St Thomas Aquinas

Ypres Trip

July 10th - 13th 2001

History has never been such fun as it was for these days for the 24 students of year 9 who went to Ypres to visit the battlefield sites of the First World War.

The day seemed to start well as everyone who was going could have a lie-in because the coach didn't leave until 6.00am! Certain members of staff remarked on how they had only thought six o'clock happened once in 24 hours, and as a rule they didn't intend to see it again. Mr Wilson was as usual chirpy, friendly and helped raise the spirits of those less inclined to be 'bright and breezy' (No manes Kayley).

So of we sped. Destination - Dover. By 7.30 some people (less inclined to be 'morning people') had eaten their dinner.

"Are we there yet? and I feel sick!" really did begin to get to every-ones nerves.

Once at Dover we were checked by the style police. It was only due to my incredible dress sense that we were allowed in. If you don't believe me check this lot out!

Who fell for the drivers joke about everyone on the coach having to take their shoes and socks off for a foot and mouth wash? I really wouldn't like to say. Here is an unrelated picture of James and Matthew!

No! We are not there yet!!

We all really appreciated Miss McLoughlin waking up when we crossed into Belgium. The last twenty minutes of the trip really was tough and her asking "Are we there yet?" kept a sense of continuity.

I don't care what you have seen on Blue Peter Vicky. You cannot make a pair of binoculars from coke cans!

YES WE ARE HERE NOW! The beautiful square in Ypres with the Cloth Hall right in front of our hotel! Fantastic. it really is hard to believe it was completely demolished by 1918.

"Look another car driving on the wrong side of the road". By the third day even Mr. Wilson was able to get across roads without being shouted at by drivers.

Not everyone on the trip was as cheerful as Mr. Wilson in the mornings. In fact the 7.00 aerobics club had to be scrapped. But at least we had the dulcet tones of Jimmy and Ritchie who were never short on advice.

So time for a full group photograph before we go to Vimmy Ridge.

As we went Mr Wilson was able to keep everyone alert and keen. In fact as I discussed the visit to students people commented how it was just like one of my lessons. Ali and Gary can be seen below contemplating the gravity of what I have just said.

Vimmy Ridge really was an amazing experience. The guide was excellent and after an introduction where the losses of the Canadians was explained to us and the necessity to dig tunnels for them to capture strong positions held by the Germans we went into one of these.

The picture below showed how the eleven tunnels dug by the Canadians was secret even to their own side. One of their own shells penetrated all the way down to the five metres below ground. Luckily it became embedded but did not go off. it remains (defused) here today.

Voted 26 to 1 Mr. Wilson won "Billy No-Mates of the Day". It was generally believed the hat was the decisive factor in winning this award for each and every day of the trip. 

(You may get the impression it was very quite at Vimmy Ridge- no; it really was the hat! Rather kindly Miss Joyce noted it certainly was not  the hat that made me a natural Billy)

The ability to go into the trenches and examine the layout and such things as the fire step really did help with understanding things we had only seen in text books.

The crater behind the students is typical of the area. When you consider that the un-cleared land around Vimmy is estimated to have a least one unexploded device for every square metre of land the scale of the conflict becomes clear.

In the afternoon we visited Sanctuary Woods. These trenches are extensive and were great fun to go into and then imagine what life was like for the soldiers of the Western Front. 

This one is still ticking!                                So where did the TV go?

The rooms were a little basic!                    But where is the toilet?

Kimberley stands next to one of the many shell holes. Above is one of the original Sanctuary Woods trees.

Back to the Hotel and then the Menim gate. Every evening at 8.00 the last post is played by two firemen. it is extremely moving and the atmosphere cannot fail to affect everyone present.

By going to both Allied and German cemeteries we were able to gain a balanced and humanitarian view of the losses, rather than looking at who was to blame.

Tyne Cot cemetery has over 12,000 graves of allied soldiers.

Langermark cemetery has over 50,000 German soldiers.

The trip had many more aspects which made it a great success. Well done and thanks to everyone who came.

So Ashola, Shenay, Aaron, Vicky, Natalie, James, Kayley, Adele, Kimberley, Gary, Stephen, Melissa, Connor, Alexandria, Matthew, Gabrielle, Anthony, Aaron, Ryan, Harvey, Greg, Sean, Dean and Lillian -----Fantastic week; a great advertisement for our school.