Scheyvillians – FYI Battlefield Tours 2020
From Neil Leckie, Editor, The Scheyvillian
Battlefield Tours:
A number of Scheyvillians have found a niche in the world of Tour Guiding on Battlefields.
Vietnam:
Long Tan veteran David Sabben (1/65) has for many years taken tours of Vietnam and the Long Tan Battlefield known as ‘The Long Trek’. The tours took in Long Tan (the actual battleground in real time thru the Battle of Long Tan going to all the key places where 10, 11 and 12 platoons fought and to the Company’s final position ending at the Cross), the Long Hai’s, Coral, Balmoral, the barrier minefield, and the bases at Nui Dat and the former 1ALSG base at Vung Tau. The Tour started and ended in Saigon and included Cu Chi and the main Saigon war sites. Currently Dave does not have any tours planned, but he may go again in the future! Contact ‘Where2Travel’ through disabben@ozemail.com.au or 0412 278 888.
Another Vietnam veteran, Gary McKay (2/68), has two tour planned this year:
A longer 16-day tour including the major battlefields and cities from 4 – 19 May 2020 (filling fast) and a shorter 9-day battlefield tour in August. If you are interested in either of these tours, please contact Gary McKay at garymckay@bigpond.com or 0411 574 019 or visit the Mat McLachlan website www.battlefields.com.au or 1300 880 340.
Gallipoli:
Rod Margetts (2/69) has been a Tour Guide with Boronia Battlefield Tours in Melbourne for the last ten years. In that time, he has taken groups to Gallipoli, the Western Front, North Africa, Israel, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
This year Rod is taking a group to Gallipoli on an ANZAC Day tour, but there are also opportunities to visit Gallipoli in the quieter times. Rod can be contacted at rodm709@gmail.com or 0447 061 519 or go to the Boronia Travel website www.battlefieldtourspecialists.com.au or on 1800 035 350.
Western Front:
Neil Leckie (3/68) has taken small group tours to Gallipoli and the Western Front since 2008 for Belmore Travel in Melbourne. This year Belmore is offering a revamped Western Front Tour that follows the AIF through its 1916, 1917 and 1918 battles, culminating in the attendance of the ANZAC Day Service at Villers Bretonneux. Tour dates are 18 – 29 April 2020. Later in the year Belmore also offer a tour of Gallipoli from 3 – 13 October 2020.
For details of the tours please contact Neil at nkaleckie@optusnet.com.au or 0400 573 802 or go to the Belmore Travel Website www.belmoretravel.com.au or 03 9857 4555.