Your Guide - Ken Lees

Ken's passion for the battlefields of the Western Front evolved from his interest in genealogy. Having spent a number of years researching their family tree he and his wife discovered that four close relatives had given their lives during the cataclysmic events of the Great War. This study led to a growing interest in the conflict and into the men who left their often uneventful lives to serve King and Country.

For many years Ken has been researching the units and men of the 55th (West Lancashire) Division and is the author of the website dedicated to the men of the 9th Bn. King's Liverpool Regiment in the Great War.

He has been visiting the battlefields of the Western Front for over 15 years with a diverse range of groups and considers it a privilege to be able to share his passion with those wishing to discover more about the war. Retiring from the police service in the UK after over 30 years, he and his wife now live in the heart of the tranquil Somme countryside, enjoying photography, walking and cycling in addition to genealogical and military history research.

Ken is a member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides.

Where To Stay

With years of experience of finding and utilising a wide range of places to stay throughout the Western Front, we can recommend accommodation to suit you. We can suggest a base depending on your tour requirements, whether it is a hotel in Ypres (now spelt Ieper), Arras, Amiens, Lille, etc., or a friendly guesthouse or Bed and Breakfast, in the heart of the battlefield. We use feedback from previous clients to constantly reassess our recommendations. Please feel free to ask.

How To Get Here

Whether you are traveling by car, train, bicycle or aeroplane, we will make your tour as easy and convenient as possible. We can arrange to pick you up at the start of your tour from the most convenient location for you. This might be your hotel/guesthouse, a railway station such as Amiens, Arras, Lille, Albert, etc. (for those arriving by train), or any other location as agreed in advance.

We can also help with directions and other information to help smooth your planning.

Practical Matters

On the Western Front, you may experience the same weather conditions as the soldiers did almost one hundred years ago, so you would be well advised to plan accordingly. It can be very wet, muddy underfoot at any time of year and it can be very cold in the winter months. On the other hand it can be hot and dry in the summer and often there will be little shade when out on the battlefields, so appropriate clothing is essential. Ask in advance if you are in any doubt and we will be happy to advise.