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B A T T L E F I E L D
T O U R
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After we had been studying World War I for several weeks, Mr Piggin, together with Miss Latessa, Mr O’Brien and Mr Hutchinson, took us on a two-day trip to Belgium. We all had mixed feelings about what lay ahead. We were all very excited, but also anxious, because we would be visiting military cemeteries.
When we arrived in Belgium, our tour bus took us up Mount Casselle. The top of the mountain gave spectacular views of the battlefield; everyone was impressed. Our next destination was Tabolt House and Museum. After an interesting lecture, we were able to explore the house. The chapel was particularly interesting.
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Our next stop was Sanctuary Wood, where there was a museum and many preserved trenches. We were able to venture inside and imagine what life had been like for the soldiers. The museum was striking and some of the photographs quite disturbing.
We proceeded to a British cemetery called Ramparts, in a peaceful lakeside location. There followed a visit to the Menin Gate, a huge memorial bearing the names of fifty-five thousand soldiers listed as missing, with no known graves. Here we attended a special ceremony that has taken place every evening since the end of World War I. Francesca Gallagher read out the citation ‘To the Fallen’. It was a truly moving occasion |
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On our second day, we set off for Flanders Fields Museum. Here we were each given a card with a person’s name on it. Inside the museum, we had to look for information about the lives of the people on our cards. Next, we went to Essex Farm Cemetery and Dressing Station, a British cemetery and field hospital. At our next stop, Langemark German Cemetery, there were six mass graves in which thousands of Germans were buried.
We learned a great deal from the Battlefield Tour. Although it is hard to comprehend what the soldiers experienced, we now know much more than we did before. On behalf of all the students, we would like to thank the teachers who accompanied us on this memorable trip.
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Maddie Steer and Jordan Bowyer O’Brien |
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