Year 9 Ypres Battlefields Visit

On Friday 19 May Year 9 embarked upon a potentially gruelling day trip to the Ypres battlefields in Belgium. Spirits remained high throughout as the students visited a range of sites and cemeteries. They had time to reflect upon the sacrifices made by the fallen, in particular OWs Henry Peachey and Alan Crowe whose graves were visited at Ljistenhoek and Tyne Cot respectively. The former also gave opportunities to examine the role played by women and Chinese workers in the conflict. Hooge museum gave an opportunity to explore some recreated trenches and gain a feel for how they commanded a view across the gently sloping fields to the strategically crucial town of Ypres itself. From there we swooped down into Ypres to see the vast lists of names carved into the spectacular Menin Gate memorial. The visit to Langemarck brought a more sombre mood and the dark, leafy oak woodland of a German cemetery to contrast the English country garden feel of the Commonwealth graves. The late return did nothing to dampen the spirits and the students spilled out into the turning circle several hours later with thoughts of courage and sacrifice whirling through their heads.