Day Two Review

Day 2 Review

Another beautiful morning announces another exciting day for Merchant Taylors' Boys' Battlefields trip. Beginning the day with a rousing breakfast at our hotel opposite the Menin Gate, we progressed to our first stop; Serre. 

Serre was the sight of many acts of heroic bravery during the early Somme offensive of 1st July. At 7:20 am on 1st July the 31st Division left their trenches, passed through the British wire and lay down in No Man's Land to await the end of the bombardment. With a massive Allied artillery bombardment, which had lasted several days, ceasing at 7.30 a.m., the men of the 31st fixed bayonets and marched in line towards the German fortifications. 

Very little remains for the boys to see of these fortifications, but the slow rise of the ridge showed how difficult the climb would have been for the Pals Battalions, who fell in droves under intense machine gun fire.

After a brief tour of the site, we headed to the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, which commemorates the sacrifice of Newfoundland regiments. The sacrifices of soldiers from across the Commonwealth, and former British Empire territories, are commemorated at many sites along the frontline, and the boys noted that these retain great national importance for visitors from around the world.

Later, we lunched at the Ulster Tower, situated on a commanding rise above the plains surrounding Beaumont-Hamel. The Tower acts as a memorial for the men of the Ulster Division, which attacked the Schwaben Redoubt on 1st July 1916, and where nine men of the division later won the Victoria Cross for bravery.

A short journey later, we arrived at Thiepval Memorial. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the 140ft high monument is the largest memorial to Commonwealth missing anywhere in the world. Here, the boys spent much of their time searching the panels of the memorial for many of the lost, and their relatives. 

Next, we progressed to Lochnagar Crater. The Crater was formed as the result of undermining German trenches, and the subsequent detonation of over 60,000 of explosives, and just outside of the town of La Boiselle. Walking around the rim of the crater, the boys were able to reflect on the damage caused by these mines, and the various attempts of both sides to circumvent the stalemate of trench warfare.

Rounding off the day, we arrived at a site of special significance to one of the staff. 2/Lt Frank Heap commanded a Mark IV tank at the Battle of Cambrai, and is the grandfather of our Head of History Mr Heap. After a great deal of archaeological study, and excavation work by Philippe Gorczynski, his tank (affectionately called "Deborah") has been recovered, and will soon be placed on display in a purpose built museum. Given its special significance, we were fortunate enough to be granted a behind the scenes tour of Deborah, and Mr Heap and Philippe conducted a joint presentation on this fantastic historical artifact, to the delight of the group.

Soon after, we headed to our hotel for a delicious meal, and rounded off the days activities with a football match! 

Day 3 Report to follow!