First World War Battlefields

33 Year 9 girls recently had the opportunity of exploring the First World War battlefields when they took a trip to Belgium. 

The girls stopped at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery and learnt about the amazing work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission whilst also looking at graves commemorating troops from across the world. They moved on to see a cemetery for German soldiers and to stand where Hitler stood to deliver a victory speech in 1940.

Hearing about trench life was quite shocking for the girls as they explored the cramped conditions that the men would have lived and fought in; Jessie H kindly ‘volunteered’ to dress up in the Great War uniform and some of the girls held the Lee-Enfield rifle that men would have used.

The trip culminated in four of the girls being able to participate in the wreath laying ceremony at the Menin Gate. The girls all returned with a much better understanding of the First World War and an appreciation of what soldiers endured almost 100 years ago.

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Images show:

The military cemetery at Lijssenthoek | Girls in the trench | Jessie H in a 'Great War' uniform | Liberty S, Freya B, Romilly J and Rebecka P who were wreath bearers