LOCAL TEENAGERS LEARN VALUE OF FREE WILL (From Surrey Comet)

LOCAL TEENAGERS LEARN VALUE OF FREE WILL

3:45pm Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

By community correspondent Anish Kaul We have all of us heard about the First World War. Regardless of nationality, upbringing or culture it is an event that stands burned into human history like a scar from a hot poker. However almost no one remains who actually experienced this terrible conflict. So the only way to really get close to the war is to see its physical remains.

This is what our group, composed of just over 30 pupils and several teachers, endeavoured to do. Crossing into France for a brief visit the Somme first of all, we then proceeded to Thiepval. Here, a giant archway standing tall is covered in names of soldiers long dead. In the middle a plinth with the words ‘Their names liveth forevermore’ lies.

A visit to Vimy ridge was next, another giant memorial stands here, not covered in names rather with meaning as the statues of weeping angels forever stand, lamenting the mistakes of the past. An important message was being delivered here about how important it is that you personally and in the wider sense humanity, must learn from mistakes made.

Without doubt the most emotional point of our journey was the visit to Tyne Cot cemetery, the largest British memorial in the world. Here there are not rows of graves but fields of them, with walls covered in names of dead soldiers from all over the world. This was far more compelling than any history lesson in Hollyfield could ever be.

The final chapter of our journey took place at Menen Gate, in Ypres. Here we were fortunate enough to attend the last post ceremony where wreaths are laid to honour the names of the soldiers that died. This trip was eye-opening and delivered a never to be forgotten message to these local kids and myself, that free will should never be taken for granted and that these sacrifices should never be forgotten.