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Medicine on the Western Front

Overview

Our World War One Medicine itineraries have strong links to GCSE History, focusing on the evacuation route, medical treatment, and life behind the front lines.  What better way to bring this topic to life and deepen your students’ understanding than to handle artefacts, explore trenches, and even follow a real medical evacuation route from the former front line?

The Ypres Salient is dotted with excellent museums tailored to the UK curriculum, while expert local guides provide an insight into the personal stories of soldiers and medical personnel.  There’ll also be opportunities to visit moving memorials and military cemeteries, and we can arrange for you to participate in the Last Post at the Menin Gate.

Our sample itinerary is just one suggestion, but it can easily be adapted to a day trip or a longer stay, or to focus on a local battalion or former student who fought in the war.  Have a look at our other World War One itineraries for more inspiration!

Our Suggested Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Depart school in the morning, cross the channel and make your way to Ypres.

    In the afternoon, visit the Hooge Crater Museum: there you can discover the Medical Evacuation Route exhibition, handle authentic and replica helmets and artefacts, and explore a reconstructed WW1 trench!

  2. Day 2

    Start your day visiting the In Flanders Fields Museum, where students will be given an interactive Poppy Bracelet which allows them to learn about the stories of real people, including medical personnel.

    After lunch, have a guided tour of the Medical Evacuation Route of the casualties of the 48th South Midland Division.  You’ll start at the front line, call at an Advanced Dressing Station, a Main Dressing Station, and a Casualty Clearing Station, and end at the site of the largest WW1 hospital in the Ypres Salient, Lijssenthoek Cemetery with its fantastic medical aid exhibition.

    Then enjoy some light relief with a visit to a well-known chocolate shop and have dinner in a local restaurant, before attending the Last Post at the Menin Gate – this moving ceremony is a must for all schools!

    Optional extra: we can supply you with a commemorative wreath to lay at the Menin Gate (proceeds to the Royal British Legion).

  3. Day 3

    In the morning, visit Essex Farm Cemetery which was built on the site of an Advanced Dressing Station, also the burial place of War Poet John McCrae and of Rifleman Valentine Joe Strudwick, who was just 15 years old when he was killed.

    Then drive to Poperinge where your students can learn more about the sufferers of shell shock who were detained and executed at this poignant site.

    Travel back home.

School Trip Accommodation

Accommodation

We work with a huge variety of accommodation providers in and around Ypres, such as the Menin Gate Hotel Group and The Peace Village.  Let us know your school's requirements and we can find one to suit you.  We always use safe and secure accommodation especially suited to schools and our accommodation is usually 2* or youth hostel standard.  All accommodation we use is audited, and our auditing regime is verified by independent experts.