Exploring Ypres and the Somme
On Saturday 3 May, 48 Third Year students, led ably by Mr. Hosking, Mr. Mills, Mr. Parker, Mrs. Seal, Mrs. Datta, Mr. Searle, and Ms. Nemchand, set off across the Channel on the Third Year Battlefields trip. Pausing only to pick up our guides, Steve & David, we then set sail, with Mr. Searle surviving his first ever ferry journey without any sea sickness! Arriving at Calais, we made straight for our first stop at Lijssenthoek, where our guides reiterated the causes of WWI and the purpose and methods of memorialisation employed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. We then made for Ypres, our base of operations for the next two days, and witnessed the moving and ever-popular Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate. We then walked along the beautiful walls of Ypres, stopped in at the Cemetery on the Wall, then made for our hostel to wrestle (literally & figuratively) with the challenge of having to make our own beds.
The next day was sunny and cool, as we made our way down into the Somme region. Visits to Sunken Lane, Hawthorn Crater, and Auchonvillers followed, where we learned about the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army on 1 July 1916, and about how trench warfare worked. Lunch at Auchonvillers presented the opportunity for one of us to dress up in authentic WWI uniform, and we then made for Newfoundland Park and finally, Thiepval Memorial. Leaving the Somme, we fought through heavy traffic to make it back to Ypres for dinner and a well-earned night of sleep.
Our final day, Monday, led us to Langemark and the chance to visit a German cemetery. Here, the atmosphere was different, and it was interesting to talk about the need to remember all of those who died in the Great War. We then visited Tyne Cot where we conducted a short ceremony to commemorate an Old Caterhamian who died in the First World War. Having laid a wreath, we moved on in a reflective frame of mind. Our final stop was Talbot House in Poperinghe, a place of respite and relaxation for frontline soldiers, and the amazing chapel in the attic of the house. This was a fitting conclusion to the trip, and reminded us that there was much more to the First World War than simply mud, blood, and trenches. Thank you to all the staff who gave up their bank holiday weekends to give us such a thought-provoking and moving experience.
Shir Bathia, 3H, writes:
My favourite bit about the trip was when we went to Sunken Lane and our tour guide, Steve, told us all about the front-line of Germany and Britain meeting in the middle as well as all the tunnels that had been dug. I really liked when we went to the Newfoundland Memorial Park as it was peaceful and has an interesting background and atmosphere. It was interesting to see and walk through the trenches that had been used, especially when we learnt all about how the silhouettes of the soldiers gave them away as the sun came behind them. There was a giant caribou on top of a hill facing towards the German front line and it was to signify all the Newfoundland men who fought in the war against the Germans and to show their bravery. Overall, the trip was so much fun, and I really enjoyed every part.
