On the morning of Friday 3rd May 2024, our Year 9 and 10 GCSE History and French pupils embarked on a trip to Northern France eager to explore the World War I Battlefields.
A trip of significance, it provided a poignant and educational experience for our History and French pupils, offering them the opportunity to delve deeper into their studies of the history of World War I and II. It aimed to help them piece together and cement their understanding of these pivotal moments in history.
DAY 1
Setting off from Bristol by coach in the early hours of Friday morning, our travellers boarded the 7.30am ferry from Dover to Calais. On arrival, their first stop was La Coupole (The Dome), an interactive museum of historic interest and home to a World War II bunker complex built upon a network of tunnels, telling the story of German occupation of France. From here, the group headed to Blockhaus Eperlecques, the largest blockhouse in Northern France nestled in a wooded park that offered an insight into the technology of secret weapons V2 & V1.
DAY 2
After a hearty French breakfast, the group departed for the Somme region in anticipation of exploring its historic sites. Their first stop was the Lochnagar Crater, a British mine that was detonated at 7.28am on the first day on the Somme offensive, 1st July 1916 during World War I, leaving a crater 69ft deep and 300ft wide. Continuing their tour, the group visited Sunken Lane, a trench that served as a stark reminder of the nature of the conflict.
After lunch, they headed to Newfoundland Memorial Park, an undisturbed site where shell-holes and the trenches remain clearly evident. Departing the Somme to Ypres, they arrived in time for a traditional evening meal, followed by a most fortuitous experience. The Household Cavalry commemorated the 100th anniversary of the inauguration of the memorial column for the Royal Household Cavalry in Zandvoorde by holding a short tattoo on the Ypres market square, the solemnity of a Last Post ceremony and a service in the Ypres Cathedral. Joined by the London Scottish Pipes and Drums (UK) and the Field Marshal Haig’s own Pipes and Drums (Passendale, Belgium), the event was led by four horses adorning original WWI regalia as well as current ceremonial equipment. It was a remarkable and truly unforgettable spectacle and one that we will cherish.
DAY 3
The group embarked upon another early start from Ypres to Hyde Park Corner and Christmas Truce to discover more about the Battle of Messines and the significance of the Ypres Salient battlefields with emphasis on the importance of memorials and battle sites including Hill 60 and Tyne Cot Cemetery.
This was followed by a thought-provoking tour of the Langemark and Essex Farm cemeteries, located on the outskirts of Ypres. Boarding the coach to Calais for their ferry journey back to Dover, the group arrived in Bristol at 10.30pm on Sunday 5th May.
With Thanks
The profound insights that our Year 9 and Year 10 pupils gained from this History and French trip were invaluable and we extend our gratitude to Mr Tom Appleby - Head of History, Mme Eulalia Ribot-Bruno – Head of French and Mr Ben Thomas - History Teacher for their guidance and leadership for what was an incredibly successful educational experience.
