Customer Q&A: Warfare through the Ages with Mike Peters

Customer feedback is really important to us and first-hand reviews are invaluable in ensuring each trip is a success and runs smoothly year after year. Every guest is sent a feedback form after their return and we also ask guests for further insights on our trips.

Our history tours are always hugely popular - our guests just love combining fascinating sights with the company and commentary of our esteemed experts. Their expertise and insights and commentary add so much to the tour. Guests recently returned from our 'Warfare through the Ages' trip with Mike Peters and here, two guests, including Mark Harvey shared their experience.

Have you ever been on a tour with an expert before?

I have been on three previous expert-led tours. In 2023, I attended James Holland's Sicily tour and in 2024, both his Normandy and Italy tours.

MH: This was my second tour with Tripsmiths; the previous one was 'Brothers in Arms' with James Holland and Mike Peters. Both of them together was a really great introduction into battlefield tours.

What difference did it make having Mike on the tour with you?

Mike Peters is an excellent guide who creates an open environment encouraging questions and group participation. Throughout the week he built on the information provided in previous days making each day a continuation of the prior day. This made having Mike as our guide for the week invaluable. Mike encouraged the group to engage with each other and set the example for this fostering conversations and creating a welcoming atmosphere.

MH: He was the reason I booked! Having met him on the first tour and then a few times elsewhere, he mentioned he was trying to get a tour going and few of us from the previous tour showed a lot of interest.

How did you find the experience of travelling with others as part of a group?

As an introvert and solo traveller, I have been concerned prior that I would find it difficult to travel with a group. That was not at all the case. The group was open and welcoming, easy to spend time with, and supportive and respectful of fellow travellers. The shared experiences created a sense of camaraderie and opened conversations.

MH: It's a great experience and a wonderful way to meet new people with similar interests. It did help I knew quite a few of them!

What were the top 3 highlights from your experience?

The Menin Gate overall and the Menin Gate Last Post Ceremony in particular. It is challenging to understand how vast the loss of life was until you see 45,000 names at once. The Last Post Ceremony was a beautiful tribute to so many young men who gave everything up for freedom.

The visit to the Ulster Monument and the tour of the trenches in Thiepval Wood was extremely interesting tying in the Irish situation with which I had very little familiarity.

The Monash Centre was also very interesting but especially the opportunity to visit the CWGC cemetery to honour those who died in the battles in that region.

MH: I agree - The Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate.

Walking the ground of the unknown battles and when we stood in a trench of The Accrington Pals looking out at the land in front and Mike read the morning order and then blew the "go" whistle… it's a moment that'll stay with me forever.

The various memorials to so many brave young men and women of all nations lost, is truly staggering and it makes you think.

What would you say to someone thinking of booking a similar trip?

I would absolutely encourage someone to book a similar trip. Among guests of different ages and backgrounds, no one will feel out of place. Initially I was concerned that my knowledge would be insufficient to keep up - this was not accurate! While some background knowledge can add to the experience (many thanks to Mike Peters for the reading list!), a tour with an experienced guide is of as much interest to someone with limited knowledge as it is to those who are very knowledgeable. Book the tour - no regrets!

MH: Agree - do it! You meet people from different walks of life and you're all there because you have similar interests. The social aspects of the tour, whether the arranged meals or just meeting in the hotel bar for a drink and a chat really helps to get everyone together and bring a sense of camaraderie.

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