Ypres trip 2013 by Freddie bungey

The sites that we were going too were lots of graves sites, main in gate were they do last post in the center of Ypres, museum of passondale and lots of trenches.The first things I would recommend you to see is some grave sites, where they are quite emotional and also the passondale museum where they have a complete wall of guns and bombs and a huge replica of a trench which is underground. The restaurants i would recommend is the squid and wagammamas. Talbot house was very emotional because the soldiers would have there last pray there and probably would never come back, but i think the church lost the vibe of the sadness because they restored it, and i thought it looked a bit new and modern. The trenches we visited were very gloomy and dark and it made you think you were actually there. The highlight of my trip was the museum with the whole wall of guns and bombs and also the huge underground trench where they built the replica in the museum. I also loved going about on the streets of Belgium and buying a 50 cal. bullet from the war shop and buying lots of chocolate. I also was very emotional about the vast amount of graves like tyncott were 60,000 people were buried from just Ypres.

By Freddie Bungey

Ypres by solomon

Ypres.
A good way to travel to Belgium is by ferry from Dover to Calais. As the ferry is quiet and a short time. It is also a good way because you can muck around with your pals, you are traveling with. But one bad thing is that the car journey is about five hours, all together. A good hotel to stay in is poppies hotel, as it is slap, bang in the middle.
          But Ypres is not just a place for chocolate, it's also, quite a sad place as it has many graves, fulled of dead bodies. The most famous grave we went to was Tynecot, it has over 45,000 graves. But at the back it had over 50,000 lost bodies, so just names. But there are lots of other graves around the place. But when you are at the grave , you have to be quiet as locals visit often, to see family, or relative. But if you are not into the sad stuff, then you could go to the trenches in century wood, you know those trenches are so cool, as they have just been in for a refurbishing. But very muddy, so I recommend boots not smart shoes, as they would become very muddy. There are many restaurants, but I recommend Utopia, a it's food is good quality and comes fast. If your like me and love chocolate then you are in for a treat, because Ypres has more chocolate shops then other shops.

By Solomon Johnson-Hill.

Ed Ferguson

Trenches, wartime artifacts and sizable cemeteries in a great few days in Ypres

14th - 17th November, written by Ed.

      Ypres was occupied by the Germans in World War One and Two. During the war, because it was hard to pronounce in English, British troops nicknamed the city "Wipers". The town was destroyed by artillery and bullets. Our journey to Ypres was from Dover to Calais by ferry. Though you can get there by Eurostar then road or by plane and then road as well. In Ypres and places near it such as Poperinge. The countryside around Ypres is beautiful but shaped with the scars of war. In and around these places are many cemeteries:

·         Bedford House Cemetery

·         Berks Cemetery Extension

·         Buttes New British Cemetery

·         Essex Farm Cemetery

·         Hyde Park Corner (Royal Berks)

·         Langemark German Cemetery

·         Le Mont-Kemmel French Military Cemetery

·         Lijssenthoek Cemetery

·         Ramparts Cemetery

·         St-Charles-de-Potyze French Cemetery

·         Tyne Cot Cemetery

·         Ypres Reservoir Cemetery

      All these provide a lot of things to do and a lot of soldiers to remember. Also you can visit an untouched, authentic trench from the great war in Sanctuary Wood at Hill 62 and see many artefacts found around the areas nearby such as medals, weaponry and general everyday things needed by a soldier of World War One. Also you can explore the Menin Gate and hear the Last Post played at the remembrance service at 8:00 every evening which is great to see. Also take a look at the brass model made perfectly for the blind at the top of the steps. Ypres is a great place to go and spend time as a teen as I have discovered on my trip. Make sure you have enough  money to visit the chocolate shop, Leonidas and the things found in the ground of the battlefields in      shop about 100-200m down the road from Menin Gate. 

Ypres

we stayed at the poppy hotel which is an bed and breakfast.     

We visited English and German trenches from the great war to see what conditions it was like back then. We visited lots of cemetery's including the biggest war grave in the common wealth. My favourite part of the trip was the men in gates which was very moving because all of the names that were on the walls were of missing solders who got blow to bit. Ypres is an very educational and enjoy abel trip at the same time, for an example when c fell out of bed and broke an light with his head. there are also
lots of chocolate shops.

CABH

Ypres, great trip J.M

After coming off a very long and boring coach and ferry journey I arrived in the town called Ypres, in Belgium. The town played a big part in WW1 because it stood in the path of Germany's planned sweep across the rest of Belgium and into France from the north.

When I arrived at the hotel, my first impressions were ok. The hotel had a nice games room, including a pool table, table football, pinball and a vending machine for any midnight snackers. The rooms are small and are bunched up. Every room consists of three or more bunk  beds, but don't fall out the top bunk or you might end up paying for the chandelier below, as tried and done. The hotel only serves breakfast, and so you will have to walk into town for lunch and dinner.

Places to Visit

I would personally suggest seeing the Menin Gates service, as it is very moving and gives a historical interest to WW1. Also I would recommend visiting the English and German trench replicas (don't get too muddy!),  and visit the museums in the local area, such as Talot House. And Hill 60 as it recovers more historical facts and interest. Try and visit the cemeteries, especially the Tyne Cot cemetery, which is the largest commonwealth war cemetery in the world. Don't go alone as it is very moving, bring a buddy.

Food 

The food is excellent! Go to as many chocolate, sweet, or waffle shops as possible. Great prices! But be sparing as you still have a long journey back.

To remember the trip, buy a souvenir of some sort.
Enjoy!

J.M

Year 8 trip to Ypres 2013

We left Dover on Thursday 14th November for a four night stay in Ypres.
Best bit: Chocolate! If in Ypres, there are many outstanding places to visit, but you cannot have that pouring of emotions without a bit of a cheeky comforter and so I and many others highly recommend that you visit at least two or three chocolate shops where the deals are very enticing. If not, go to some of the great waffle shops to fill yourself with uncontrollable pleasure.
Places to visit (other than chocolate shops!): Ypres is a very historical place as it was the last line for the British in the First World War before the Channel and so it was of great importance. A must is the Meningate where the names of ,what is estimated to be, 54,000 missing dead Commonwealth soldiers are. Also, the great Tyne Cot memorial ground where thousands upon thousands of Commonwealth graves is a place worth a visit. To change the mindset, it would be a good idea to visit a German memorial ground so that you do not start to dislike any of your German mates. For a fun, wet and muddy adventure, go to some of the many trenches and discover and transport yourself through time to be in the War in a trench. Last but certainly not least are some of the museums such as Talbot House.
We returned back to England on Sunday 17th November after an amazing and eye-opening trip.
By J.B.

Visit to Ypres.

History. Ypres played a big part in WWI as it was between Germany and France. Ypres was also home to some of the biggest and bloodiest battles. Some of which were the Battle of the Somme, Flanders and Hill 60 which held the biggest explosions in the world.

Places to visit. The Meninngate in a gate which holds a memorials service every evening for the people who gave there lives in the Great War. Tyne Cot Cemetery is the biggest common wealth cemetery in the world. This is in the middle of the country so it is a good place to lay reef or a cross for love ones or friends in peace. Ypres is a great place to go and visit the imperial war museum or go and enjoy an exiting end adventures trip round and in a English dug out and trench. It is also good to visit a German trench to compare with the English one.

Food. Chocolate shops are an iconic and tasty place to by chocolate as a suvaner. All the restraints are good for food so if you have little money or lot that you want to spend on a meal you will be able to find a place to suet you.
TB

Ypres

Ypres


Ypres is located in west Flanders in Belgium. Ypres is also the centre of Wool and Cloth Trade, it also played a big part in WW1.


When we arrived at Ypres we stayed at the Poppies hotel which  is a bed and breakfast, it has snooker table and free internet. In the hotel the beds are ok. Very family friendly.

       


Sites To See 
In Ypres there are lots of things to visit including Talbot House where the solders went after there time on the front line to relax. You can also visit lots of famous sites that were used during the first would war like hill 60 were c got to dress up as a solder and experience what it would like to be a propper solder in the wet and muddy conditions, Croonaerts Wood were there are Germon trenches. Zonnebeke Museum which is great fun fun for adults and teenagers, it shows you pretty much evey thing that was used in the first would war. Men in Gates which is very moving because all the names on the walls are of missing solders.
As you can see there are lots of things to see in Ypres.

In Ypres there are lots of Cemeteries in Ypres including the biggest war cemeteries in the common wealth.

My favourite part of the trip was to go shopping for chocolate.    

FOOD
there are lots of good restaurant in Ypres. Lots of chocolate shoppes in Ypres for you to visit, lots of grate prices and offers.  





CABH          

Year 8 Ypres visit 2013 by J.F

We have recently visited Ypres, Belgium on a WW1 school trip. Ypres was a town held by the Germans during WW1 and was near the location of the great Battle of Pachendale. Thousands/Millions of people died in Ypres and there are many locations which offer respect to those who died such as the Menin Gate.

We stayed at the Poppies Hotel which is located in Ypres and is a small B&B for school. It had a large games room filled with pool-tables and table-football as well as free internet and and vending machine filled which chocolate. The rooms how-ever weren't amazing. The gave off a bad smell and where extremely cold. the breakfast was very yummy though! :P

We visited Ypres to learn all about WW1 and to give respect to all of the soldiers who lost their lives for us by visiting their graves in many different cemeteries.

Our knowledge expert and vice-expert were Mr Fraiser Skirrow and Mrs Denis Mculloch who have an extreme liking and interest of the events that happened during the war as well as soldiers who died or soldiers who played important roles in the trench-warfear

During our visit we were showed and taught how to fire the main "Tommy" rifle, the 'Lee-Emfield' as well as grenades and rifle grenades. We were also showed at Hill 60 (which was part of the line that we were defending) by an volunteer (C.H) of what it was like carrying all of their equipment through muddy and wet conditions.

We visited approximately 6 cemeteries where the soldiers of both sides and amesburian soldiers who had died. Many people shed tears there but it was respectful and amazing.

But not everything was sad…..

We visited 3 different restaurants there which deferred in food types. One of which was Spaghetti Bolognese, one was chicken and the last one was pizza. They were all of very nice quality and yummy!

We were allowed to go chocolate shopping on the final day and they gave us great deals! We received about 3 bars of chocolate and and bag of sweets for €9.99!

In all, our trip was super and I would recommend visiting Ypres!

J.F :)

Ypres Trip 2013 by B.H.

Ypres Trip 14th November 2013 by B.H.
After a nice long journey from the UK I recommend visiting Talbot house first of all, as is very intriguing. It is a very quaint place to be as you can sit, stand, touch and have an overall feel of how the men from WWI would have felt; it was incredibly interesting.

We stayed at the poppies hotel which on first impressions looks quite dull but when you get to know used to it, it is an amazing fun place for teenagers, with internet, a pool table, pinball and much more!

If you want to visit Crooneat's wood make sure you wrap up warm. If you stand on the higher ground, you were able to see very far into where other trenches would have been. Inside the gates you can go into a German trench which is really cool and you can explore what it would have been like to have been a German in that trench at the time. Later on that day we visited Hill 60 which is great for WWI enthusiasts.

Every night you can visit the Menin Gate and their ceremony in which at 8 'o' clock bugles are blown and wreaths are laid to remember the end of the war along with all the soldiers who have died in it. This ceremony has taken place every night since the war was declared as over, it is very emotional and makes you reflect on yourself.

If you are visiting hill to hill visit a museum at hill 62 with awesome trenches with tunnels running through them underground in pitch black which is very spooky! Watch out on the trench wall though, they are sharp!

One of the most emotional things to see was visiting the biggest WWI graveyard in the world and lay a cross showing our remembrance to the soldiers, shedding a few tears we read out poems and carried on.

You can also visit the German graveyard which does not look as appealing or as beautiful as the British graveyard which really makes you think about the difference of winning and defeat.

A great place to visit for teenagers is the souvenir memorabilia shop where you can buy actual items from the trenches. Another amazing place, if your looking for a sugar rush, is the chocolate shop a few shops down from the souvenir shop, it does amazing deals and tastes divine!

The next morning was our last morning, we gathered up our stuff, and said goodbye to the hotel. We then travelled back from Calais to Dover remembering all the exciting and emotional things we had done on the trip. We then had a nice long journey to discuss our favourite things!

By B.H.

Belgium, Ypres

Today on this blog I am going to tell you about Ypres in Belgium and the amazing history about
Ypres.
The history about Ypres is that the 1st and 2nd World Wars were fought there at many different places like Ypres, Hill 60 and so many other battle areas. Sites and museums  to find out more about the past of the World War 1 and 2. I would recommend the Memorial Museum Passchendale 1917 because it is probably the closest place you would see a real bunker and trench and you can go underground in to the bunkers and then come in to the the trench. It is amazing. You can also see the worlds biggest cemeteries called Tyne Cot; you could also go to Menin gate which has all of the names of the solidiers who have still not been found; and they are still underground to this day.
To eat I recommend a few places which are all very good, the first restaurant is called Utopia which is a nice relaxing place and another one has the best pizza and chips I have ever tasted called Den Olifant Ieper which is amazing.
The fun things to do in Ypres like going chocolate shopping with amazing deals and fun people to be around with I recommend Leonidas Fresh Belgian Chocolates and Calinor Chocolaterie which are both are amazing.
I hoped you liked this entry and reply.

W.W

Visit to Ypres 2013

Background information: Ypres is a city in the very western part of Belgium, that was greatly effected by World War 1. It has many tourist attractions for example chocolate factory's, museums and cemetery's.

History: German and British soldiers fought in trenches and many died, their graves are now in cemetery's in Ypres. After the war, Ypres was rebuilt making it more modern and including several museums.


Every night at 8:00pm there is a service at the Menin Gate, where people from around the world go and remember all of the soldiers that died in world war 1, that have an unknown grave. This service is very moving because you can see thousands of names of the soldiers that have unknown graves. Ypres also has many cemetery's that you can visit to see how many British soldiers died and fought in the war.

Tourist attractions: As-well as the war attractions, Ypres has many local restaurants, hotels, Belgium Chocolate shops and chocolate factory's.  

Travel directions: From the UK, the easiest root to Ypres is by ferry from Dover to Calais and then drive for approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to Ypres.

  M.H

Ypres travelblog (MW)

War, tears, laughter and more

Ypres is an incredible part of Belgium, occupied by the Germans in  WW1 and WW2. It is a place where some of the largest battles happened in the wars. It has lots of monuments to commemorate these, and also plenty of good shops to buy chocolate, ammunition and more. 

    When I had experienced Belgium before, I visited to Bruges, where my trip consisted of mainly buying and consuming chocolate. Ypres was a completely different perspective of Belgium, focussing far more on the war.

 Talbot house is a great place to visit. For a start, there is a museum literally next door to it, which gives you plenty of information on the place. You can then head to the house itself, which has a little church at the top. It has a great atmosphere, and is a must if you are near that area.

Another good place is Croonaerts Woods. It has a view over a huge battlefield, and has a trench system, which you can actually walk around in. This was the first time I had ever been in a real trench, and was very exciting.

   

Menin Gate used to just be a gate where soldiers would march through to go to Ypres. Now a spectacular monument has been built in its place to commemorate all the lost soldiers in Ypres. It is a huge white arch, with 60,000 names inscribed on the wall. Every evening, ever since WW1, there has been a service, where the last post is played, wreaths are laid, and poems are read. The service is very moving. It is a breathtaking memorial and is highly recommended if you are close by.

Menin Gate

    There is a fantastic WW1 museum to visit, with lots of things to see, such as guns, artillery shells, clothes and films. The centrepiece however was a replica of a dugout, where all the loos, operating rooms, bedrooms were. It was very atmospheric, as if you were there. This museum also has an English and German trench, to see what both sides of the war lived and fought in.

   

   Tyne Cot is the largest graveyard in Belgium. 12,000 graves were there, ¾ of which were unidentified. The graves were all arranged in a very orderly fashion, in rows, columns, and arcs. It is very hard-hitting, seeing all those dead soldiers, 9,000 of which haven't even been named. If you do visit here, which I highly recommend you doing, spare a thought for all the soldiers who lie here.

Tyne Cot, the largest graveyard in Belgium

However, if you want a more haunting graveyard, Langemark should be consideration. It is the only German trench in the whole of Belgium, where 25,000 Germans had been piled into a small pit. It showed the other side of the war, the defeated side.
   On a more cheery note, there are some great shops leading up to the Menin Gate, such as chocolate shops, chip shops, waffle shops, and souvenir shops. I would definately visit these if you can
On the whole, it makes a great holiday for about a week if you want a slightly different kind edge to a typical holiday.

--- MW, 20/11/13

Ypres

Fun laughter tears and a lot more

By RD 

  On the 14^th of November, Amesbury School set of too Ypres. We took a P&O Ferry from Dover to Calais. We then drove to Ypres.

When we got to Ypres we visited Talbot house. Talbot house is a very interesting place and an emotional place. I recommend going to the attic of the building. In the attic of the building is the chapel. The chapel was the last place the visited before going out to the front line. They would say there last prays and hope for good luck.

We stayed in Poppies Hotel. The Hotel has well a games room, computers and a good amount of rooms. The rooms are basic but it does have everything you need.

We went to a local restaurant that night. At the restaurant. It was good for all the children. I would recommend this restaurant because it was good for our age and it was good food.  

The next day we visited Croonaerts wood, Bayernwald.  Croonaerts wood has a small German trench system from World War 1. The trenches are well maintained so this means they are not too muddy. This is ideal for if you would like to see what a German trench was like but without the hassle of mud or water. It cost 1.50 euros per person. There is not really any good place to eat, so I would not recommend taking a picnic there.

 Also we visited some small cemeteries in the afternoon.  I would recommend going to a few small cemeteries as well as some bigger ones too because in the smaller cemeteries you can look more closely at each grave stone and you can study the entire cemetery.

That evening we went to a small Italian restaurant. It was a good overall meal but the only thing was that there was another school there so that was a bit annoying. I would also recommend going to this restaurant .    

On in the evening we went to the menin gate service which happens every night at 8:00pm. At the service they play the last post and have a two minute silence. This is then followed by the laying of wreaths. It was an emotional place to visit because all of the names on the side of the menin gate were only lost people not lost and dead.

On the final day of our trip we went to Sanctuary Wood Museum which was really fun because you got really muddy and there were lots of tunnels to crawl through. It also has a really cool museum that has lots of old guns and shell booms they had found in the trenches there.

  

Later on, on that day we visited Tyne cot crematory. Tyne cot crematory was the most emotional place in the whole trip. We where blown away by the amount of graves there where. This was the hardiest point in the trip to hold out the tears.

  

That evening we visited a good restaurant. It was a great meal. It was a good restaurant for teenagers because they made food for younger ages and it was good service as well.

We went home on P&O ferries.

The tip was very inspirational to my year. It made us closer as a year. I would recommend visiting Ypres. I think it is one of the best place in the world to visit. It is amazing to see where so many men of our country fell.

   

Ypres

Arriving at dark, we came to rustic, authentic streets of Ypres. The trip was genuinely eye-opening and a moving, historical place to be. The emotive stories of 1914 and the heart-rending tales of the West Flanders soldiers were truly emotional. A midst this came the Waffle, Chocolate full streets great for eating and shopping! 

     Visiting Menin gate, we stayed for a ceremony which takes place every evening at 8p.m. to commemorate the named soldiers who's lying body's never to be found. This ceremony consisted of the playing of the Last post. Overwhelmed by the sheer amount of names, we had to return to our hotel soon for a loo stop!  It was undoubtedly beautiful and astonishing experience and came quickly too an end! Too quickly!  

        Sanctuary wood was the captured experience  of life in the trenches. Thanks to the storms from the night before, the ankle high-deep mud was an amusing part of the trip and i laughed at all with-out wellies! 

I highly recommend this enjoyable trip!!

          Tyne Cot was there to rap up the trip. The mass Graves hit me by surprise, and some, expecting to think lightly of the Landmark found it utterly moving and I can safely speak for myself and all of my fellow peers, that is gave us all a new found respect for those lost, and a greater appreciation and perspective on life. 

         This trip is not for the closed minded and some concepts i still struggle to digest but I highley suggest this incredible journey.

-S.H.

Ypres


 We have recently visited the town Ypres in Belgium, a beautiful area with lots of cemeteries all very moving commemorating the millions of men who died in the war for us


the Menin gate memorial

            There are many shops of souvenirs and chocolate shops which are great as well but also lots of monuments that are so fun to visit like the Menin gate a big arch with all the names of the soldiers caved into every wall we were lucky enough to be involved with one of the services that are on every night at 8 o'clock its a wonderful experience where we were offered to lay a wreath the service ended with a very touching playing of the last post for about 20 minutes. All in all its a must do if your in Ypres



 

 Another place I would recommend is the World War 1 museum which is again a great experience showing what the soldiers ate. They showed us the weapons that they would have used and they even had replicas of the gases that were used at the time. On the top floor they had a life like dug out just like one they found quite recently it had the bedrooms of the officers , the pump room in which the men would have to pump out the water that had leaked into the tunnels as they were under the water table and many more interesting things to see. The museum was really intriguing and I would recommend it to a friend.

               Also I would visit the trenches both English and German, well preserved and kept as they were at the time of the war apart from some safety adjustments, you can really get the feel of what it would have been like at the time most of  bunkers are still standing and it is possible to go into them just like the soldiers would have done as well as running through the trenches pretending to be under attack. Its is amazing to see the different contrast of the two armies trenches and to see3 what there life would have been like at the time.
           

 A must do if your in Ypres is visit Tyne cot a cemetery in Passchendaele  its an amazing, emotional and very touching experience but it is one that you must consider its bigger then you could ever imagine and in my opinion not a place to take children but its beautiful and just reminds you why we are here today all the graves are well taken care of and the surrounding countryside is beautiful and if you go on a sunny day then its a bonus  as it looks even more beautiful then it Is normally

 overall my experience of Ypres has opened my eyes to how lucky we are to live like we do today and given me a new found respect for life, these men did not no what they were getting into and were brave enough to continue and eventually save England as it is today. Some of the things you will see and here are very hard to understand I am still having trouble processing it but its a great trip and one that you will never forget.

E.S





   

Ypres, an amazing trip. A.T

Ypres was a vastly used expanse in which much of world war one was fought in. Despite the amazing chocolate shops,  some of the revolutionary and war winning tactics were devised  there and many moving cemeteries are there to commemorate the millions that died fighting in world war one. Ypres was a touching trip that moved me and was the best and most moving place i have ever had the pleasure of visiting.
           The Menin gate was a beautiful experience in which a service is held ever night at 8:00 to commemorate the soldiers who died in the war. The Menin gate is plastered in names of the soldiers who fought in the war and whos bodies were never found. Despite me being absolutely desperate for the loo whilst attending the service it was beautiful and many people laid many wreaths, i would love to go again.
           



               



             




                 I also visited a World War One museum that was excellent showing many weapons, tactics and a extremely accurate replica of a dug out . I would recommend  it to a friend, there was much to see there, including thousands of items that were used in World War One. The thing that separated the museum from the typical not so interesting museum was the range of ways to harness information about World War One, from the life like dug out and tunnel system, to the ability to smell some of the gases used to gas people in World War One.
             Also i would recommend a visit to the two German and English trenches, that were an extremity interesting visit, seeing the contrast and battle scars of the virtually untouched trenches, was an amazing experience, making you feel apart of history and reflect on your self; a powerful experience.












Overall Ypres was an extremely excellent and moving trip,even though the waffles and chocolate played a large part in the enjoyment of the trip,  i learnt much about World War One and a lot about myself as well, the trip was a perfect balance. It changed me, in which i have a new found respect and appreciation for life. I  would love to go again, would recommend it to anyone and will never forget it.

A.T

The war that killed millions

ypres

 we have recently come back from ypres.The town of ypres is a enchanting and historical place to be. We went to ypres to really experince what happened in world war 1 and it opened are eyes to what actually happened out there in 1914 to all those men and what they went throw.one thing that was really amazing was men in gate. The men in gate is a memorial for all the men who have never been found.It is a great place to go if you want to expience a memorial servise.

Another great place to go is the tolbot house was where the men went to to take a break from the war and to just step back from the hole enviroment of the war.

Also there was a mass grave called tine court and this is the biggest war grave in the world. I have to admite if you are a sensitive and emotinal person maybe not the best place and i think you have to be a sertine age to go.

but overall that trip has beeen the best trip i have ever been on with school even thought it dranded my emotinans but it was great

over all amazing

IH
 

PP