On Friday 6 December, 41 year 9 students and four members of staff embarked on a 24-hour expedition to the Ypres area of Belgium. The trip offered an invaluable opportunity to explore what life was like for men living in the trenches of the First World War and to gain a deeper understanding of the realities of the Christmas Truce of 1914.
Students and staff arrived at school at 1am, an unusual start to the day. Once everyone was checked in, their journey began promptly at 2am. Most managed to get some rest on the way to Dover, where they picked up their guide, Chris. After a calm ferry crossing, they arrived in France at around 10.40am local time and continued on to Belgium.
Their first stop was to meet the recruiting sergeant, where students learned about the rules for enlisting and the creative ways some individuals bypassed them. They also had the chance to handle artifacts from the era, providing a hands-on learning experience. This was followed by a well-earned lunch of local sausage and stewed vegetables—a warming meal that was much appreciated after their initial experience of military drill.
The group then visited the site of the Christmas Truce memorial, located in the area thought to have hosted the famous football match during the truce. Although the match was more of a casual kick-about, students enthusiastically re-enacted it. Their journey continued to the Hooge Crater Museum, where they explored a section of trench and experienced a poignant highlight of the trip. Former soldiers living in the area re-enacted the truce, taking on the personas of men who lived and died during the war. These actors shared moving stories that brought home the human cost of conflict.
Later in the day, the group visited the town of Ypres and the Menin Gate, a memorial dedicated to the 55,000 soldiers whose bodies were never recovered. Students then had time to explore the town, including chocolate shopping and browsing the market, before boarding the coach for the return journey. They arrived back at school at 3am on Saturday morning.
Students thoroughly enjoyed the trip and have been reflecting on it throughout the week. They were an absolute credit to Walton Academy, engaging thoughtfully with guides and locals. Even after being awake for over 20 hours, they remained cheerful and engaged. Their exemplary behaviour was even commended by a French border control officer, who described them as “formidable,” high praise indeed!
Special thanks go to Mr Holmes, Ms Gilbert, Miss Lucas, and Mr Madejski, whose dedication and support made this unforgettable experience possible.
