1. Mons – Le Cateau August 2014 10th Chippenham Air Scouts
Aston Clinton Scouts
Endeavour Explorer Scouts Unit
Gondolier Explorer Scouts Unit

2. Objectives Commemorate the Battle of Mons on 23 August 2014
Retrace the retreat to Le Cateau-Cambrésis of:
The 1st Wiltshire Regiment
The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Regiment
between 23 August 1914 and 26 August 1914
Commemorate the Battle of Le Cateau on 26 August 2014

3. Organisers and insurance
This camp is organised by 10th Chippenham et Aston Clinton Scout groups as well as the Endeavour and Gondolier Explorer Scout units. The Policies, Organisation and Rules of the UK Scouts Association ( will apply in full.
Belgian scouts from the District of Mons of the Fédération scoute de Belgique (
In addition to the Belgian Scouts, the group includes 2 adults French nationals as well as 4 bilingual children of French nationality who would be able to translate and accompany a child/adult if the need arises
UK Scouts Association and Fédération Belge insurance policies apply and cover all these activities
The Bristol University Officer Training Corps is part of the British Army and is insured as such
E-Battery, Royal Horse Artillery is a British Army unit and is insured as such

4. Participants Chippenham Air Scouts (32 people):
10th Chippenham Air Scouts + 3 Leaders + 3 Occasional Helpers
Endeavour Explorer Scouts + 1 leader
Aston Clinton Scouts (18 people)
Scouts + leaders
Explorer Scouts + leaders
Bristol University Officer Training Corps: 4 Officer cadets including a trainee nurse
Bristol University Officer Training Corps cook
Royal Horse Artillery E-battery on 25 August 2014 – 35 men and officers

5. Key principles for the hike
2 itineraries:
Chippenham air scouts & Endeavour explorers follow the road taken by 1st Wiltshire Regiment 100 years to the day
Aston Clinton scouts & explorers follow the road taken by the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Regiment 100 years to the day – using minibus transport at the beginning and end of each day
British and Belgian scouts will be mixed together in 1 or more groups
Scouts will not walk in uniform (to keep the uniforms clean for official commemorations) but will be wearing their scout neckers and high visibility jackets
Scouts will respect the Belgian and French highway codes at all times
Leaders will walk with the groups as appropriate
Water supplies will be available at 2-4 checkpoints during the day: Bristol OTC + leaders
Bristol OTC nurse available in the event of an incident

6. Logistics Water checkpoints 2-4 times a day: Bristol OTC + leaders
Bristol OTC cook
4 x Bristol OTC
1 x Bristol OTC 2IC
1 leader Endeavour Explorers (Chippenham)
1 leader 10th Chippenham Air scouts + 2 ASL + 1 occasional helper
1 leader Aston Clinton + 1 occasional helper
1 leader Aston Clinton Explorers + 1 occasional helper
1 leader from Belgian scouts throughout the camp + 1 leader joining for the hike
All British Scouts and their leaders carry European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

7. Summary of the itinerary
21 August 2014: UK to Mons
22 August 2014: Bray, Mons (Belgium) & Gussignies (France)
23 August 2014:
St Symphorien & Mons communal cemeteries
Commemoration of the Battle of Mons
Tree planting in Mons
Hike: Mons (Belgium) – Gussignies (France)
24 August 2014:
Hike Gussignies – Le Quesnoy
Hike Bavay – Sassegnies
25 August 2014:
Hike Le Quesnoy – Caudry
Hike Sassegnies – Le Cateau-Cambrésis
26 August 2014:
Transport Caudry – Le Cateau-Cambrésis
Commemorations in Le Cateau-Cambrésis
Garden party in Le Cateau-Cambrésis
27 August 2014: rest day
28 August 2014: Return to the UK

8. 21 August 2014: Trip to Mons Leave Chippenham 08h00
Rendez-vous with Bristol University OTC at Chippenham
Rendez-vous with Aston Clinton Scouts at Folkestone
Cross the Channel via Eurotunnel
Arrive in Mons & meet up with Belgian Scouts
Setup a temporary camp in Mons
Attend sound + light show in Mons town centre with the Belgian Scouts

9. 21 August 2014: Arrive in Mons

10. 22 August 2014: Mons & Gussignies
Minibus to Bray (Belgium) and commemoration of the 1st gun shot of World War I with E-Battery, Royal Horse Artillery
Reception in Bray
Strike camp and depart for the Chateau de Gussignies (France)
Setup camp at the Chateau de Gussignies (France)
Presentation from Mr de Witte on life in Gussignies during the German occupation of

11. 22 August 2014: Mons & Gussignies

12. 23 August 2014: Mons - Gussignies
Morning:
Visit to St Symphorien cemetery
Meet up with Belgian Scouts joining us for the Hike at St Symphorien cemetery
Visit to Mons communal cemetery
Afternoon:
Arrive and setup for the main commemoration event in Mons, Place du Parc
Tree planting with the Prime Minister of Belgium, the British ambassador and the German ambassador
Minibus to Ciply
Hike Ciply – Gussignies
Camp at Gussignies

13. 23 August 2014: Ciply - Gussignies

14. 24 August 2014: Hike day 1 Strike camp à Gussignies Hike:
Chippenham scouts:
Hike Gussignies – Le Quesnoy
1st Wiltshire went through Saint Waast-la-Vallée and Gommegnies from Bavay – we will not be able to follow this exact route to keep the itinerary simple
Aston Clinton scouts: Bavay – Route de l’Ecluse, Sassegnies
Minibus to Bavay
Hike Bavay – Route de l’Ecluse, Sassegnies
Minibus from Route de l’Ecluse, Sassegnies to Le Quesnoy
Camp on the ramparts of Le Quesnoy (thanks to the Mayor of Le Quesnoy)

15. 24 August 2014: Gussignies – Le Quesnoy

16. 24 August 2014: Bavay – Sassegnies

17. 25 August 2014: Hike day 2 Strike camp at Le Quesnoy Hike:
Chippenham scouts:
Hike Le Quesnoy – Caudry
1st Wiltshire fought at Solesmes to protect the retreat and the British army’s rear guard – stop at Solesmes’ municipal cemetery where several soldiers from 1st Wiltshire are buried
Aston Clinton scouts: Route de l’Ecluse, Sassegnies – Le Cateau-Cambrésis
Minibus to Route de l’Ecluse à Sassegnies
Hike Route de l’Ecluse, Sassegnies – Le Cateau-Cambrésis
Minibus from Le Cateau-Cambrésis to Caudry
Camp at Caudry’s municipal stadium thanks to the Mayor of Caudry
35 men and officers from E-Battery Royal Horse Artillery will walk with the scouts.

18. 25 August 2014: Le Quesnoy - Caudry

19. 25 August 2014: Sassegnies– Le Cateau

20. 26 August 2014: Le Cateau-Cambrésis
Strike camp and leave Caudry before breakfast by coach (kindly provided by the town of Le Cateau-Cambrésis)
Arrive at Le Cateau-Cambrésis and set up camp followed by breakfast
Leave for Suffolk Hill for the first ceremony
From Suffolk Hill coach to Le Cateau-Cambrésis town centre
Parade through Le Cateau-Cambrésis and ceremony at war memorial
Garden party organised by the town of Le Cateau-Cambrésis

21. 26 August 2014: Caudry – Le Cateau

22. 27 August 2014: Rest day Rest day
Visit Le Cateau-Cambrésis swimming pool
Visit of the Maison Forestière near Ors (“maison Wilfred Owen”) if the scouts have enough energy

23. 28 August 2014: Return trip Strike camp and clean up
Leave for the UK after breakfast
Stops at Arras, Ecoivres and Vimy Ridge on the way back

24. Mons – Le Cateau August 2014 10th Chippenham Air Scouts
Aston Clinton Scouts
Endeavour Explorer Scouts Unit
Gondolier Explorer Scouts Unit