Students’ battlefield visit

This month has seen the centenary of the end of the First World War. Two of our Year 10 students saw for themselves recently some of the history of the battles fought in France and Belgium between 1914 and 1918.

Accompanied by Teacher of History Mr Nash, Jack Meredith and Lewis Gavin travelled to the area, visiting the sites of battles as well as museums and cemeteries.

The visit was the result of a competition they had entered, and the students joined others from schools across the country. Organised by the Government, and enabling students from all schools to visit the battlefields, the project aims to increase their understanding of the events that people across the country have commemorated over recent years.

Mr Nash said, “Alongside the scale of the sacrifice made by so many, Jack and Lewis were also able to discover a local link amongst those who fought during the war. A fallen soldier named Charles Payne grew up close to Hunt Lane. Carrying out research in France, they were able to locate his name on the Thiepval war memorial near Amiens. Visiting the cemetery, we were able to lay a cross in remembrance.”

Over recent years, The Radclyffe School has maintained a tradition of marking remembrance, helping all our students to be aware of the history of the First World War. On November 9th, the school fell silent for two minutes during our Act of Remembrance. Poppies combined with images of soldiers and thoughts about war and peace, helping students and staff to focus their recollection of the sacrifice and suffering of war.