In 1955, six young men set out to make history by being the first to drive 19,000 miles overland from London to Singapore in two Land Rovers named Oxford & Cambridge. Many had tried, all had failed. Known as The Oxford & Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition, their epic journey would become one of the most remarkable overland adventures of the 20th century and a defining moment in the history of exploration. The journey was completed in September 1956, when the team finally arrived in Singapore after setting out from London in 1955. It took them just over a year, which is part of what made it such an extraordinary achievement for the time.

Seventy years on, The First Overland remains a powerful symbol of curiosity, resilience, and the human drive to go further, a spirit revisited by The Last Overland, a modern re creation of the original journey led by Alex Bescoby and undertaken in 2019 using one of the same restored 1955 Land Rovers, Oxford . Bremont supported the expedition as an official partner and timekeeper, testing its watches against the same extremes of distance, terrain, and endurance.

Last year marked the 70th anniversary of the First Overland expedition, celebrated with a memorable gathering in partnership with Land Rovers of London and the Gurkha Welfare Trust. More than 200 Land Rovers assembled in Belgrave Square to surprise and honour Tim Slesser, paying tribute to the spirit of endurance and exploration that defines true overlanders.

From there, the convoy set off for The Wing, where the celebrations continued with the Band of the Grenadier Guards and stories from the road shared by Alex—bringing the expedition’s legacy vividly to life. It was a fitting tribute to the original Overlanders, and a reminder that the pioneering mindset which drove them forward continues to inspire modern adventure.