St Edmunds Battlefield Trip

21st August 2019Miss A Kane

The first day of our Battlefields trip began very early as we had to be at school at around 5.30am to then get on the coach at 6am! We stayed on the coach until we got to the Eurotunnel. When we got there we have about 20 minutes to go and buy some food and drink and then we had to get back on the coach where we continued our journey to France.We were on the Eurotunnel for about half an hour before we saw daylight again and when we did, it was very hot! From the coach we travelled to the Commonwealth War Graves. After this we visited the German trench system and looked at the use of ground, the trench construction and the problems with the trenches whilst they were fighting. We then went and dropped our bags off at our hostel and went for dinner. After dinner we went to the Menin gate and watched a last post ceremony.

On the second day, we woke up and ate breakfast; there was a variety of cereal, fruit and pastries. They also served chocolate milk, orange juice and hot drinks.Ā  After breakfast we went on the coach and began our journey to the Somme. At the Somme, we went to the Sunken Lane, and learned about a soldier who fought there. Then we went to visit some of the graves by the Sunken Lane and saw the grave of the soldier we had learnt about.Ā  Ā After lunch, we went to visit the trenches and we walked across the battlefields andĀ  went to visit a mine crater. Later we went to the Ocean Villas tea room to have dinner, which was lasagne and chips with a side of bread. Once we finished our dinner, we went back to our accommodation. When we arrived, we were given the opportunity to go on a walk, which some of us did.

On the last day, Wednesday 19th of June, weĀ  departed our accommodation and visited the first German Cemetery called Langemarck and the tour guides taught us about how Hitler changed part of the cemetery and accidentally buried some English men.Ā  Outside of the cemetery there was a structure made from metal that was formed into poppies.Ā  One of the flowers was painted white and it signified that one special person in someoneā€™s life that was in the war. We went to the St. Julien Memorial site and learned about how gas masks evolved throughout time, we then listened a reading of Wilfred Owenā€™s “Dulce et Decorum Est.ā€ After this we went to the Passchendaele Museum where we went into the British and German trenches and compared the better ones. We judged that the Germans had better trenches as they were more spacious and was dug deeper which meant shells wouldn’t be able to go into the trench.Ā  After lunch we had fifteen minutes of free time in Ypres, Belgium to buy whatever we wanted. Our trip ended went we returned to the coach to begin our return trip to England.Ā  We arrived at school at 12pm.

 

Rowan Ridley,Ā Maegan Rose and Grace Chihowa

Lourdes 2019: the first of many

21st August 2019Miss A Kane

The first Saint Edmunds trip to Lourdes has been deemed a success by all who participated and, according to the Principal, Mrs Hazeldine, this trip will not be the last.Ā  She has already confirmed that she wants this to become another tradition for the school and for all who want to go. She has said she is considering increasing the amount of students who attend all future trips.

The lucky individuals who went on the one week trip joined Mrs Hazeldine and Mrs Letheren in a moving experience which included visiting the Basilica, taking part in mass, helping other pilgrims as well as many other activities which culminated in a great trip for all who went.

By Austin Jijo

The Battlefields Trip

10th July 2019Mrs D Curtis

This trip has to be, by far, the most interesting trip Iā€™ve ever had the experience to go on. Although at times it was harrowing to witness the countless grave stones we stood above, it was also refreshing to know that 100 years on we still celebrate them and all they accomplished.

 

It all started early Monday morning and by early I mean 5:30 am. Bags packed and coach loaded; we were off on our journey. Arriving at Mainstone Services to pick up our tour guides from Anglia Tours and back on the road down to the Channel Tunnel. At the Chunnel Station we were allowed 20 minutes to roam and then re-board the coach for the 30 minute ride across to France. For most this was a first on the Channel Tunnel and boy was it warm; whilst for some this was the first time out of the country. When we arrived in France we took another pit stop and then we were on the road to Belgiumā€¦

 

Upon arrival in Belgium we went to Lijssenthoek where we got our first glimpse of the endless Graves surrounding the city of Ypres. These graves were in fact commonwealth graves and were bright and well maintained by the cities volunteers. Buried in this cemetery was a young man who at the age of only 15 lied to the military just to serve as a patriot. After a brief introduction of our trip we were taken to Bayernwald – the German trench system. Although replicas we were still exposed to life in the trenches and the difficulties faced in these maze-like structures; be it trench foot, the difficulty of transporting injured or wounded and or the lack of drainage systems.

 

That evening we headed back to our hostel in the centre of Ypres and unpacked before heading out for dinner in the centre of town. We ate at a bustling restaurant and it was a chance to engage with other students whom we would never speak to elsewhere. Once dinner was finished we walked a 100 yards up the street to the Menin Gate. This was definitely my favourite evening – the Menin Gate imposed over us and it was astounding to see the names on the walls of the deceased soldiers, it wasĀ like looking from an aeroplane at streetlights on a motorway, just rows after rows. At 8pm every day since 1946 the last post has been played – the tradition originated in 1919 after WW1 but was stopped in 1936 when Germany controlled this area of Belgium but began again once they regained control – the roads were closed and the place was brim-full but still we stood there; utterly amazed and in mere remembrance for the people.

 

On Tuesday morning we drove back into France, this time to visit the Somme. We began our day at the Sunken Lane, the lane used to decrease the distance the British needed in open land to reach the German Trenches, in the summer of 1916. We then travelled down the road to Newfoundland Park – the Canadian memorial. Here we had the opportunity to walk across preserved trench systems and battlefields along with the most impressive tree. This tree survived the war, although itā€™s nearly at the end of its life, it still remains and is known as the Danger tree in the local area. We then visited the Ulster Tower, the memorial designed to commemorate the Northern Irish troops; this place actually hit slightly harder to home as itā€™s supporting the British comrades.

 

By Amelia Beet

Year 9

 

 

 

Black Country Museum

2nd July 2019Miss A Kane

Earlier some Year 7 students went to the Black Country Museum to find out about life during the industrial revolution. They visited the mines – which thankfully were safe, albeit very dark .They saw statues of miners working hard in coal pits to get the little money they were paid as a wage and saw the dangers that the miners faced.Ā  As well as this they visited a methodist chapel in which we found out how they gave free health care.

 

In addition,they went to many Victorian shops and went to the local school.They learnt about Victorian currency and met Mr Griffins who treated us like traditional victorian pupils – apart from the caning and physical harm!Ā  They also learnt about the types of medicines and the lack of gender equality in pay and status; a problem we sadly still havenā€™t solved.

 

Overall people must feel that life in the industrial revolution was unbearable for those who endured it but this was the sad reality they faced.Ā  However, the relief provided by some games must have brought some comfort – although we at Campion Chronicle would definitely prefer to live in modern times!

Austin Jijo