Once upon a time, the Pas de Calais was liberated...
Some fifteen years ago, a group of local French enthusiasts decided to mark the Liberation of their area in 1944 by the British 7th Armoured Division. A parade was held in the town square of Bethune. There was considerable pride in the fact that the liberating forces had been helped by the local Resistance and the project was welcomed by the town authorities. Such was the reception of this small event that the following year it was expanded to a three day spectacle involving "liberating" vehicles convoying through the streets of the surrounding smaller villages and towns. It was decided to open the event to many other military vehicle enthusiasts and re-enactors. Luckily for us they decided to invite the English and made contact with the IMPS. The tales of these early tours, first under the leadership of past Chairman Jim Baxter and for the last ten years or so by Tony Lawrence can be read about in past issues of IMPRINT The IMPS involvement consists of crossing the Channel by ferry on the Thursday night and being escorted by the French police on a winding journey to Bethune during the Friday, 'liberating' several villages en route. The Saturday is spent in a similar manner and on Sunday there is a Grand Parade involving several hundred vehicles from all over the Continent. After the parade there is plenty of time to relax around the town or visit the many battlefield sites in the area ( especially World war One ). The group usually returns under their own steam on the Monday. The IMPS party often involves 100 - 150 vehicles and this forms a single convoy over five kilometers long - a most impressive sight. In the past we have taken most types of ex-military vehicle from bicycles to tanks. We do allow one or two post-war vehicles as back-up vehicles or if they are particularly unusual ( to French eyes ) but preference is given to wartime vehicles and ONLY wartime vehicles are involved in the main parades. The name Bethune is synonymous with the IMPS foreign adventures but it must be emphasized that it is an event run by the Mémoire-tourisme-patrimoine and IMPS are only most grateful participants ( although one of the largest single groups participating )
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To contact the organisers of the IMPS Bethune trip For an entry form please E Mail or call 01306 881747