Battlefields Trip Reflections

Last week, a group of Bancroft’s School pupils embarked on a poignant journey through the historic battlefields of France and Belgium. Setting off at 5am, they travelled to Dover and crossed the Channel to Calais, heading towards Ypres.

The trip began with a visit to Essex Farm Cemetery, the site where John McCrae penned the famous poem “In Flanders Fields.” Here, the students reflected on the grave of Valentine Strudwick, who was killed in action at the age of 15. “It was really moving to see the graves of soldiers who were our age,” remarked Niamh. The group then visited the Passchendaele Museum, immersing themselves in the artefacts and a reconstructed trench, providing a tangible connection to their classroom lessons.

The day concluded with the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate, which was a particularly stirring experience for everyone. “Seeing the ceremony and exploring Ypres made the history we learn feel so real,” noted Iso.

The following day saw the group visiting the Thiepval Memorial, which honours the missing soldiers of the Battle of the Somme. Cillian commented on the impact of seeing the vast array of names inscribed on the memorial, saying, “It was both sad and educational, seeing all those names made the scale of the war hit home.”

The pupils then explored the preserved trenches at Beaumont Hamel Newfoundland Memorial Park, gaining a deeper understanding of the battlefield’s harsh conditions. Their final day included visits to the Langemark German Cemetery and Tyne Cot Cemetery, contrasting the somber beauty of these sites with the sheer scale of loss commemorated there.

Mia reflected on the trip, saying, “It was an unforgettable experience, and despite the rain, we learnt so much about the sacrifices made during the war.” The journey concluded with a return ferry from Calais, and the group arrived home with enriched knowledge and a profound respect for the history they had witnessed.