Today both A & B companies visited the scene of several tragic battles the 2nd Ypres where poison gas was used for the first time. We heard how the Canadians bravely plugged the gap in the lines when the gas was released, their bravery is commemorated at Vancouver Corner.

Both companies visited Essex Farm cemetery and advanced dressing station, we heard the John McCrae wrote the famous in Flanders Fields poem there after hearing that his best friend had been killed. We also saw the grave of Private Valentine “Joe” Strudwick who was 15 when he was killed and is probably the youngest British soldier to die.

Poelcapelle Cemetery was next where we heard that there were some 9 thousand graves most of which are unknown, we stuck a poppy to a grave each and tried to imagine what our soldier had been like.

Our nex port of call was passchendaele we died in hell they called it passchendaele we heard that it took the British forces 99 days to conquer the ridge and some half a million men died, only for the Germans to retake it less than a year later.

The batallion marched to Tyne Cott with the company piper L/Cpl Deakin S/12345 playing a selection of tunes. Our merry mood was not to last long though when we saw the size of Tyne Cott, there are some 11 thousand graves and 35 thousand names inscribed on a memorial to the missing. We had a chance to lay crosses at family members and also to a resident of Dunblane.

Langemarck German cemetery was our final call of the day where we laid School crosses together with a German forget me not cross.

Tonight it’s the Menin Gate ceremony.

Today was a big day for the 10th Dunblane Pals an even earlier call saw us on the road to the Somme at 0745 local time. While Company A made straight for Newfoundland Park, Company B took some time out to pay their respects to Major Christie a resident of Dunblane whose home is now the Westlands Hotel, Major Christie was the OC of the 101st Labour Company whose positions were attacked by the Germans and himself and many others were subjected to poison gas, dying 4 days later, we laid a wreath in Foncquevillers where he was attacked.

Company B then moved on to Newfoundland Park where we followed in the footsteps of the Newfoundland regiment and learned of the terrible losses they took at what is now a tranquil park.

We heard how the 51st Highland division earned their fearsome reputation in taking the German trenches at Y Ravine some 4 months after the original attack on the Somme and our company ppipier L/Cpl Deakin played a lament.

After this the day became monumental with a visit to Thiepval memorial to the missing of the Somme, crosses were laid where relative of company members are commemorated.

We moved on to Dartmouth Cemetery where we saw Henry Webber reputed to be the oldest man killed on the Western Front age 67, and the Lees a Father and Son killed on the same day and buried side by side.

This was follwed by another commeoration for the family of the McLean brother at Poziers which is a tragic story and deserves it’s own page!

We said the day had been monumental little did we know!

The Canadian National War memorial at Vimy Ridge.

This morning after an early reveille it was straight into action for both companies A & B.

Company B were sent to bolster the front line troops at Hill 60 and during this short visit had to take shelter in an abandoned dug out.

Company B being briefed at Hill 60.

Company B were then sent to the front line trenches at Sanctuary Wood, where they took up positions along a 100 meter section of the trenches and experienced the joys of underground warfare walking in pitch dark through the Hill 62 tunnels.

A welcome break in the form of a visit to the excellent Hooge museum followed lunch which thanfully didn’t contain any Bully Beef, Machonochies or Plum and Apple Jam. The company then visited Black Watch Corner and heard how 41 men from Perthshire prevented 13 thousand crack German troops making a breakthrough.

The day’s adventures finished on the Messines Ridge where we managed a little quiet contemplation at Spanbroekmoelen Mine also known as the Pool of Peace.

Company A also saw service today in all of the same areas (photo’s to follow).

A weary 10th Dunblane pals marched into barracks in Langemarck Flanders at 1600 hrs this afternoon. Following the battalion call up in Dunblane yesterday we were fast tracked to Dover after an arduous overnight trip morale among the troops was very high on leaving but fatigue set in by arriving at Dover. The battalion then set out for Flanders some R&R soon sorted out morale and by the time barracks were reached a hot meal the 10th Dunblane are now ready to deploy to the front.

The 10th Dunblane pals are ordered to report at DHS for service overseas at 2000 hrs on Thursday 10th May, recruits must bring all kit with them that they will require for the duration of the deployment.

The coaches will be leaving school at 8.30pm prompt, owing to the drivers hours and the fact that we need to be in Dover in time for the ferry we will not be able to wait for any stragglers. Please aim to be at school no later than 8pm.

Rucksacks will be placed in the coach all other baggage in the hold under the coach, please ensure that you pack everything you need for the journey in your rucksack, you may wish to pack a bottle of water for the journey, but please no sweets and fizzy drinks. It can get a bit cool during the night on the coach so bring a fleece or even a onesie! A small neck pillow is also a good idea.

Bus allocation is as previously published and please note pupils have been allocated to coaches in their S1 PSR classes and not any rearranged S2 PSR classes.

Can we also remind you that your child should not bring expensive electronic equipment such as tablets, laptops, portable DVD players, however a mobile phone and a camera are highly recommended.

Pupils should arrive at school on Thursday evening wearing their battlefields hoodies, there is no need for any other items of school uniform. Please ensure that footware is suitable for walking on country roads and parks.

Don’t forget to pack your wellies!

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-pals-battalions-of-the-first-world-war

I was asked this morning why we are calling the trip the 10th Dunblane Pals, this will be fully explained to your child by the tour guides during the trip however have a look at the link which highlights some of the Pals Battalions.

Mercat Tours fully immerse the pupils in the history of the Great War, each coach is a company of the Dunblane Pals and as this is the 10th trip we’ve taken from Dunblane High School, your son/daughter has been called up to serve in the 10th Dunblane Pals Battalion of the Black Watch. There is a little bit of artistic licence in use here as the Black Watch did not raise any Pals Battalions, in fact the majority of the Scottish Infantry regiments didn’t.

There were however some famous Scottish Pals Battalions. One of the most famous was the 16th Battalion of the Royal Scots also known as McCrae’s Battalion, anither noteable Scottsih Pals Battalion was the 15th Highland Infantry which recruited heavily from the Glasgow Tramways Staff, this battalion prided itself in having uniforms, when many had to drill in their own civilian clothes owing to uniform shortages, even if the uniforms of the 15th HLI were dark green Glasgow Tram Uniforms.

During the trip your child will learn about these and others such as the Manchesters and the Acrington Pals.

6 days to go!

The 10th Battalion Dunblane Pals, will be deploying for service overseas at 2030 hours on Thurday 10th May.

The coaches will leave the school at 8.30 pm prompt, we cannot wait for stragglers as the coach drivers have set driving hours they must stick to by law, and we have to be in Dover for a set time in order to catch our ferry. Please try to be at school between 7.30pm and 8pm certainly no later than 8.00pm.

If you have opted to allow your daughter/son to carry their own money on this trip, this is of course acceptable, however the school staff or the school cannot be held responsible for any loss or excess spending early on in the trip.

Please note that although your child is covered under the authorities insurance scheme, this does not cover them for illness before or during the trip, and we recommend you take out personal single trip travel insurance. For those of you still to hand in EHICs please do so asap.

When packing kit for the trip, as previously intimated Wellingtons are important, but also please ensure your son/daughter packs a bath towel (and perhaps a hand towel) as these are not supplied by the hostel.

With just a few days left before we deploy, can you please ensure your child has handed in their passport and EHIC together with spending monies.

Please check the kit list to ensure that you will have everything packed, don’t forget towels (we suggest 1 hand towel and 1 bath towel), Oh and did we mention WELLIES?

As stated at the parents evening your son/daughter will come home changed, for example their vocabulary will be different have a look at the link below. We promise that we will not give them a full army vocabulary!!

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/whizz-bangs-and-wind-ups-10-tommy-slang-terms

Hoodies will be issued at S1 assembly tomorrow, these are not to be worn in school prior to the trip but must be worn when departing for Belgium on the 10th of May, and at all times during the trip. We recommend that the hoodies are washed before wearing to remove loose fibres, if possible attach a name label inside the tee shirt.