Next stop - Belgium

21st April
We left Arras on Tuesday morning, next stop - Belgium. On the way we stopped at many historical sights the first being the Canadian Centre at Vimy Ridge. Here we were able to walk through Canadian trenches which have been restored to their near original conditions. We also were able to see the craters left behind by mine bombs that were set up to destroy the opposing trenches. After this, we visited the Canadian memorial which was beautiful in structure, one of the biggest we have seen. This morning was one of the coldest we have experienced so far.

We made a short stop at Loos Cemetery where Mr Croft was able to find his great great uncle's name Edward Croft engraved on the wall amoungst thousands of others. These are the names of those soldiers with no known graves. Our tour guide Colin later informed us that during World War 1, four men died every minute of every hour of every day for four years, approximately 9 million. If these soldiers were lined up four a breast, it would take 81 days to continuously march past the same point. These shocking facts really hit home how enourmous this event was in human history.

Next, we visited VC corner which is the only Allied mass grave. Here, four hundred unknown soldiers lay in between two crosses placed on the grass. After this, we visited the Cobbers memorial which represents how the Australian soldiers rescued the wounded from the battlefield. The ruins of German bunkers also surround this area. Vc corner represented the Allied frontline whilst Cobbers was situated on the German frontline. These were separated by only a short walk.

After crossing the Belgium border we stopped for lunch at a small fast food restaurant where we tried the traditional Belgium sausage, the fricadelle and the famous frites (hot chips). After finishing lunch, us students found it exiting when we stood on the border between France and Belgium. We then left to visit more memorials and battlefields.

Toronto Avenue was our next stop. This is the only cemetery on the Western front where there are only Australians burried. Here we did a short ceremony of our own where Stacy read her poem 'Anthem For A Doomed Youth' by Wilfred Owens. A short bus trip away we visited the Place Of Peace which is a crater that occured in the battle for Messines Ridge 1917.

We arrived in Ypres where our guide gave us a tour of the city and then we checked into Hotel Sultan, the best hotel we've stayed in yet! It is situated on the Grand Plas, directly opposite the Cloth Hall. Before dinner, we attended the nightly ceremony at the Meningate, which we will be participating in on Thursday night. The last post was played and wreaths were laid. We had dinner at the Fritery where most of us ordered pasta and enjoyed ourselves as it was a reminder of home. We were then able to find our own dessert and and explore the town within boundaries.


22nd April
Today was a free day where most of us indulged in the famous Belgium chocolate and explored the shops of Ypres. Mr Williamson, Mrs Williamson, Mr Croft, Mr Moyses and Mr Sanders went to the Belgium Battery Corner Cemetery. Here, they found the grave of Henry Charles Gardiner, age 21, killed on the 21st of October 1917, from Mr Willo's home town which was very moving for him.

In the afternoon, we visited the Cloth Hall Museum that gave us a great inight into the ways the soldiers used to live, the battles they participated in and the impact on society. Tonight we will be dining at the Poppy Restaurant named after the famous poppies of Flanders Field.


Demi and Cassie.

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

day 1 and day 2

after arriving in Paris we dropped off our bags at the hotel 'Tim', and raced off to the Eiffel Tower stopping briefly for lunch. we went to the summit ie the top, where the views were amazing. the metro was ... crazy! after we went to the arc de triomphe and received a special invitation to participate in the cermony to honour the unknown soldier. walked down the champ de ellyes and had dinner.

up early to the Chateau de Versailles and veiwed the amazing architecture and decor along with many exquisite paintings plus the huge gardens. we also got to look in the notre dame catherdral and viewed the outside of the louvre. tea was a diaster but ended fine!

Janina

Excitement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To every1
It is officially 1 week (7days) until we leave!!! YAY.

Welcome!

Welcome to the Collie SHS ANZAC Student Tour 2009 Blog.

This blog will allow students to create posts whilst on tour. It is hoped that they not only write what they have done and seen but how this has affected them.

This blog will also allow parents to share in what their children have been doing on tour.