Whilst the expectant viewing public awaits Hannah's text, the image above shows Sophie, deep in thought as she clutches a Remembrance Poppy and Cross that will soon be laid on her Great Great Grandfather's war grave . . .
On Friday 7th November, year nine of Heathfield School ventured out to Belgium to visit the Battlefields where many soldiers from all over the world fought to save our country. It was an early start at 4 am but once we all got on the coach, we didn’t stop talking the whole way there! As means of transport, we traveled by ferry, which was a good journey for some but not so good for others. However, we got back on the coach and settled down to watch the Bratz movie but were constantly interrupted by the tour guide who, to silent us used an annoying phrase of ‘bing bong’. Nevertheless, when he stopped gabbling on about something or other, we continued to watch the very cheesy movie.
We arrived in the trenches and immediately put on all of our layers as we were told that it would be extremely cold. I had my cozy ski jacket that my mother had recently purchased for me which kept me very warm . We walked up and down the trenches and when I became brave enough, crawled into a tunnel, which would eventually pop us out at the other end of the forest. Unfortunately, when my friend turned on her phone to guide us through the pitch-blackness of the tunnel, a canopy of fluffy-looking things startled us and we immediately ran out screaming. So we never made it to the other side but we did think of all the soldiers who had to do that probably every day, back and forth!
After this little adventure, we got back on the coach and made our way to the museum where we would also have lunch. The head of history; Mr. Platt, came over and took pictures of us munching which will probably, knowing him, appear somewhere in the school! After we had finished our lunch, we were given tickets, which had barcodes and a name of a soldier on the back of them. I wondered what we had to do with it as although the tour guide had explained, I was too far away to have heard him – I did try and listen! Anyway, not to worry as Mr. Platt put me out of my misery and explained everything. The ticket was in fact a card that you slotted into a machine, which read it and told you everything about the person on the back! It was very clever and I learned that my person – William White – was an Australian who had come to fight in Passendale. I was intrigued as I heard about Passendale and was amazed that this William White was involved in it. However, I might have learnt a lot but there is always something at the end of a museum tour, that always excites me – the gift shop! I am known in my school for collecting pencils and so to add to my collection; an “In Flanders” pencil! I also purchased a postcard, which had a building of a church being blown up. Bizarre you might say but I thought it illustrated the town of Ypres perfectly as after all, it is famous for the First World War.
Next on the list, was one of the 132 World War I cemeteries which was very fascinating as we got to see the bunker where soldiers were taken when they were severely injured. The tour guide explained that most of the rooms in the bunker would have probably been used for storage or operating. Once he had finished we were able to take a look inside and some of them were extremely tight and others were very big! We then walked round to where all of the tombstones were. It was very sad to see that so many people died but I knew if it wasn’t for them our world would not be like it is today. I came across a tombstone and on it said that the soldier was only fifteen years of age. However, the tour guide said he would probably have been only fourteen. I couldn’t imagine having to go into battle at only fourteen as I will be turning fourteen in a few weeks. I also thought about how terrified he must have been when he was injured and the fact that he was going to die. All I have to say is that he must have been extremely brave as I would never do something like that. I also came across a Jewish tombstone and I was amazed to see that this soldier was a Jew as most of the people in Britain at the time were Christians. However, I soon became aware of how many people of different denominations fought in this war. With only five minutes to spare, I thought I would get on the coach ready to go to the next destination – Sophie’s Great Great Grandfather’s grave.
I was one of the lucky few who went with Sophie to find her Great Great Grandfather's grave. It took us a little while as Sophie was not quite sure where it was but eventually we found it. Sophie laid down a poppy on a cross on the grave – H. E. Woodhouse, Royal Engineer. It started to rain so we quickly ran back to the coach and drove off towards a German cemetery.
We were told that this cemetery would be very depressing and a big contrast to the other cemeteries - which it was! When we pulled up in the coach, I noticed four figures in the distance and I thought that it was four people visiting the cemetery like we were but when the tour guide explained it wasn’t. The four figures were in fact statues commemorating a young boy’s death in the war. The cemetery was extremely different to the other ones we had visited as it had no colour and created an eerie sense. It was very depressing and quite creepy. Towards the end of our visit, I and some other people were brave enough to see the statues and the closer we got, the creepier they were. When I had taken the picture, I ran as fast as I could back to the group. I kept thinking that the statues were going to come alive and follow us. The tour guide mentioned that although it was a German cemetery, there were two British soldiers buried somewhere in it. I thought this a bit bizarre as it was a German cemetery so why would two British soldiers be buried there – surely they could have been buried in one of the 132 First World War cemeteries? However, my question was not answered and life moved on.
We all boarded the coach and we were taken to the biggest First World War cemetery in the world. Unfortunately, it started to become dark but that did not stop us realizing how many people died in the war. At the end, the other tour guide read out two letters written from a soldier who fought in the Iraq War. The first was quite funny but the second was extremely sad and some of the girls behind me were even crying. It began like this; Dear Mum and Dad, “If you are reading this now, I am up in the stars watching over you all.” It continued with the soldier thanking his parents for all that they did for him and this was extremely upsetting. I couldn’t imagine the pain and the grief that his parents would have to go through as soon as they would read that letter. I also couldn’t understand that he knew that he was going to end his life and he was okay with that. I wondered how he must have felt when he was writing that letter and how everybody would continue their life without him. I now know that time is a precious thing and it needs to be treated with care as we never know when we are going to run out of it. Although, I did not cry, I still thought it extremely despairing.
However, after this little sad bit, we made our way back to the town of Ypres and we visited a CHOCOLATE shop! It was amazing and I couldn’t believe my eyes at how much chocolate there was, especially as it was only a little shop. Fortunately, the people who owned the shop knew we were coming and organized a deal which was fantastic as I came home with a tub of flying saucers, a huge bar of chocolate and a box of selected chocolates. YUM! Then I wanted a chocolate figurine and I saw what looked like a Santa. However, when I got home, my Mum said that it was a BISHOP! I looked at it and then I realized that she was right as I noticed that there was a HUGE cross on the back of the BISHOP’S cloak! I then wondered how the shopkeeper probably thought; Why is she buying a bishop? They probably thought I was a little weird… Oh well, life moves on and more embarrassing moments come my way!
After this, we got back on the coach to go back to sunny, old England. We got the ferry and I spilt hot chocolate on both legs, but it wasn’t that hot so I didn’t burn myself. When we got back on the coach, we watched another movie called Step Up. After it had finished, almost everyone fell asleep but then I had Mr Allen – the other History teacher – waking me up to tell us that we had to call our parents but then I thought, my parents aren’t even coming to collect me! So I was not pleased as I was getting a lift home! However, in a minute or two I fell back asleep again so it turned out for the best!
Overall, I had a great time and it was an amazing experience! Although, it was upsetting, I had great fun learning about how the soldiers coped with everything in the First World War. I was also astounded at how many people died during the War fighting to save Europe. It was amazing how brave they all were, especially the soldiers who earned a Victoria Cross. I wouldn’t trade it in for anything in the world and I am glad I went.
On Friday 7th November, year nine of Heathfield School ventured out to Belgium to visit the Battlefields where many soldiers from all over the world fought to save our country. It was an early start at 4 am but once we all got on the coach, we didn’t stop talking the whole way there! As means of transport, we traveled by ferry, which was a good journey for some but not so good for others. However, we got back on the coach and settled down to watch the Bratz movie but were constantly interrupted by the tour guide who, to silent us used an annoying phrase of ‘bing bong’. Nevertheless, when he stopped gabbling on about something or other, we continued to watch the very cheesy movie.
We arrived in the trenches and immediately put on all of our layers as we were told that it would be extremely cold. I had my cozy ski jacket that my mother had recently purchased for me which kept me very warm . We walked up and down the trenches and when I became brave enough, crawled into a tunnel, which would eventually pop us out at the other end of the forest. Unfortunately, when my friend turned on her phone to guide us through the pitch-blackness of the tunnel, a canopy of fluffy-looking things startled us and we immediately ran out screaming. So we never made it to the other side but we did think of all the soldiers who had to do that probably every day, back and forth!
After this little adventure, we got back on the coach and made our way to the museum where we would also have lunch. The head of history; Mr. Platt, came over and took pictures of us munching which will probably, knowing him, appear somewhere in the school! After we had finished our lunch, we were given tickets, which had barcodes and a name of a soldier on the back of them. I wondered what we had to do with it as although the tour guide had explained, I was too far away to have heard him – I did try and listen! Anyway, not to worry as Mr. Platt put me out of my misery and explained everything. The ticket was in fact a card that you slotted into a machine, which read it and told you everything about the person on the back! It was very clever and I learned that my person – William White – was an Australian who had come to fight in Passendale. I was intrigued as I heard about Passendale and was amazed that this William White was involved in it. However, I might have learnt a lot but there is always something at the end of a museum tour, that always excites me – the gift shop! I am known in my school for collecting pencils and so to add to my collection; an “In Flanders” pencil! I also purchased a postcard, which had a building of a church being blown up. Bizarre you might say but I thought it illustrated the town of Ypres perfectly as after all, it is famous for the First World War.
Next on the list, was one of the 132 World War I cemeteries which was very fascinating as we got to see the bunker where soldiers were taken when they were severely injured. The tour guide explained that most of the rooms in the bunker would have probably been used for storage or operating. Once he had finished we were able to take a look inside and some of them were extremely tight and others were very big! We then walked round to where all of the tombstones were. It was very sad to see that so many people died but I knew if it wasn’t for them our world would not be like it is today. I came across a tombstone and on it said that the soldier was only fifteen years of age. However, the tour guide said he would probably have been only fourteen. I couldn’t imagine having to go into battle at only fourteen as I will be turning fourteen in a few weeks. I also thought about how terrified he must have been when he was injured and the fact that he was going to die. All I have to say is that he must have been extremely brave as I would never do something like that. I also came across a Jewish tombstone and I was amazed to see that this soldier was a Jew as most of the people in Britain at the time were Christians. However, I soon became aware of how many people of different denominations fought in this war. With only five minutes to spare, I thought I would get on the coach ready to go to the next destination – Sophie’s Great Great Grandfather’s grave.
I was one of the lucky few who went with Sophie to find her Great Great Grandfather's grave. It took us a little while as Sophie was not quite sure where it was but eventually we found it. Sophie laid down a poppy on a cross on the grave – H. E. Woodhouse, Royal Engineer. It started to rain so we quickly ran back to the coach and drove off towards a German cemetery.
We were told that this cemetery would be very depressing and a big contrast to the other cemeteries - which it was! When we pulled up in the coach, I noticed four figures in the distance and I thought that it was four people visiting the cemetery like we were but when the tour guide explained it wasn’t. The four figures were in fact statues commemorating a young boy’s death in the war. The cemetery was extremely different to the other ones we had visited as it had no colour and created an eerie sense. It was very depressing and quite creepy. Towards the end of our visit, I and some other people were brave enough to see the statues and the closer we got, the creepier they were. When I had taken the picture, I ran as fast as I could back to the group. I kept thinking that the statues were going to come alive and follow us. The tour guide mentioned that although it was a German cemetery, there were two British soldiers buried somewhere in it. I thought this a bit bizarre as it was a German cemetery so why would two British soldiers be buried there – surely they could have been buried in one of the 132 First World War cemeteries? However, my question was not answered and life moved on.
We all boarded the coach and we were taken to the biggest First World War cemetery in the world. Unfortunately, it started to become dark but that did not stop us realizing how many people died in the war. At the end, the other tour guide read out two letters written from a soldier who fought in the Iraq War. The first was quite funny but the second was extremely sad and some of the girls behind me were even crying. It began like this; Dear Mum and Dad, “If you are reading this now, I am up in the stars watching over you all.” It continued with the soldier thanking his parents for all that they did for him and this was extremely upsetting. I couldn’t imagine the pain and the grief that his parents would have to go through as soon as they would read that letter. I also couldn’t understand that he knew that he was going to end his life and he was okay with that. I wondered how he must have felt when he was writing that letter and how everybody would continue their life without him. I now know that time is a precious thing and it needs to be treated with care as we never know when we are going to run out of it. Although, I did not cry, I still thought it extremely despairing.
However, after this little sad bit, we made our way back to the town of Ypres and we visited a CHOCOLATE shop! It was amazing and I couldn’t believe my eyes at how much chocolate there was, especially as it was only a little shop. Fortunately, the people who owned the shop knew we were coming and organized a deal which was fantastic as I came home with a tub of flying saucers, a huge bar of chocolate and a box of selected chocolates. YUM! Then I wanted a chocolate figurine and I saw what looked like a Santa. However, when I got home, my Mum said that it was a BISHOP! I looked at it and then I realized that she was right as I noticed that there was a HUGE cross on the back of the BISHOP’S cloak! I then wondered how the shopkeeper probably thought; Why is she buying a bishop? They probably thought I was a little weird… Oh well, life moves on and more embarrassing moments come my way!
After this, we got back on the coach to go back to sunny, old England. We got the ferry and I spilt hot chocolate on both legs, but it wasn’t that hot so I didn’t burn myself. When we got back on the coach, we watched another movie called Step Up. After it had finished, almost everyone fell asleep but then I had Mr Allen – the other History teacher – waking me up to tell us that we had to call our parents but then I thought, my parents aren’t even coming to collect me! So I was not pleased as I was getting a lift home! However, in a minute or two I fell back asleep again so it turned out for the best!
Overall, I had a great time and it was an amazing experience! Although, it was upsetting, I had great fun learning about how the soldiers coped with everything in the First World War. I was also astounded at how many people died during the War fighting to save Europe. It was amazing how brave they all were, especially the soldiers who earned a Victoria Cross. I wouldn’t trade it in for anything in the world and I am glad I went.
