Day 3: Vimy Ridge memorial and tunnels and Ypres

Our last day on the 2016 MTBS battlefields trip has been a beautifully sunny day, with a mixture of relaxation and activity. 

We left our hotel this morning in already bright weather, and travelled to Vimy Ridge, the enormous and quite breathtaking Canadian memorial. After the boys walked around the park (built on what used to be no-mans land), they went to explore the underground tunnels that the Canadians spent six months working on whilst preparing to take the Germans by surprise. 

We then picnicked in the sunshine and got back on the bus to Ypres. After a trip to the fully interactive, multimedia-based Flanders Fields Museum, the boys went off to explore Ypres and buy chocolate and ice cream! 

Tonight, after another excellent buffet, the boys disco-danced to their hearts content on the ferry. 

Over the entirety of the trip, the boys' behaviour has been excellent, and they have represented the school wonderfully. Hopefully they have learned a lot as well as enjoying themselves. The staff certainly have!

Miss Cuthbert 

Breakfast day 3

The boys loading up for a day of exploring some more of France then an afternoon in Ypres! It is, as hoped for, a beautifully sunny morning, which is perfect for a day outdoors! ☀️☀️☀️

Day 2: The Somme, Beaumont-Hamel, Ulster Tower, Thiepval, Cambrai (Mr Heap's Bus)

What a busy day we've had! After an hour-and-a-half drive from Ypres, we arrived at the road to Sheffield Cemetary, where the Accrington Pals and other northern Pals' Battalions were based. We walked the 200 metres through No-Man's Land and the boys had the chance to study the records from the first day of the Somme Offensive, on the 1st July 1916. The Offensive has been highly criticised by modern commentators and historians, who have viewed General Haigh's tactics of walking 'steadily' towards the enemy as reckless with the lives of his men.

We then travelled to Beaumont-Hamel, a large memorial to the Newfoundland regiment who suffered extremely heavy losses on the first day of the Somme Offensive.

We had a much-needed lunch at Ulster Tower (thanks for the sandwiches Menin Gate Hostel!), then moved on to Thiepval. The boys had a great time looking through the records for matching surnames, but were also sobered by the scale of the monument and, therefore, the amount of lost soldiers from across the Empire. We also spotted one of our Old Boys, 2nd Lieutenant Zacharias. 

Finally, we paid a very special visit to Mr Heap's friend, Philippe. Philippe, through his own passion and enthusiasm for the Battle of Cambrai, discovered a buried tank that turned out to be the tank commanded by Mr Heap's great grandad, Frank, during Cambrai! Whilst generally being somewhat of an expert on WWI artefacts and events, Philippe has made himself an expert on the story of this particular tank; and the boys were given a detailed history, in addition to being able to handle some WWI artefacts. 

Tonight we enjoyed a delicious home cooked three-course meal, and the boys have burned off steam in the garden with a football. Despite some cloudiness today, the weather this evening has been beautiful. Tomorrow morning we travel toVimy Ridge, hopefully for a clear and bright final day before heading back to Belgium!