For groups studying First World War poetry, an English literature school trip will be an unforgettable experience!
John McCrae’s In Flanders Fields remains to this day one of the most memorable war poems ever written. It’s a lasting legacy of the terrible battle in the Ypres Salient in the spring of 1915. Essex Farm, where he wrote the poem, was originally the site of an Advanced Dressing Station and the surgeons’ dugouts can still be visited.
You can also visit Vancouver Corner, the site of the first recorded use of poison gas on the Western Front, bringing to mind Owen’s poem Dulce et Decorum Est. And you mustn't miss the opportunity to take part in the evocative Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. Plus, of course, this destination is ideal for a cross-curricular school trip in partnership with your school's history department.
Suggested Itinerary (2 days, 1 night)
| Day | Morning Summary | Afternoon Summary | Evening Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Depart school |
Visit to the In Flanders Fields Museum |
Last Post Ceremony |
| 2 |
Guided literature tour, including Essex Farm, Vancouver Corner, Tyne Cot and Hill 62 |
||
- 1 night's half-board accommodation
- Comprehensive travel and medical insurance
- Detailed information pack
- Free staff place ratio 1:8
- Itinerary planning service
- Motorway tolls and taxes
- Return Channel crossings
- Return executive coach travel
- Vamoos travel app - giving you access to all your trip documents on your phone or tablet
- VAT at current rates to tour operators
Curriculum Links
GCSE
- Power and conflict in poetry
- Identifying literary themes
- Understanding historical contexts
- Comparing and contrasting texts
- Wilfred Owen
- John McCrae
- Lord Tennyson
- Ted Hughes
Key Stage 3
- Understanding our literary heritage
- Understanding historical contexts
- Exploring literary themes
- Wilfred Owen
- John McCrae
- Lord Tennyson
- Ted Hughes
