Bishop Luffa visit the World War One Battlefields
On Friday 3rd October, 49 Year 9 students embarked on a History visit to the First World War Battlefields. Once again, our students proved a credit to the School on what has now become an annual visit.
We embarked from Chichester, and after a delay caused by a data malfunction at Dover, finally embarked for Calais. After a short journey into Belgium it was time to visit sites associated with the horrors of the Passchendaele battlefields of World War One. After visiting Essex Farm Cemetery and seeing the grave of a 15 year old boy soldier, it was off to Tyne Cot, where 11000 graves and over 35000 names of the missing provided a moment to appreciate the enormity of the loss. Kayowa Nosiru (9King) laid a wreath on behalf of the School, and this was accompanied by a moment of prayer and reflection, after which students laid a cross on a grave of their choice (with thanks to the Technology Department for making these). From the 'glorious dead' of Tyne Cot, it was an abrupt contrast to see the mass graves at the German cemetery of Langemark, where a burial of over 20000 proved a hard site to take in.
After this we journeyed on to our hotel in Ypres, where the games room and comfortable rooms provided welcome relief from the thought-provoking visits of that first day. The day finished with attendance at the daily service of remembrance at the Menin Gate, where, accompanied by a choir, Mrs Syms-Evans, Anna McCallum (9King) and Ari Hayman (9Andrewes) laid another wreath on behalf of the School.
Saturday dawned with a threatening sky, and we dodged (or rather didn't!) rainstorms all day! After a fascinating visit to the preserved trenches of Hill 62 (with associated tunnels) it was off to France to visit the Somme Battlefields, synonymous with huge casualties. We started at the Lochnagar Crater, the largest crater created in anger to this day, formed as part of the doomed British attack on 1st July 1916.
This was followed by Thiepval, and an arresting site when confronted with around 72000 more names of the missing. We finished at Beaumont Hamel, where, after a welcome from a Canadian volunteer, we walked through trenches and across No Mans Land to get a sense of the sacrifice in that particular area of the battlefield. Of around 800 soldiers who attacked on 1st July 1916, only around 70 were present for roll call the next day, such was the loss.
Following this we journeyed back for free time in Ypres, where the chocolate shops and waffle stalls did a brisk trade on our arrival!
We finished the day with a return visit to the Menin Gate, and another moment of reflection.
Sunday saw a smooth checkout and then the annual visit to a French hypermarket, where students enjoyed their time stocking up on items such as snacks and drinks (and delicious cakes!)! After a pleasant crossing back to Dover, it was a weary group that arrived back in Chichester that evening.
The students were a credit to themselves, their families, and the School, showing maturity and reflection. It was trip that really brought the horrors of the trenches to life in a way that no text book ever could.
My thanks must go to them, and to the staff who accompanied the visit, Mr Jackson, Ms Hurry, Mrs Grove and Mrs Syms-Evans, for helping to make it such a success. Planning for next year's trip is already underway!
Justin Barnett, Head of Humanities
