This year we took two coaches of Year 10 students to Belgium
and France to explore the sites of the First World War. Below
you will find some pictures of the trip, and on the school blog there's
a short musical video of some of our most poignant memories and two songs performed by James.
Bright and early on the morning of Sunday 15th June, the Year 10
GCSE History classes set off on their way to Belgium to learn about the
experiences of soldiers and the conditions they survived in during their
time on the Western Front. Work began promptly when we crossed the border,
as we started on our non-stop and hectic schedule.
Arriving in Belgium, the group first visited the In Flanders Fields’
museum; an interactive centre in Ypres. Here we learnt about the historical
background of Ypres and how everything had to be rebuilt following the
destruction of the area during the war.
During the trip we visited many cemeteries that would enable us to
comprehend the vast numbers of soldiers who sacrificed their lives for
their countries. This would also prove to be quite an emotional experience
for the group as many began to see the result of the war from a different
point of view. The cemeteries we visited on the first day included Tyne
Cot, Essex Farm, and the German cemetery of Langemark.
On day two the group continued their journey from Belgium to France
as the rivalry between buses heightened (bus 2’s singing being far
better obviously!). Today’s focus was on the Somme, however, and so
to start the day we visited the Somme museum in Albert where we got
an insight into the conditions of trench warfare. Since the focus of
our trip this year was also internationalism we spent the day visiting
memorials of countries from all over the world that turned the war
from a European to a truly World War. Other sites included were Thiepval
memorial, Beaumont Hamel (the Canadian trenches) and la Boiselle (the
huge ammonal crater measuring 80m x 20m). We also learned about a Dereham
soldier, Chris Brunton, who died at Delville Wood on the Somme. It
was very emotional paying our respects to him knowing we were coming
back and he was not.
The trip flew by and by the third day we had to begin to make
our way home. But before then, we just had time to visit Vimy Ridge,
the Canadian memorial site. Here, small groups were able to go down
see the true conditions of the preserved tunnels and spent time at
the vast memorial that looms over the local area.
The battlefields trip went all too fast and proved to be a completely
unique experience as well as an eye-opener for everyone. It is an
unmissable trip and has helped significantly with our coursework,
highly recommended. Once again thanks to all of the teachers for
making the trip possible and especially for the evening workshops.
We will never forget.
