Annual battlefields trip deepens historical understanding
In October a group of pupils and staff embarked on a powerful two-day journey to the battlefields of the Somme and Ypres.
The trip was designed to deepen historical understanding of the First World War and the fact that 2025 marks 110 years since the Second Battle of Ypres and 2026 is 110 years since the Battle of the Somme which made the trip all the more poignant.
The first stop in France was the Lochnagar Crater on the Somme front line. Created by a massive mine explosion, this was a striking stop. Its sheer size and the story behind its creation offered a dramatic reminder of the destructive power of the war. Pupils were visibly moved by the scale of the crater, and it hooked their interest instantly.
The first day took the travellers through the haunting landscapes of the Somme, with the towering Thiepval Memorial being a significant stop on the tour. This imposing structure commemorates over 72,000 soldiers who went missing in action, a staggering number. Standing beneath its arches, pupils reflected during a short ceremony on the scale of loss and the Old Stopfordians who served and lost their lives in this region.
At Beaumont Hamel and Serre, pupils walked through preserved trenches and battlefield terrain. The story of the Newfoundland Regiment, who suffered devastating losses on the first day of the Somme, resonated deeply.
Seeing the front lines up close helped pupils visualise the brutal conditions of trench warfare and the courage of those who endured it. At Serre they especially remembered the Pals Battalions who were killed on that section of the Western Front. Years later ground staff were still digging up ammunition from that area and they watched them using metal detectors to locate them.
The guided tour ended at Delville Wood, a forest still scarred by battle. The South African memorial there reminded us of the global nature of the conflict.
As they walked through the quiet trees pupils could see the scars of the trenches that still weave their way through the landscape 110 years later.
Finally, in the small French town Albert, the Somme 1916 Museum provided a rich collection of artefacts, letters, and reconstructions that brought the daily life of soldiers into sharp focus.
From uniforms and weapons to personal stories, the museum helped contextualise what we had seen in the field. A resident of the town, who was a retired teacher, said how wonderful our pupils were and how respectful they had been in their free time in the town.
The second day began at the Flanders Field Museum in Ypres, where interactive exhibits and personal testimonies helped students connect emotionally with the war’s human stories. The museum’s immersive approach made the past feel immediate and real. This was then followed by a coach tour of the region.
Langemark German Cemetery offered a stark contrast to the Commonwealth sites. With its darker tones and mass graves, it prompted thoughtful discussions about how different nations remember their fallen. Pupils commented on how contrasting the German cemetery, with its tall oak trees and rustic feel, was compared to the sleek design of the British cemeteries.
At Essex Farm Cemetery, pupils stood where John McCrae wrote ‘In Flanders Fields’. Surrounded by the graves of young soldiers, one of which was just 15 years old, struck a chord with many of our pupils as they are 14 themselves.
The final stop on our tour was Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world, and a place of quiet reverence.
With its rows upon rows of white headstones and the wall of names, it offered a sobering reminder of the large scale of sacrifice. Many pupils took time to walk alone, read inscriptions, and contemplate the lives behind each name.
After some free time in the quaint town of Ypres we gathered at the Menin Gate for the Last Post ceremony, a daily act of remembrance that has taken place since after the First World War. The solemn bugle call echoed through the crowd, and two of our pupils, Joanna Oluwakayode and Laurence Glazier, had the honour of laying a wreath on behalf of the school. It was a sombre moment of reflection, marking the culmination of our journey.
The annual Battlefields trip continues to be a major part of the History Department’s calendar, and it is an experience both pupils and staff never forget.
