We had the opportunity to visit the Belgian city of Ypres, where we were able to explore a large number of historical sites dedicated to the Great War.
At each location our cadets were tasked with presenting a topic related to the site, whether that be about a person, a battle, or any other subject of interest. In this image, A/Mid Hill is seen giving a talk on the Lone Tree Cemetery, which was set up for soldiers killed during the Battle of the Messine ridge. The cemetery contains the bodies of 88 Irish soldiers who were killed when a mine set up underneath the German forces on the hillside was detonated, creating the largest man-made explosion seen up until the Second World War. The crater itself sits not far from the cemetery and has since been filled with rain water. It is now known as the ‘Pool of Peace’. It was a sobering experience for us to walk around each cemetery we visited with the large number of unidentified and unnamed soldiers standing out to us all as the true cost of war. Here, we would pay our respects to the fallen, before moving on.
Later, we would be able to explore Great War trenches all around Ypres where we were taught why these systems were set up and how valuable trenches can be to infantry on the frontline even on the modern battlefield. The conditions of the Great War were extremely harsh and these sites gave us a small glimpse into the experiences of the average Great War soldier.
Cadets were also fortunate to visit a key site of the Cold War, known as the Komando-Bunker located on a hillside near Ypres. This bunker was set up to protect the leaders of the Belgian Armed Forces in the case of World War Three, being used to coordinate their response against a Soviet invasion of Europe. Of the places visited this was the most light-hearted with cadets exploring its tunnels finding various map rooms and offices that they could use to learn about the war that never was.
Finally, our travels would take us to the beaches of Dunkirk, a fantastic reminder of the Second World War, in which many of our grandparents had participated. While the weather was not the best due to stormy conditions on the coast, cadets braved the wind to reach the sea bringing our journey across this part of Western Europe to a close.
Officer Commanding
URNU London
