Other News (continued) HISTORY


HISTORY TRIP TO YPRES, BELGIUM On Friday 15th-16th March, the History department, Mr Downes (Year 11 Progress Leader) and 34 pupils, went to Belgium to consolidate learning for GCSE and A level studies.


We set off bright and early at 6am from the school. We then picked up our wonderful tour guide, Julian Maslin. We had Julian for our last Battlefields trip and his knowledge is exceptional, so we were very lucky that he could accompany our school again.


We travelled by Eurotunnel into Calais, and then it was another hour to Ypres and the Passchendaele area in northern Belgium. Our first stop was Gheluvelt Plateau and Hooge which was an area heavily fought on during the Third Battle of Ypres.


We were then lucky enough to go to Langemark German Cemetery. This was very moving, especially to see the differences between the British and German cemeteries. We saw one area, which was the size of a tennis court, which had 24, 000 unidentifiable German soldiers buried there. It was remarkable, and all students spoke of how it was a great mark of respect by the Belgians, to allow the cemetery to be built.


At 5.00pm we arrived at our Hostel, where we were met by the very helpful, Hotel Manager, Deter. Rooms were sorted out and then down to the dining hall for a delicious three course meal of soup, chicken and chips and an Ice Cream. In the evening, our group then went to Menin Gate in the centre of Ypres and took part in the Last Post Ceremony, which takes place every night at 8pm and the local people are proud of this simple but moving tribute to the courage and self-sacrifice of those who fell in defence of their town. Through Julian, attention was paid to the courageous soldiers from elsewhere in the British Empire, which complemented our A Level study of the Empire. It was then back to the hotel for some down time in the Hostel’s games room.


Up at 8am, we packed our bags and headed back out onto the coach ready for another full, exciting day. We started our final day by first visiting Essex Farm which contains the grave mark of the youngest British man


All students on the trip, behaved impeccably and were praised by our Tour Guide, the Hostel Manager and the owner of the chocolate shop.


We hope that everyone enjoyed themselves and now feel that they have a better understanding of life on the Western Front!


Miss V Black History Teacher


www.matravers.wilts.sch.uk


killed, at just 15 years old, called Joe Strudwick. This was a glaring reminder of how many officers would bend the age rules in order to recruit more men.


Onto Passchendaele museum, where we saw excellent displays about gas attacks and the effect of them. There was various displays of British, German and French uniforms and full British and French trench reconstructions. This was great to see as it enabled students to consider trench features further, a key element of the Medicine course.


Finally, we visited Tyne Cot Cemetery which is the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery and war memorial that is dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the Ypres Salient. This cemetery contains the graves of more than 54,000 soldiers and is a beautiful way of commemorating them.


At this point, seen by many as the highlight of the trip, we travelled back into the centre of Ypres and visited a chocolate shop. This shop had excellent deals on a number of different chocolates and sweets and all pupils were able to take many away for themselves, friends and family. After this, it was back on the coach for the final time to travel back on the Eurotunnel to head back to Matravers School.


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