Battlefields Trip 2026

Late in the evening of Wednesday 20 May, a group of 35 pupils and four staff set off from school on the third trip to the battlefields of Belgium and France. They made their way southwards through the night, arriving at Dover at around 6am on Thursday morning. There we picked up our expert guide, David Blanchard, went through passport control (a lot more quickly than the well publicised delays of a few days later!) and waited for our Irish Ferries boat to Calais. Once across in France, we made the relatively short journey across the border into Belgium, and our first stop was the picturesque city of Bruges. Pupils were given time to explore the city centre and sample two of it’s most famous exports – chocolate and chips! From there, we returned the coach and headed towards our home for the next four nights – the Ypres Lodge hotel. Despite a distinctly limited amount of sleep on the coach, a small splinter group took a walk into the centre of Ypres, purchasing some snacks to sustain them along the way.

Friday was the first full day and pupils were at breakfast at 8:00am, where they also discovered they had to make their own packed lunches! No worry – Mr Chester’s Sandwich Shack was established and his production line of sandwich making knew no rival. He was ably assisted by all of the staff, including our driver Andrew, who we think may have broken speed record for buttering bread!

This first day was based around the Ypres Salient, and our first stop was Essex Farm Cemetery and Dressing Station. David explained how casualties would be brought to such a place as this and what would happen to them, and also told us the story of John McRae, who not only served as a medic on the front line but wrote one of the most famous war poems, ‘In Flanders Fields’. Whilst at Essex Farm, we visited the graves of Thomas Barratt – who received the Victoria Cross for valour – and Valentine Strudwick, who at 15 years old was the youngest solder to lose his life in the Ypres Salient. From there, we visited Hill 60 and one of the bunkers which was built by the Germans but repurposed by Australian engineers, before heading to nearby Caterpillar Crater, which was the site of one of the largest explosions of the First World War. After a visit to the Hooge Crater Museum and time to eat our packed lunches, we spent time at Tyne Cot Cemetery, which is the largest Commonwealth War Cemetery in the World. Whilst there, we read a number of moving epitaphs of men killed in the Great War.

We then visited the Passchendaele Museum, a fantastic interactive experience which recreated not only the underground tunnels but also the trenches which soldiers would have had to endure. It was here that we experienced one of the most incredible and emotional moments of the trip, as one of our pupils discovered using the online database at the museum that their great-great-uncle had actually died at the Battle of Passchendaele – a fact which the family had not previously known. There followed an emotional phone call home to parents and grandparents who were understandably overwhelmed, and in particular we must be thankful to David who has uncovered further information for the family. Following this, we headed back into Ypres itself, firstly to purchase everyone’s favourite commodity at the Leonidas chocolate shop, before heading to the Depot restaurant for our evening meal. Our final engagement of the day was one of the most important and poignant of the entire trip, as we headed to the Menin Gate to pay our respects during the nightly remembrance ceremony. Three pupils had swiftly changed into their uniforms and represented the school in laying a wreath during the ceremony, and they were complimented by military personnel in attendance for their respect and diligence. It was then back to the hotel after a long day for a bit of free time before a well-earned sleep.

By the Saturday, temperatures were soaring and thankfully the coach was air-conditioned! After breakfast, it was a 8:30am departure as we headed south over the French border, with our first stop being the Canadian memorial at Vimy Ridge. After spending time exploring this impressive structure, we travelled to the Somme Battlefield of 1916. Near the village of Pozières at the Windmill Memorial, we had a chance to see a number of the major landmarks of the battle, such as Mametz and Delville Woods and the imposing Thiepval Memorial in the distance. It was also here that tanks were first committed to battle in September 1916, commemorated with a memorial adorned with a variety of replica tanks. Our next destination was the awe-inspiring Lochnagar crater, and our visit also coincided with a large working party who are working to preserve the crater. We then headed to Thiepval where we ate our packed lunches in the shade and then headed to the impressive memorial, which commemorates all French and Commonwealth soldiers who lost their lives on the Somme but have no known grave.

David then took us to the Devonshire Cemetery which is dedicated to the members of that regiment who lost their lives on the Somme – many on the first day of the battle. With a few wilting in the extreme heat, we headed to Ulster Tower and whilst visiting this memorial to those from Northern Ireland who gave their lives on the Somme, took the opportunity to take on some ice cream and cold drinks! Our final stop in France was Newfoundland Park, which is not only a memorial to the brave men from that region (which at that time was not part of Canada) who gave their lives, but also one of the best preserved battlefields. After a bit of free time back at the hotel, our group of lightly grilled pupils were only too grateful to hit the sack!

After a slightly later breakfast on Sunday, we took the coach into the city centre and took the opportunity to visit the Menin Gate without the crowds present, and David also explained the history of the Cloth Hall. The group then attended Holy Mass at St Martin’s Cathedral, and whilst the Order of Mass was almost entirely in Flemish (with a bit of Latin thrown in occasionally), pupils were able to follow the liturgy by using bilingual Flemish-English booklets. After Mass, we headed towards the lovely town of Poperinge, and after we had eaten our packed lunches, David gave us a wonderfully interactive presentation about what would have been in a typical medical kit carried by a stretcher bearer during the Great War. We then went into Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery and paid our respects at the grave of Nellie Spindler, a nurse who was one of the few women to lose her life at Passchendaele, before we held a short but emotional and poignant memorial service in remembrance of all who lost their lives in the First World War, and indeed in all wars and conflicts. During this service, we laid a wreath at the grave of Private James Adkins, a stretcher bearer who served in the Suffolk Regiment but was born in Preston.

From here, we headed into Poperinge and firstly visited Talbot House, a Christian house established for soldiers who were taken a break from the front, before we visited the shooting post and death cell, which is where Commonwealth soldiers were executed for crimes including desertion and disobedience. Getting back on the coach, we travelled to Hill 62 Sanctuary Wood, and pupils were able to explore actual trenches from the First World War. Our final stop of the day was Langemark Cemetery, which is the German War Cemetery and Memorial in the Ypres Salient. David explained the significant differences between the Commonwealth and German cemeteries, and how the Nazis used these as propaganda before and during the Second World War. There was also a poignant memorial to the large number of German students who have their lives in the First World War. After another very hot day, we headed back to the hotel for our evening meal, before pupils enjoyed some free time and then time to pack and tidy their rooms ahead of a very early start back to the UK.

Our final day was Monday and it began with breakfast and the last appearance of Mr Chester’s Sandwich Shack! After checking all the rooms and loading the coach, and the Flanders’ Lodge traditional signing of the table sign (which they will laminate and display alongside dozens of similar mementos), we set off at 8:30am for Dunkirk. On our way, we stopped briefly at Brandhoek Ceremony. This was specifically to visit the grace of Noel Chevasse, the son of the former Bishop of Liverpool and one of very few soldiers to have been awarded two Victoria Crosses. Carrying on for the coast, reports reached us of nine hour delays at Calais, and we became increasingly convinced that by being booked to return via Dunkirk, someone was looking after us! We crossed the Belgian border back into France and after going through Passport Control at the Port of Dunkirk, pupils had the chance to visit Duty Free and purchase sweets, chocolate, after-shave, perfume and Lego (yes, Lego!), We departed French shores at midday and after enjoying lunch on the ferry, arrived back in Dover at around 1:30pm. Despite a number of accidents and road closures, our amazing driver Andrew managed to get us all home for 8:40pm, and all the tired pupils and staff were grateful that everyone was collected before 9:00pm with stories (and chocolate galore).

This was an incredible trip which brought so many amazing memories and experiences. We are very grateful to the pupils who, despite very high temperatures and little shade or breeze, maintained their behaviour, composure and attention throughout, and were excellent ambassadors for their school, and we are very grateful to parents and carers for their support in allowing the pupils to attend the trip. We are however indebted to two people; namely our exceptional guide David Blanchard, who brought the trip to life with his anecdotes and personal touches, and who had gone to incredible lengths to make this an exceptional learning experience for all of our pupils, and our driver Andrew from G-Line Coaches, who genuinely went above and beyond every single day and did more than anyone would ever expect a driver to do. Finally, thank you to Mr Chester, Mrs Matthews, Mrs Parker and Mr Warham, who not only gave up time with their own families during their half-term to take the pupils abroad to enjoy these incredible experiences, but also worked hard to plan and prepare the visit.

You can watch the video of our memorial service which took place in Lijssenthoek, and replay the livestream of the Menin Gate ceremony in which we participated by accessing our ‘X’ account, @CCHSBattlefields (registration required).

‘They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We Will Remember Them.’