A TRIP to the sites of First World War battlefields next month will provide an opportunity for relatives of men killed in the conflict to see the graves of their loved ones.

The visit to northern France and Belgium should be of particular interest to residents as it was the county regiment which shored up the shattered British line at Gheluvelt, near Ypres, on October 31, 1914.

The highlight of the visit will be an Armistice service held at the Menin Gate, Ypres, on the centenary anniversary of the start of the war.

Thousands of people will flock to the Belgian town, including many dignitaries and state representatives from all over the world.

Battlefield Memorial Tours spokesman John Phillpott said: “The coach party will travel along the Menin Road, the scene of much desperate fighting 100 years ago this month.

“The First Battle of Ypres was one of the greatest defensive battles of history and the men of Worcestershire played a crucial role.

"The recapture of Gheluvelt was vital in order for the British Army to repair the broken line and prevent Ypres from falling to the enemy.

“Tour guides will provide a running commentary, pointing out Polygon Wood, from where 380 men of the 2nd Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment started their counter-attack on Gheluvelt chateau and grounds.

“It was here that the county’s soldiers succeeded in driving out the Germans. This event was of great historical significance as it ultimately stopped the Germans reaching the Channel ports and arguably winning the war.”

Relatives of the fallen can be taken to their ancestors’ graves on request for no extra charge.

The trip, running from November 10 to 12, will also visit the famed tunnels of Arras and La Coupole, a vast underground rocket bunker near Calais built by the Germans during the Second World War.

For more information, contact Brian Long on 01629 650780 or visit battlefieldmemorialtours.co.uk.