Day 3 & 4

We left the hotel and started out tour with our guide Colin and driver Pascal. We journied out into the country side. Our first stop was in the town of Albert and saw the 'Fanny Durack' statue as the Aussie soldiers called it. We then travelled to Beaumont Le Hamel and walked in the trenches. Next we went to Theipval, where we looked through a museum and saw the memorial to the British fallen. We then went to the village of Pozieres where we saw the Rock of Gibraltar one of the German pillboxes that Australians captured, with the loss of enormous casualties. Here is the first division memorial commemorating the fallen. It was then off to the Windmill, a memorial for the second division, where Alison read a poem on behalf of the group. Next we went to Devil Wood, which contains the only tree to see through The Great War. We then continued the Arras and to our hotel. We freshened up and then headed out and found a fair in the Plas, which is a town square. We went on a few rides and even convinced Mr Croft to come on one. It was then out to dinner and then off to bed.

In the morning it was off to Bullcourt (Bull cor) and met the mayor. Then it was up the road to the Digger Memorial. Next it was Mont Saint Quentin where there is the fifth division memorial. We had lunch at Peronne at the Grand Le Guerre, built in 884 AD. We stopped at Adelaide Cemetry, where the Australian unknown soldier was taken from. Cassie read a poem and Mr Abbott read a speech. Next we travelled to Villiers-Bretonneaux Australian Memorial, here we conducted our own service where Janina read a poem, Jack sited the Ode and Kim, Alison, Cassie and Goya laid flowers on behalf of the school. Our final stop before heading back to Arras was the La Hamel Australian Memorial, the site of one of our most stunning victories of World War One.

The last 4 days have been amazing. We have learnt so much about not only the war but the country and ourselves. We have been able to reflect on the past sacrifices of young Australians. We have learnt a lot about the true identity of our country and what it means to be Australian.

Tameeka