ETA

We are back in the UK on schedule and expect to be back at school by 8:45. Please park in the school playground / staff car park or streets around the school, but not directly outside the school as we will need this space for coaches. See you soon!

Arrived at Calais

We have arrived at Calais. Passport control ahead.

Additional Photos

There is a slideshow at the bottom of the blog showing all the blog photos from the last few days plus a few more. You can also access the photos by clicking HERE

Thiepval - Final Stop

As always, we finish the trip with a visit to Thiepval Memorial. There are 73,000 names listed on the memorial of soldiers who are missing, having served on the Somme during WW1. 

At Thiepva, Cole also laid a wreath in memory a relative and we managed to get a group photo.  

Newfoundland

Despite some renovation work, we managed to get to see most of Newfoundland. This site also saw considerable action on 1st July 2016 with almost 60,000 casualties. 

Great Find

James' eagle eye spotted a bullet that had been unearthed by a mole.

Lochnagar Crater

I'm An incredible site that saw such devestation for German trenches. Tunnels were used again and packed with explosives. The crater is 22 metres deep and 80 metres across. When it blew, the earth rose 1220 metres. It was detonated at 7.20am on 1st July 2016. 

Lunch

Lovely lunch done at Flunch just outside Albert. Setting off now for the afternoon visits. 

Fantastic Talk

A genuine Ulsterman 'Teddy' giving us his usual fantastic talk. More photos later. 

Ulster Trenches

We have arrived at the Ulster Tower and will be given a guided tour of the trenches in the nearby wood, just in sight of Thiepval. 

We're Off!

Breakfast done and coaches packed. A two hour journey to our first destination. 

Goodbye Oude Abdij Lo Hotel, it's been another good year. 

Wake Up!

Morning wakeup calls have been made. Breakfast in 15 mins then pack the coach for an early depart. A busy day today!

Last Post - Video

Last Post

As always, the last post at Menin Gate was a very emotional and thought-provoking event. Here are a few photos. The last post bugal call will be posted shortly once it has finished uploading. 

Dinner

Fantastic dinner at a restaurant in Ipres. Getting ready to go up to the Menin gate now. 

Extra photos

A few extra photos from the other groups. 

Tyne Cot

Tyne Cot is the largest commonwealth military cemetry in the world. We managed to find the relative of one if our students and we placed a poppy cross as a mark or respect. 

1917 Museum

A superb museum that gives an insight into what life was like in the trenches and a film about the battles in and around Passchendaele. 

Shell dug up

We saw a shell that appears to have been unearthed during some excavations in a field next to Langemarck Cemetry. 

Belgian's still find ammunition from WW1 and they leave them out for the army to collect. 

Langemarck Cemetry

A German cemetery in stark contrast to the commonwealth cemeteries we have visited. A very eerie and sombre place. 

Ipres Cathedral

A quick visit to the lovely cathedral in Ipres that was rebuilt after WW1.

Hill 60

This was the site of many fierce battles in a bid to maintain control of Ipres. It was also the site where Australian miners dug under Hill 60 and detonated a significant explosion that could be heard from London on June 7th 1917.