An opportunity has arisen to take a private chartered cruise boat down the Medway and to the key battle sites of the 1667 Dutch attack on the English fleet. This would involve a trip of 4 hours on a fully equipped large cruiser with toilet facilities, viewing deck and seating. Depending on numbers it may also have limited catering facilities on the day. We leave from Queenborough at 1400 hours on July 5th returning to Queenborough between 1800 and 1830. The cost per head is £150.
The trip would be guided by me with a full commentary on the various actions which took place between June 19th and 24th 1667. During this major battle, the Royal Navy suffered the worst defeat in its long history losing over 30 capital ships.
The Dutch also raided ashore in Kent facing the Royal Scots who garrisoned several strongholds on the anchorage. In their history books it is known as Tocht naar Chatham - The trip to Chatham!
Some of the most important personalities of the age were directly involved in the campaign - Michiel de Ruyter, Cornelis de Witt, Willem van Ghent, George Monck, George Spragge and many others including the King and Duke of York.
The plan is to run the trip between 3rd and 5th July 2023, date to be confirmed. We are likely to depart from a location like Chatham or Gillingham.
We estimate the cost of the trip to be £150 per head. We need expressions of interest pretty quickly to make the appropriate arrangments and secure the boat hire.
I have studied this incredible battle in detail for several years and have been fortunate enough to view the multiple battle site from above as these photos attest. It is an incredible and largely unknown piece of our history and deserves to be understood in a wider context and to a deeper level.
I believe this could be an amazing opportunity for wargamers and those interested in history to view an enormously significant battle site in a unique way.
If you are seriously interested and would be prepared to make a solid commitment to the trip please email me at wordtwister@hotmail.co.uk as soon as possible. We have limited time to organize and plan.