CCHS Battlefields

Follow the 2026 Trip from @CorpusChristiPR to visit the battlefields of France and Belgium.

[David Blanchard @Blanch6144]

It was a great pleasure to guide this group of enthusiastic school children around the Ypres and Somme battlefields this week. A shout out to all the teachers and coach driver Andy who worked incredibly hard to make the trip a success.

[CCHS Battlefields @CCBattlefields]

Our in-depth report from the trip can be found on our website here: https://t.co/wpAMer0acE

[CCHS Battlefields @CCBattlefields]

As often happens when you send a load of tweets after a long coach journey, you forget someone, so thank you to Elaine and the team at @NSTHistory for all their hard work in making this trip a reality. We have worked with them for 15 years+ and will hopefully do so for many more.

[David Blanchard @Blanch6144]

Private William Henry Woods 2nd East Lancashire Regiment killed on the first day of Passchendaele, 31st July 1917 during an attack near Hooge. Commemorated on the Menin Gate.

[CCHS Battlefields @CCBattlefields]

Arguably the most amazing moment of the trip was when one of the pupils chosen to lay the school wreath at the Menin Gate discovered at @MMP1917 that their Great-Great-Uncle in the East Lancashire Regiment was killed on the first day of the battle of Passchendaele.

[David Blanchard @Blanch6144]

Essex Farm Cemetery Visit- useful maps. The three regimental aid posts that served the ADS at Essex Farm are shown here- Glimpse Cottage Lancashire Farm and La Belle Alliance Farm- note the tram line here- used for trolley cars.

[David Blanchard @Blanch6144]

Drawing of Essex Farm Advanced Dressing Stations by Lance Corporals S.T. Smith and A.R. Watt, RAMC, of the 23rd Division Field Ambulance.

[David Blanchard @Blanch6144]

Lochnager crater maintenance 3 days ago.

[David Blanchard @Blanch6144]

St Martin’s Cathedral Ypres (with Cloth Hall behind), early 1915, was used by the 5th Field Ambulance as a dressing station, briefly in October 1914. Accommodation for 250 wounded men in the cloisters.

[David Blanchard @Blanch6144]

A large shell hole in the square fronting St Martin’s Cathedral in Ypres- exposing the the Yeperlee- a small river around which the town was founded. April 1915, from Norman Ellison collection- IWM Q61653.

[David Blanchard @Blanch6144]

Visited the grave of Private James F B Adkins, stretcher bearer RAMC attached from 2nd Suffolk Regiment. A very moving ceremony was carried out by students of Corpus Christi High School, Preston. @CCBattlefields

[David Blanchard @Blanch6144]

@Cambs_Regt_1418 Service conducted At Private Adkins grave, Lijssenhoek.

[CCHS Battlefields @CCBattlefields]

Finally for now, are a number of items which were left on the coach. If you think you have lost something, please email Mr Warham, or see him when we are back in school.

[David Blanchard @Blanch6144]

The majestic St Martin’s cathedral, Ypres, where students of Corpus Christi School, Preston attended mass, my first experience of taking a battlefields tour group to a religious service. @CCBattlefields

[CCHS Battlefields @CCBattlefields]

*commemorated!

[CCHS Battlefields @CCBattlefields]

Some of our pupils found the grave of someone who died at age 16 from the Lancashire Fusiliers. He must have signed up when 15. We commentated his sacrifice by placing a cross in front of his grave.

[CCHS Battlefields @CCBattlefields]

Did anyone else come down to breakfast this morning and wonder a) where everyone else was and b) why no-one was making my packed lunch?

[CCHS Battlefields @CCBattlefields]

‘They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: 
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.’

[CCHS Battlefields @CCBattlefields]

Finally, a thank you to all parents and carers for entrusting your children to us, for sending them on this trip and allowing us to share these incredible experiences with them. They were a credit to you, and to their school.

[CCHS Battlefields @CCBattlefields]

Thank you to all of our staff team - Mr Chester, Mrs Matthews, Mrs Parker and Mr Warham - who not only gave up part of their half-term to take the pupils abroad, but also worked so hard before and during the trip to ensure that they all had the best possible experience.

[CCHS Battlefields @CCBattlefields]

Thank you to all the pupils for your interest and engagement throughout. Despite long days, early starts, incredibly hot temperatures and some very emotionally intense experiences and stories, they have been fantastic ambassadors for their schools and their families.