BATTLEFIELD TOUR

Walking with The Jocks  

9th – 13th OCTOBER, 2025

  • We’re following the 52nd Lowland Division
  • From Ibbenburen on to Bremen and beyond
  • KOSB, HLI, Royal Scots Fusiliers, Royal Scots
    Glasgow Highlanders and the Cameronians
  • The amazing story of Capt. Peter White’s war

5-Day Tour – £1,500 – including flights from HEATHROW 

(a single supplement will apply, but we keep this as low as possible)
 

ANDY AITCHESON  |  MERRYN WALTERS  |  BATTLEHONOURS TOURS LTD

WWTJ NORTH | OCT 2025

If you came with us last year, you’ll already know that the men of the 52nd (Lowland) Division – the Jocks – had a reputation for being ‘hellish good’ during the Second World War. Training in Scotland, fighting in North West Europe.

 

Now, join us for Walking With the Jocks NORTH! 

See the foxholes, follow in the footsteps, spot the ‘spang’. This October, we’re following the route taken by the 4th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers as they travelled from Ibbenburen to Bremen and on to Luneburg Heath.

5-DAY BATTLEFIELD TOUR

Yes! Flying in to Germany from London Heathrow, we’re travelling north of the Rhine into the heart of Germany. After crossing the mighty Dortmund Ems Canal, we’ll trek through the Teutoburger Forest towards Ibbenburen – there’s much to learn (not least what happens in a friendly fire accident), and you can expect a detailed, mapped run through of how Allied tactics changed after Operation PLUNDER:

  • DAY ONE – Ibbenburen, and we hit the ground running by trekking over the Teutoburger Wald. Tossing a coin, deciding which way to go, seeing how the Jocks made progress towards Bremen. When we’ve got to the bottom of a blue-on-blue fire incident, we’ll be staying near Osnabruck this evening.
  • DAY TWO – Reisenbeck. Crossing the Dortmund Ems canal – following in the footsteps of Peter White’s platoon before we move on towards Bremen and get to know the Hanseatic city, the old and the new town. We’ll be staying in Bremen central.
  • DAY THREE – From our first stop to hear stories at Achim, we’ll move on to understand how the platoon crossed the heath at Upheusen, before travelling out to Stalag XB (Sandbostel) camp, where we’ll spend time in the on-site education centre. Back into Bremen.
  • DAY FOUR – From the events that took place at Rethem, we’ll then move on to walk stealthily through the pine woods at Gross Eilsdorf and see how the KOSB handled an ambush. A visit to the site of Stalag XIB (Fallingbostel) and Becklingen CWGC, then back to Bremen. 
  • DAY FIVE – Luneberg Heath and on to Hamburg for the flight home.

 

CANALS, FORESTS, FRIENDLY FIRE AND CONCENTRATION CAMPS

There was a terrible cost to pushing back the enemy. Crossing the Rhine, clearing the woods, liberating prison camps – we aim to visit at least one concentration camp at Sandbostel, and show you JUST how the Allies’ tactics were changing, week on week in April 1945.

Using the diary pages of ‘With the Jocks’, written by Captain Peter White, we’ll see how the 52nd (Lowland) Division was constantly clashing with the last remnants of the German army.

You’ll also see how we used our detective skills to locate the ambush where the last two of Peter‘s poor Jocks were killed, and we’ll spend time in  the Hanseatic city of Bremen – capturing the city before crossing the River Aller to investigate a massacre of Welsh POWs. But it’s not all darkness on this tour. We’ll also be passing Luneberg Heath, one of the key locations for the surrender of Germany in May 1945.

As before we are **thrilled** to be running this tour alongside the brilliant Battle Honours Tours, and the team at BHT are handling all bookings and tour admin. Any queries, do drop us a line at info@walkingwiththejocks.co.uk 

ANDY AITCHESON

MERRYN WALTERS

After 10 years in the British Army, Andy Aitcheson has devoted an unhealthy amount of time to following in the footsteps of the 52nd (Lowland) Division. Walking With the Jocks is the result, with a sharp eye on the progress of the 4th Battalion of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in particular, and the life of Captain Peter White.

Merryn Walters is an accredited battlefield guide (IGBG 114), and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. When she’s not walking the ground with a couple of ragged maps in hand, she’s usually exploring Second World War memoirs or writing words of wisdom on any number of varied subjects.

Together, Andy and Merryn are writing a prequel to With the Jocks, looking at Captain Peter White’s early life and military service. That book is called, “Before the Jocks”.

FAQs

WHAT KIND OF TOUR IS THIS?

If you know Battle Honours tours, then you’ll know we’re 100% committed to making sure you enjoy yourself.

It’s a full itinerary. We want you to be walking as much ground as possible – but we’re also pretty relaxed. Travelling in comfort by coach to each location, our battlefield tours are on a Bed and Breakfast basis. Lunch is on the go, but there’s always plenty of time to ask questions, check maps, and take in new stories we’ve discovered along the way.

HOW MUCH WALKING . . . ?

To come ‘walking with the Jocks’, you must be able to walk at least three miles comfortably, each day, unaided.

Our coach takes us from one location to the next but once on the ground, we’re walking all the way. It’s a great mix of varied locations that really show the capabilities of men who were determined to win.

STRATEGY OR MEMORY?

Both. Walking With the Jocks is a hands-on, boots-on battlefield tour.

We look at how the men of Captain Peter White’s platoon moved forward, where – exactly – and why. This is battles, ambushes, attacks, strategy, and above all, stories of the men who served with the 4th Battalion, KOSB.

We also visit a number of cemeteries to pay our respects en route, not just to the men of the 4th Battalion. Let us know if there’s a location you’d like to visit, or someone who you’d like to commemorate in particular. 

HGP & BATTLE HONOURS

We’re delighted to be working with Battle Honours, who’ll be handling all the transport and travel for this tour.

Like us, the team at Battle Honours are beyond enthusiastic about making sure you have a brilliant experience. There’s no better way to understand a battle than walking the ground.

Any queries, drop us a line.

info@walkingwiththejocks.co.uk