Worcester man setting off on 320-mile cycle in memory of great-grandfather
Russell Walker is part of a group of cyclists setting off today (26 June) from Gheluvelt Park to Geluveld in Belgium
Last updated 26th Jun 2025
A Worcester man says cycling from the city's Gheluvelt Park to Geluveld in Belgium will mean a lot to him after discovering his great-grandfather was involved in a World War One battle there back in 1914.
Russell Walker is part of a group of cyclists who are setting off today (26 June) to honour those from the Worcestershire Regiment involved in the Battle of Gheluvelt.
The journey is expected to take four days to complete and see them cycle around 320 miles in total.
According to records, over 300 men of the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment were involved in the conflict which saw them take back the control of Gheluvelt, now known as Geluveld on the map, and the chateau there.
18\7 soldiers from the regiment were said to be killed or wounded as they pushed back the enemy and forced the Germans to retreat.
Challenge will 'mean a lot'
Mr Walker says it'll be a poignant challenge after he found out his great-grandfather was there.
"I didn't realise my own connection to it until I was talking to my family and my late father passed on a medal to me that was presented to my great-grandfather which was for the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gheluvelt," he said.
"With this medal I did some research and discovered that this was a hugely significant battle and I thought that there was something that I wanted to do to keep that memory alive of not just my great-grandfather, but the whole of the Worcestershire Regiment.
"On average we'll be cycling 80 miles a day and the idea is to leave Worcester to cycle to Newbury, then we're down to Crawley, Crawley to Dover, Dover to Dunkirk, and then the final leg from Dunkirk into Geluveld itself.
"We actually plan to finish at the chateau in Geluveld where the Battle of Gheluvelt took place."
The group is due to finish the cycle on Sunday 29 June.