Habs Boys visit the First World War Battlefields and remember the fallen

The Battlefields of the First World War are always fascinating and evocative places to visit. The HABS Battlefield Trip 2018 was especially poigniant as it took place so close to the 100th anniversary of the 1918 Armistice. A group of 42 boys and five staff went to Belgium and France to visit a number of historical sites and memorials. The first day, Sunday October 21st, was spent travelling to Belgium, then visiting Talbot House in Poperinge, the Shot at Dawn cells and memorial at Poperinge, as well as the grave of Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse, VC and Bar, at Brandhoek New Military Cemetery. In the evening the boys took part in the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres, including two boys laying a school wreath in memory of the seven Old Haberdashers’ remembered on the Menin Gate.

Monday was spent touring the Ypres Salient, visiting sites including Essex Farm, Hill 60, Sanctuary Wood, the Indian Forces Memorial, the memorial museum at Passchendaele, Tyne Cot and Langemark. We were fortunate to be the first English school party to visit a crypt in the municipal cemetery at Broodseinde containing the coffins local Belgium war dead. We found the grave of AC Michelsen (OH) at Tyne Cot. An evening in Ypres provided the opportunity for the boys to enjoy the famous Leonidas Chocolate shop.

On Tuesday 23rd October we left Belgium and travelled down to the Somme region in France. We visited Newfoundland Memorial Park at Beaumont Hamel, Ulster Tower at Thiepval, the Thiepval Memorial, Tommy Cafe at Pozieres, the Lochnager Crater at La Boiselle. We held three Acts of Remembrance for Old Boys of the school who died serving in the Somme Sector: at the Thiepval Memorial for Rifleman Joseph Adams, 2nd Lieutenant Sam Barder, 2nd Lieutenant CL Birch, Corporal Horace Bretton, Lance Corporal Arthur Espury, Rifleman Eric Hemingway, Rifleman Leslie Mogford, 2nd Lieutenant Reginald Morris, Lance Corporal Sydney Patey, 2nd Lieutenant Reginald Powell and Corporal Earnest Ramus, at the Pozieres Memorial for Private Arthur Dew and at Assevilliers New Military Cemetery for Rifleman AW Baumgartner. We then travelled onto our hotel in Reims. The quiz night that evening allowed the boys to consolidate their understanding and knowledge of the First World War in a fun and less formal setting.

Wednesday 24th October was spent visiting the spectacular sites of memory at Verdun, including the Verdun Memorial Museum, the destroyed village of Fleury, Vauquois and visiting Fort Douamont on the 102th anniversary of its liberation by the French army. The sheer scale of the destruction and intensity of the Battle of Verdun is breath-taking. HABS is one of only three English school to take students to Verdun. On Thursday we left Reims and travelled back to Elstree. On route, we visited the 1916 Museum at Albert.

Mr Clark would like to thank an outstanding team of staff who supported this trip: Dr Gannarelli, Mr McLarin, Mr Geering and Miss Kerkhof, as well as Alan Reed, our incredibly knowledgeable and supportive Tour Guide from NST. The behaviour of the boys on trip was impeccable. They were commended for their conduct at many sites and were a delight to take away.

The whole tour party was struck by the valour and sacrifice of those from many nations who served during the First World War. We will remember them!