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Situation 

1.            On the 4 Aug 2014 it will be one hundred years since Britain became involved in    WW1.

 2.            There will be several events to mark the occasion across Britain and no doubt Europe.  To this end I would like to make a contribution to those events and at the same time, raise money for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal (PA) http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/support-us/poppy-appeal.  I am a member of the Royal British Legion Riders Branch http://www.rblr.co.uk/content/ and do what I can to raise monies for the Poppy Appeal and this is an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of the branch and money at the same time.  See here how that money is spent http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m03cOq1GO0&feature=player_embedded

3.            I am a serving Cadet Force Officer Lt Colonel ,with Lancashire Army Cadet Force (Lancs ACF), which also helps to raise monies towards the PA each and every year, which links in with what I am trying to achieve by doing this ride.

 Mission

4.            Our first aim is to ride by motorcycle from Poplar 2000 Services on the M6 near Lymm, Cheshire England, to St. Symphorien Cemetery Mons in Belgium https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=50.43271,4.01102, to lay a Poppy wreath at the headstone of the first British soldier to be killed in WW1, Pte John Parr, who was killed on the 21 Aug 1914.  In addition, I will also place a wreath on one of the German graves that are also in the same cemetery in recognition of the futile loss on all sides, not just the allies.

5.            Our second aim is to then visit 99 other Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) cemetery/memorials in Belgium on the route back to my home town and to place a Poppy at each of those cemetery/memorials.  Again some of which have German dead buried in them.  The significance being 100 years since the start of WW1 and the 100 sites.

6.             Our third and final aim is to complete the ride covering 1000 miles and to do it in less than 24 hours.  This ride will be verified by the Iron Butt Association UK (IBA UK) http://www.ironbutt.co.uk/, using their very strict rules for long distance riding and observation of posted speed limits.  https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BwmB9BxdSweGV1hseXc0bnk3SGc&usp=sharing

Execution

7.            Outline. I will be taking a pillion passenger along with me, David Troughton (who is my son in law’s father), whom has agreed to take pictures at each and every CWGC site to evidence the ride and placing of a Poppy.  It is my intention to leave Poplar 2000 Services at 2130hrs on the 3 Aug 2014, ride to the Euro Tunnel at Folkestone, board a train to go through the tunnel and then ride the rest of the journey to St. Symphorien Cemetery Mons.  Visit 99 more CWGC sites in Belgium on the route back to the Euro Tunnel at Calais, board another train back to England and then ride back to my home to arrive back at about 2110hrs 4 Aug, having completed the ride in under 24hrs.  The route I have chosen covers just 1000 miles.

8.            Scheme of manoeuvre.   The route has been planned to ensure that at least a 1000 miles is covered during the ride.  In addition, I have identified 99 other CWGC sites in the Belgium region that would facilitate the requirement to visit enough and to be able to cover the distance in the 24 hour period.  The route will be to go north on the M6 and then north east on to the M62 and head to Ferrybridge to join the A1 south bound.  Follow the A1 to the A14 and then onto the M11, south for the M25.  M25 to the M20 and then on to Folkestone and the tunnel.  From Calais then on to Mons in Belgium using main routes.  Then once in Belgium using local routes to get round the CWGC sites.  Once all sites have been visited and a Poppy placed, ride back to Calais and board a train for England.  Once back in England, north on the M20, to the M25, anti-clockwise on to the M25 to the M1 north.  From the M1 take the M6 north to Bamber Bridge, Preston and the Sainsbury garage for fuel.  From there south bound on the M61 onto the M60 and then finish the ride at the Esso garage on Walkden Rd Worsley Manchester.

9. Funding/Sponsorship.  To be able to achieve this goal, we will need people to sponsor this event and to hopefully achieve the target of £5000

10.  Sites To Be Visited.  List of CWGC cemeteries/memorials to be visited:

St Symphorien Mons, Hainaut Belgium
Zantvoorde British Cemetery Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen
Hooge Crater Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Sanctuary Wood Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Birr Cross Roads Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Perth Cemetery (China Wall) Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Menin Rd South Military Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Ypres(Menin Gate) Memorial Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
White House Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Potijze Burial Ground Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Aeroplane Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Oxford Rd Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Track X Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Buffs Rd Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Seaforth Cemetery Cheddar Villa Langemark-Poelkapelle, West-Vlaanderen
St Julien Dressing Station Cemetery Langemark-Poelkapelle, West-Vlaanderen
Bridge House Cemetery Langemark-Poelkapelle, West-Vlaanderen
Dochy Farm New British Cemetery Langemark-Poelkapelle, West-Vlaanderen
Tyne Cot CemeteryZonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen
Passchendaele New British Cemetery Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen
Poelcapelle British Cemetery Langemark-Poelkapelle, West-Vlaanderen
Cement House Cemetery Langemark-Poelkapelle, West-Vlaanderen
Ruisseau Farm Cemetery Langemark-Poelkapelle, West-Vlaanderen
Artillery Wood Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Colne Valley Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Minty Farm Cemetery Langemark-Poelkapelle, West-Vlaanderen
New Irish Farm Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Divisional Collecting Post Cemetery and Extension Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
La Belle Alliance Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
La Brique Military Cemetery No 1 Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
La Brique Military Cemetery No 2 Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Essex Farm Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Bard Cottage Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Solferino Farm Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Bleuet Farm Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Ferme-Olivier British Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Canada Farn Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Hagle Dump Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Hop Store Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery eper, West-Vlaanderen
Railway Chateau Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Divisional Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Railway Dugouts Burial Ground Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Blauwepoort Farm Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Larch Wood (Railway Cutting) Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Chester Farm Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Spoilbank Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Oak Dump Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Bedford House Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Bus House Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Voormezeele Enclosure No 1& 2 Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Voormezeele Enclosure No 3 Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Somer Farm Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Derry House No 2 Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Cabin Hill Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Messines Ridge British Cemetery Mesen, West-Vlaanderen
La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery Comines-Warneton, Hainaut
Underhill Farm Cemetery Comines-Warneton, Hainaut
Ploegstreert Memorial Comines-Warneton, Hainaut
Hyde Park Corner (Royal Berks) Cemetery Comines-Warneton, Hainaut
Berks Cemetery Extension Comines-Warneton, Hainaut
Prowse Point Military Cemetery Comines-Warneton, Hainaut
Le Tounquet Railway Crossing Cemetery Comines-Warneton, Hainaut
Rue du Touquet, 7783 Comines-Warneton
Motor Car Corner Cemetery Comines-Warneton, Hainaut
Gunners Farm Military Cemetery Comines-Warneton, Hainaut
Calvarie (Essex) Military Cemetery Comines-Warneton, Hainaut
London Rifle Brigade Cemetery Comines-Warneton, Hainaut
Lancashire Cottage Cemetery Comines-Warneton, Hainaut
Maple Leaf Cemetery Comines-Warneton, Hainaut
Nieuwkerke (Neuve-Eglise) Churchyard Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Westhof Farm Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Dranoutre Military Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Locre No 10 Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Westoutre British Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Reninghelst Churchyard Extension Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen
La Clytte Military Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Lindenhoek Chalet Military Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Packhorse Farm Shrine Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Rd Military Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Kandahar Farm Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
St Quentin Cabaret Military Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
RE Farm Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Wytschaete Military Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
La Laiterie Military Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Elzenwalle Brasserie Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Ridge Wood Military Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Godezonne Farm Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Suffolk Cemetery, Vierstraat Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Kemmel No 1 French Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen
Dickebusch New Military Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Dickebusch New Military Cemetery Extension Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Dickebusch Old Military Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
The Huts Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Brandhoek Military Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Brandhoek New Military Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No 3 Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Red Farm Cemetery Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Poperinghe Old Military Cemetery Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen
Poperinghe New Military Cemetery Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen
Nine Elms British Cemetery Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen
Abeele Aerodrome Military Cemetery Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen

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