DESC HISTORY | BATTLEFIELDS TOUR

Follow Dubai English Speaking College as they visit France & Belgium on their battlefields tour with Trans World Educational Experiences.

By Trans World Educational Experiences

June 10^th, 2024

Battlefields Tour Gets Underway

Day 1 | Sat 8th June

After travelling by plane, ferry and bus - Dubai English Speaking School got straight to it on arrival in France for their battlefields trip.

They kickstarted their trip to France and Belgium with a visit to the Lochnagar Crater to see the destruction caused by the tunnelling company of the British Army underneath the German front lines, followed by a trip to the Musee Somme to experience what life was really like in the trenches.

In the afternoon DESC's students visited Newfoundland memorial and examined just how close the front lines really were.

The group were also honoured to visit Thiepval Memorial to the missing soldiers where several students were able to locate the names of their family members.

An action packed day had to be finished off with some bowling and laser tag!

DESC Visit Wellington Quarry

Day 2 | Sun 9th June

On Sunday the DESC students spent an exhilarating morning exploring the Wellington Quarry - a series of underground tunnels used by soldiers preparing to launch a surprise attack on German soldiers who had captured Arras.

The visit was a chance for the students to dress up and experience life underground.

In the afternoon we saw the Arras memorial and the held a moments silence for John Nixon, a relative of one the students on our trip.

Vimy Ridge Memorial

Day 2 | Sun 9th June

In the afternoon the students visited the breathtaking memorial at Vimy Ridge, the memorial to Canadians who fought in WWI.

Following the visit, the group moved on to their accommodation in Belgium ahead of the second leg of their action-packed tour.

First Day in Rainy Belgium

Day 3 | Mon 10th June

After a short trip on the coach, DESC arrive in Belgium. The group's first morning was spent waking up in their rainy new surroundings.

Students and staff braved the weather and visited Tyne Cot cemetery before travelling to Ypres and touring ‘In Flanders Field Museum’ for a workshop and a interactive tour, before a 231 step climb to the Belfry in Ypres!

In the afternoon DESC saw Essex Farm, the burial site of John McCrae, the author of ‘In Flanders’s Field’ poem, and visited the Death cells in Poperinge where executions occurred during WWI.

The students finished their day with a BBQ and some Karaoke 🎤

Northern Salient & Poperinge

Day 4 | Tues 11th June

DESC's fourth day begin with a tour of the Northern Salient which included sites such as the Welsh memorial, a forgotten French cemetery and Langemark German cemetery. Another rainy morning but the students were rewarded with a lovely sunny afternoon.

The group travelled back to Poperinge and were given an amazing tour of Talbot House, where some of the students are lucky enough to stay this year. Talbot House was established in 1915 as an Everyman’s Club for soldiers to experience a ‘home away from home’ whilst on leave from fighting.

The house is a living museum today and we saw exactly how soldiers lived during this time.

In the evening everyone moved back to Skindles for a delicious dinner and the famous annual quiz night!

Exploring the Southern Salient and Ypres

Day 5 | Wed 12th June

On Wednesday, the students explored the Southern Salient, visiting significant historical sites such as the Pool of Peace, the Bayernwald trenches, and a memorial for the 1914 Christmas truce.

After bidding farewell to their fantastic tour guide, Jacques, they enjoyed an afternoon in Ypres with Belgian chocolate shopping!

The day concluded with dinner at Captain Cook's restaurant and a visit to the Menin Gate for the Last Post ceremony, where they laid a wreath and heard Dhvanya recite the Kohima epitaph.

time for London!

Day 6 | Thursday 13th June

On Thursday morning it was time to leave Belgium and take to the Euro tunnel for an exciting day of activities in London.

Upon arrival, the students spent a lovely afternoon sightseeing, before a visit to the London Dungeons. This was followed by dinner in Giraffe Apollo, and an amazing performance of Wicked.

a Visit to the Tower of London

Day 7 | Friday 14th June

After a well deserved nights rest the students stopped off at the Tower of London to see some of its incredible sights such as the Crown Jewels, Tower Green and the Armoury.

After a fun-filled final day of their action-packed trip, DESC then departed for Heathrow for their final journey home. What a week!

Footnotes

Stay tuned to Trans World Educational Experiences across social media for more photos and updates throughout the DESC battlefields tour. Looking for a similar experience for your students? Get in touch by visiting twedex.com.