Battlefields experience for Sheffield students

A total 33 students from year nine visited the Great War battlefields in a trip led jointly by the English and History departments.

Staff member Paul Milligan said: “Being in such emotive places in Belgium and France is always a special experience, but the centenary of the Battle of the Somme made the whole thing more poignant still.”

Highlights of the trip for Wales students included the tour of the preserved battlefield at Beaumont-Hamel, and the sounding of the Last Post at the Menin Gate, during which some of the Wales pupils laid wreaths.

The party visited the newly-developed museum at Passchendale for several hours, but were still able to find time to visit the chocolate shop in Ypres before returning home.

Wales High School held a week of commemoration for the men who lost their lives during the battle of the Somme, that started with an Edwardian summer fair and was followed by project work, visits and in-depth study.

Local groups and organisations got involved with the effort and linked with the school on numerous activities, both on the day of the fair and throughout the week and beyond.