Today, we remembered.
We woke to grey skies looking increasingly ready to deposit large amounts of water on us at any moment. Luckily, fresh croissants warmed our souls and we were soon ready for a two hour coach journey to historic sites of the Battle of the Somme.
Today we would take a glimpse back in time at the first day of that battle and hear stories of how so many lost their lives on that ill-fated day – 60,000 Allied casualties, 20,000 dead, in just one day.
The 9th Devonshire Regiment
Indeed the heavens opened. Most of us listened to the key instruction to bring water-proof jackets. As the rain pelted down, a sombre and poignant mood enveloped us. On the 1st July 1916, the 9th Devonshire Regiment attempted to take the town of Mametz from the Germans. However, the introduction of the machine gun by the Germans had significant consequences despite Captain Martin’s (of the Devonshires) warning being ignored by superiors.: 160 died in just 10 minutes. The rain could not stop us – we remembered.
La Grande Mine
Just down the road we saw the impact, literally, of explosives being buried deep under enemy territory and ignited. The Lochnagar Crater sits 30m deep and 90m wide. Here, on 1st July 1916, Allied forces had dug tunnels – at a painstaking pace of 13 inches every 24 hours – under German forces, where they had packed the ground with more explosives than they had ever ignited before: 28,000kg to be precise – one and a half times the weight of our coach. Not knowing quite what the impact would be, and holding back for too long afterwards, the impact was not nearly as effective as they had hoped – the injured having time to regroup and wreak havoc on Allied forces afterwards with their machine guns. 6,000 British soldiers died. Today, we remembered them.
Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial
Having the chance to actually explore the trenches allowed us to get a feel for life in the Great War. Still manned by Canadians today, this memorial remembers a battlefield where 90% of the casualties were from the Newfoundland Regiment – Newfoundland, a country in its own right at that time. We heard how poor communication led to so many deaths. The equipment was also not of a high standard – a third of the ammunition used were duds. “Why do you think that was?” our guide questioned. “Because the British women made them,” Isaac replied. The females of our group quickly blamed the men for poor training in the factories. The battle continues!
Joking aside, in this peaceful place, there was time to find stillness and remember those lives lost – each St Mary’s child remembering one life lost in particular.
Their Name Liveth For Evermore
Sadly, many lives lost were not fortunate enough to have a burial – a resting place. Their bodies lost, never found. Their memory, however, remembered. At the impressive Thiepval Memorial, ‘The Missing of the Somme’ are recognised. Here, 72,000 British names decorate the walls. Names of those lost. Here, we sat again, looking on at the cross, and remembered.
Going Underground
The Somme 1916 Museum offered one further opportunity to appreciate how brutal life was in 1916. This unique museum is situated in former war shelters deep beneath the Earth’s surface. From bullet casings to weaponry to recreations of trench life during battle, the museum was both enlightening and harrowing at the same time. The 50 cents coffees in the shop afterwards even attempted to recreate the hideous conditions of trench warfare – où est le Costa le plus proche?!
After Year 6’s learning in the autumn term, it was powerful to return to thoughts of war and peace once more, all be it on a fun, end of year trip. “What’s the point of war?” Lilly questioned. We are all still trying to answer that one Lilly…
Back at the Chateau, despite the many heavy showers of the day, luck shined down on us before disappearing on the horizon. Time for one last play before bed time.
Tomorrow, our last full day in Normandy, we hope to relax a little, explore the local area and enjoy each other’s company more than anything else. Time in Year 6 with our friends is indeed precious.
St Mary's CE Primary School Year 6 France 2019 
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