the First World War along with Britain in August 1914. The troops from Australia and New Zealand fought mainly in the Middle East (remember Gallipoli) until beginning 1916, when many were moved to the trenches of the european West Front.
Fromelles (July 1916), Bullecourt, Messines, the Somme (1916), Hamel, Amiens and the 4 months campaign around the Ypres Salient known as the battle of Passchendaele (1917).
As a percentage of those involved, their losses were among the highest of any country and the ANZAC soldiers have become cultural icons.



11 November 1918. The Great War, "The War to End All Wars", is over and the Armistice imposes Germany to retreat behind the Rhine.
Four of the 5 Divisions of the Australian Forces are positionned between the Sambre and the Meuse for the winter. Just in case ...
The HQ of the 1st Division settles in Presles (between Châtelet and Fosses), the 2nd in Marcinelle, the 4th in Dinant and the 5th in Solre-le-Château. The General HQ of the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) is housed in the castle of Ham-sur-Heure, from mid December 1918 till April 1919.

The heroes are warmly welcomed in every town and village of the region. The local authorities organize official receptions and festivities. Many soldiers will be invited to stay in the homes of the local families.
Both the heroes and the local population are relieved by the end of the war. It's Christmas time, and New Year's Eve is just around the corner. Many festivities (balls, sport events, ...) are also organized by the Australians who are highly regarded by everyone. Many snowball "battles" will be fought in the snow covered landscapes of February 1919. And even our beer is much appreciated.
When the orders come for the Australians to return to their homes in Australia, many tears will flow on the cheeks of the local people. And not only on the cheeks of the local people: tens of Australians will prefer to stay, rather than return to Australia.



We are proud to take you for a daytour, from the banks of the Meuse river to the Sambre, in the footsteps of our Aussies


We start the tour, exploring Dinant and the area around Dinant :
Dinant, Anseremme, Bouvignes
We follow the river Meuse for Freÿr, Waulsort and Hastière
The tour leaves the Meuse valley and takes us further to Miavoye, Fontaine, Anthée, Morville, Flavion and Florennes
(Other places: Onhaye, Weillen, ...)
We'll make a short stop in Florennes for a quick lunch
After the lunch, we continue to Mettet, from where we join the castle of Ham-sur-Heure (General Headquarter), where we meet our guide for the second part of our tour:
Charleroi and the area around Charleroi :
Mont-sur-Marchienne, Marcinelle (HQ of the 2nd Division) and Charleroi: the railway station (where the 4 Divisions will take their train back to Australia via Mons, Le Havre and a Transit Camp in England), the 20th Casualty Clearing Station, the Cemetery, ...

Depending on interest and time, we would be glad to take you to other places, like Bouffioulx, Châtelet, Nalinnes, Jamioulx, Gourdinne, Morialmé, Thy-le-Château, Walcourt, Sivry, Rance, Couillet, Loverval, Marchienne-au-Pont, Tarciennes (airfield), the 55th Casualty Clearing Station and YMCA in Charleroi, ...


The tour is meant to be a full day tour, but if you really only have a half day available, you can choose to take the Dinant part only (from Dinant to Florennes and back to Dinant) or the Charleroi part only (from Charleroi to Ham-sur-Heure and back to Charleroi).

Whatever you opt for, the best way to reach us is by taking the train
- for the full day tour: arrive Dinant Station and return home from Charleroi Station
- for one of the half day tours: arrive/leave Dinant (for the Dinant half day tour) or arrive/leave Charleroi Station (for the Charleroi half day tour).