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£135 (early bird registration ends 28th February 2021)
EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION: SAVE £15 OFF THE REGISTRATION FEE. ENDS 28TH FEBRUARY 2021
The Frontline Walk: The Home Front
Walk 100km of south-east England. Learn about the people of London, Surrey and Hampshire and the role they played during WWI and WWII. Hear tales of where our troops were trained, how the War shaped our local communities and landmarks and stories of bravery from people far behind the front line.
Dates: 9th - 12th September 2021
Cost: £135 (early-bird registration ends 28th February 2021)
Fundraising: £850, with £500 due by the 30th June 2021
What’s included
- All transfers whilst on the trip
- Accommodation throughout on a single room basis
- All meals and snacks, except breakfast on day 1 and day 4
- Trip historian
- Experienced tour guides and support crew, including medics
- A full bespoke training guide
- Discounts on equipment
- Frontline Walk t-shirt and finishers medal
- Optional return coach to London (supplement applies)
Have a question?
Visit the FAQs tab for more information, or contact Amy on akenyon@soldierscharity.org or call 020 7811 3960.
Photo Gallery
See the photos from previous walks below.
Emotional, but inspiring.Judith Tetlow, 2018 participant
Photography © Ed Smith Photography: http://edsmithphotography.com/
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£135 (early bird registration ends 28th February 2021)
The full itinerary for the Home Front route is below.
Itinerary
Day 1: London – Weybridge
Meet at Wellington Barracks to begin our journey – as did thousands of troops during the First and Second World Wars.
Today we walk ~ 35km through south-west London to Surrey. Travelling via Wandsworth and Richmond Park – where East Surrey trained their new recruits until 1941 and the infamous ‘Phantom’ was based before finishing in Weybridge.
We overnight in Guildford – a town rich in military history. Visit Garden of Remembrance & the Guildford Memorial
Distance approx 36km.
Day 2: Brookwood Military Cemetery – Shalford – Witney Common
An early departure to our start point – Brookwood Military Cemetery. The largest CWGC cemetery in the UK, it contains over 5,500 graves.
Today holds another 35km trek through the Surrey Hills. We’ll be walking through history, as most of this area was made into a military camp during WWI and WWII.
Along with many individual stories from the many CWGC graves in village cemeteries and war memorials along the way, we’ll pass through Jacob’s Well and a memorial to a plane that crashed during WWII and Witney Common – a huge Canadian camp in both World Wars.
Distance approx. 34km
Day 3: Petersfield to Southwick Park
Day three is our final day of walking.
Starting at Petersfield War Memorial, with the stories of some of the 100 WWI and 53 WWII soldiers. Also commemorated here are 2 soldiers from the Falklands.
Then passing through the historic villages of Petersfield, Buriton and Clanfield, our finish point is Southwick Park. Now the Regimental HQ of the Royal Military Police, in WWII it was where General Eisenhower, General Montgomery and Admiral Ramsay engineered D-Day. The original maps can still be seen in the Map Room.
That night our celebration dinner takes place in Portsmouth.
Trek approx. 30km
Day 4: Portsmouth – London
A free morning before we all make our way home. An optional coach transfer to London will leave at midday.
The Home Front - FAQ's
Below we have answered as many questions about 'The Frontline Walk: The Home Front'. This will be updated regularly as we receive more questions.
What is the itinerary of The Frontline Walk: The Home Front & what route do we walk?
The Frontline Walk: The Home Front takes place over 4 days. We meet in London on day 1 and go our separate ways from Portsmouth on day 4. The actual walking takes place over days 1-3.
The itinerary and a rough route for the walk can be found on the tab labelled 'The Home Front, above.
The final route will be released to everyone taking part closer to the event.
How far will we walk each day?
On average we'll walk 33km a day.
Where do we meet?
We meet in Wellington Barracks early on the morning of the 9th September. We will depart on foot from there.
The exact meeting time will be confirmed closer to the event, but please be aware it will be very early and if you do not live close to London you may wish to book a hotel the night before.
Where do we need to get home from at the end of the walk?
We will go our separate ways from Portsmouth, on the 12th September. There is a supplementary coach transfer back to London, subject to interest.
What are the timings of the walk?
Specific timings for each walking day will be confirmed on The Frontline Walk, as they are subject to change dependent on weather. However we can confirm it will be an early start each day.
What is included in the cost?
Your minimum sponsorship target, of £850, covers your transport to and from the start/finsih line every day, accommodation and meals from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 4, water on trekking days, snacks, medical support, a historian and a charity t-shirt.
Why do I need to have raised £500 by the 30th June?
The Soldiers’ Charity covers your travel, accommodation and food, plus other expenses such as medical cover and support staff. We ask you to have raised £600 by the 30th June to ensure these costs are covered.
What happens if I do not reach £500 by the 30th June?
Unfortunately, you will not be able to take part.
What happens if I do not reach the minimum sponsorship target?
We will do everything we can to help you raise the minimum sponsorship but failure to do so may limit your ability to taking part in future events for The Soldiers’ Charity.
Is there an age restriction?
The minimum age is 18 for the Frontline Walk. There is no upper age limit, but if you are over 65 at the start of the Walk you will need a doctor’s note from your GP confirming you are fit and healthy and there is no medical reason that you should not take part in the Walk.
Is Gift Aid included in my sponsorship target?
Gift Aid is not included in minimum sponsorship targets.
I'm worried about fundraising right now
Fundraising has certainly changed during these unprecedented times. Many events which people previously relied on to make their fundraising targets have been cancelled. However don't dispair - we've found that the pandemic has brought out the best in people, and if they are able to still support charitable endeavours, they will.
Once you've signed up you'll have access to all The Soldiers' Charity's virtual fundraising resources - including virtual quizzes, bingo cards & plenty of other tips. You'll also be able to join The Frontline Walk facebook group which is full of Frontline Walkers past and present who have plenty of imaginative tips - they've been running virtual challenges, bingo, quizzes, raffles, character cards & even a snail race.
Can we fundraise jointly as a team?
Yes, absolutely – it can make your fundraising target easier to meet if you fundraise together. You can even have a team fundraising page. Just remember that the sponsorship target is per person, so if your individual target is £850 and you fundraise as a pair, you’ll need to raise £1,700 together.
How do I apply for matched funding from my employer?
Many companies will match up to 100% of the donations you collect. Each company has a different policy and so please contact your HR or CSR teams to find out more.
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£135 (early bird registration ends 28th February 2021)
Partners
Steve Roberts Military Ancestry
Steve Roberts is the historical guide on The Frontline Walk.
Steve Roberts Military Ancestry offers a reliable, bespoke research service based on twenty years’ experience at numerous archives and repositories throughout the United Kingdom.
Steve is an ex-serviceman with a keen interest in military history, he holds a Masters Degree in British First World War Studies and has a proven track record in researching Britain’s armed forces for individual clients and a number of television documentaries.
Classic Challenge has been leading the way in charity challenges since they originated the concept in 1992. Since then more than £100 million has been raised for hundreds of charities. 65,000 people have cycled, trekked, run, climbed mountains and ridden horses to all corners of the globe while taking part in a charity challenge event for Classic Challenge.
Terry offers a research service for people interested in finding out about their family connections to the First World War. He does not charge for his service, but asks for a donation to be made to The Soldiers' Charity instead.
Terry is also a tour guide, having previously worked with Leger, Holts and RBL. Terry offers a bespoke tour package, either following your relative's First World War journey or the key landmarks on the WWI battlefields.
The 2021 Frontline Walk will be sponsored by Annington.
Annington is one of the largest private landlords in the UK following the purchase of over 57,000 homes from the Ministry of Defence in 1996. Most of these properties are leased back to the MOD and provide homes for Service personnel and their families. A significant number, however, have been handed back to Annington.
In the years since 1996, Annington has invested time, money and expertise in regenerating thousands of these homes and returned them to the national housing stock. To date, Annington has helped over 18,000 homebuyers, many of whom were first time buyers and key workers.
In 2019 a team of five Annington employees completed the Frontline Walk and raised £43,000 for ABF The Soldiers' Charity. In 2020 Annington came on board as the headline sponsor of the event.
You can read more about the partnership here.
THE VIRTUAL FRONTLINE WALK 2021, sponsored by Annington
Commemorate the footsteps of those who fought in WWI or WWII at your own pace.
The Virtual Frontline Walk is a personal challenge that can be completed at any location. You can start at your pace anywhere in the world. It is a great way to stay fit and active while supporting The Soldiers’ Charity.Below you'll find testimonials from people who have taken part in the other two Frontline Walk events - The Normandy Beaches and The Western Front. The support will be the same on The Home Front, but 2021 will be the first year we are running this particular route.
