Year 9 Ypres Trip

The History department set sail for the continent with forty Year 9 students for a two day visit to the World War Battlefields supported by our superb guides from Anglia Tours.

We headed straight for the site of the Battle of Aubers Ridge fought on the 9th May 1915 where twenty-five men from Wadhurst lost their lives fighting for the Royal Sussex Regiment. Students took part in an informative talk about the battle and the impacts. This was followed by a visit to Le Touret memorial where many of the Royal Sussex are remembered for their sacrifice.

Students then had a brilliant time touring Passchendaele museum where they got to see a variety of exhibits as well as a dug out and a reconstructed trench system. We then went to Tyne Cot to see the largest Commonwealth war grave cemetery with approximately 12,000 graves and 34,000 additional names. Students had the opportunity to tour the cemetery and reflect on the enormity of the event and the memorial.

After a lovely meal in the centre of Ypres students took part in the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate which has taken place every evening since 1927. Two of our students laid a wreath from Uplands as an act of remembrance. Thank you for Nell and Sacha.

They finished the evening with a visit to the town square which was beautifully decorated and lit up for Christmas.

After a filling breakfast the next morning, students had the opportunity to go chocolate shopping in Ypres. After fully stocking up they headed to Langemark, one of five German cemeteries in the area holding approximately 44,000 causalities. Students listened attentively to the story of the first use of chemical weapons and the impact it had.

Students were then treated to a fantastic workshop led by our superb re-enactors, learning about recruitment into the army in 1914 and the weapons used. Students then enjoyed a trench meal of sausage stew!

This was followed by a visit to Plugstreet to see the site of the Christmas Truce. This was informative but very wet as the heavens opened… a small taste of life on the Western Front. Then a trip to Hooge Crater for a dramatic re-enactment of the Christmas Truce followed by some welcome hot chocolate and a visit to the museum with it’s excellent collection of First World War artefacts.

The students were a credit to Uplands and reflected the MARK values throughout the visit. Mrs Underdown, Head of History, commented, ''I was very proud to have taken them and they were complimented for their engagement and behaviour by Anglia Tours as well''.

Thank you to all the staff who supported on this visit. It is a fantastic opportunity for students to see History come to life.