Year 9 pupils visit First World War battlefields in Ypres

15 October 2026

Year 9 pupils visited the First World War battlefields around Ypres with the History Department on a tour from Wednesday 7 to Friday 9 October.

The trip gave pupils the opportunity to visit important historical sites and cemeteries connected to the First World War, learning more about the conflict and remembering those who lost their lives.

The visit began at St George’s Memorial Chapel in Ypres, where pupils visited the Gresham’s Memorial.

On Thursday, the group travelled to several significant sites across the battlefields. These included Essex Farm, Talbot House, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Hooge, the German trenches at Bayernwald, Hill 60 and the Caterpillar Crater. At Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, pupils visited the graves of two Old Greshamians (OGs), Nathaniel Ready and Douglas Birch Richardson, taking time to remember former members of the school community who died during the war.

On Thursday evening, pupils attended the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres. The ceremony provided an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made by servicemen and women during the conflict.

The final day began with a visit to Langemarck German Cemetery, where pupils were able to learn more about the experiences and losses of German soldiers during the war.

The tour concluded at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where pupils took part in a final remembrance commemoration honouring all 116 of Gresham’s Fallen. This provided a fitting conclusion to the three-day visit, bringing together the historical learning of the trip and the importance of remembrance.

Throughout the tour, pupils were able to explore the landscapes, memorials and cemeteries associated with the First World War at first hand. The visits offered a valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of the conflict while paying their respects to those who lost their lives.

The trip formed an important part of the pupils’ history studies, connecting their classroom learning with the places where these events took place.