Ypres - 2009

Date: Friday 27 February 2009

The annual Lower Fifth history field trip to the Ypres Salient took place yesterday, a fortnight after the scheduled departure, but a very successful and enjoyable day was had by all in the quest for furthering our knowledge of the significance of the town of Ypres, and its three World War One battles. Superbly organised by Robert Robinson, and employing the expertise of local historian Dr Andrew Thomson, the daylong excursion visited five major sites, in addition to the delights of Ypres town centre.

The 6.30am departure time proved no deterrent for the 43 pupils and four staff - plus Dr Thomson - and such a prompt departure allowed us to catch an early shuttle, and so after an event free outward journey we reached Brandhoek military cemeteries - on the site of a Casualty Clearing Station - in excellent time, and in spring sunshine. From there we moved into Ypres itself, and in the incongruous surroundings of a 21st century industrial estate, visited the famously reconstructed 'Yorkshire Trench and Dug-Out' from which the offensive of July 31st 1917 was launched.

Into Ypres centre - diverted round the ring-road because of unexpected roadworks - and time to eat the St Edmund's packed lunch, before the visit to the 'In Flanders Field' Museum, and a walk to the Menin Gate - where Robert Page found the name of one of his antecedents, 'missing in action'. The museum gets better year by year, and a half an hour visit scarcely does justice to the mass of artefacts on display. But chocolate shops -'Leonidas' - and Belgian apple-pie, with whipped cream, are both more attractive by early afternoon!

The day was completed with visits to two completely contrasting cemeteries: the British cemetery at Tynecot, where once again St Edmund's paid its respects to old boys who died in the First War, with a simple ceremony and the laying of a wreath at the foot of a tablet remembering 2nd Lt Wallington; and, a stop off at Langemarck, a German memorial to the young student volunteers who fell during the autumn of 1914 in the 1st Battle of Ypres. Bright sunlight at Tynecot contrasted markedly with the gray grimness of Langemarck.

And then, back on the coach for the final push back to the Tunnel sous la Manche, and again an earlier crossing to get the party back to School by 1830hours. All went out, and all came back - many heavily laden with the delights of the Belgian chocolate industry, and only one flesh wound - and all filled with memories of the savage cost of human frailty, and manmade tragedy. Many thanks again to RAR for all the background preparation for this event - and I do hope that there will be sufficient support for a field trip to Berlin at Easter 2010. I know that those members of staff - Mr Millard, Mlle Thelliez, and Mr Knight, - will be first in the queue for the Brandenburg Gate!