KS3 Visit to the Trenches

Caldecott School are currently studying World War 1. As part of this theme, our KS3 students visited Hawthorne Trench in the beautiful surroundings of Elham Valley.

These trenches have been painstakingly recreated by a father and son team, and are true to scale in every way. This includes the distance of “No Man’s Land”; on Vimy Ride, there was as little as 25 metres between some of the trenches.

Our students walked as the troops themselves may have done, through mud and chalk. The weather was not kind to us that day, and it absolutely poured with rain. Nevertheless, students were able to explore both the German and Allied trenches. and our knowledgeable guide answered all of our questions – from the countries that were involved to the type of coffee that the soldiers might have drunk.

The British trenches were far more extensive, although the German trenches were made of sturdier material. Our students were able to encounter winding paths and hidden underground stations, as well as explore the commissioned officers’ chambers. We were also interested in learning about the plans for expansion at the Hawthorne Trenches.

As the rain continued to pour, we headed for cover in the living museum. Our students were able to handle and wear both replica and genuine historical clothing, equipment, and resources.

This was a fascinating visit to a piece of living history, and helped our students really appreciate the hardships and grim reality of being on the front line.