Year Ten Explore the Realities of Wartime Medicine

On Wednesday last week, Year Ten historians braved the changeable weather to head up to Staffordshire to learn more about their case study for the ‘Medicine Through Time’ GCSE paper. Ridhima Canchi in Year Ten writes:

“Our visit to the Staffordshire Regiment Museum and the Cannock Chase War Cemetery of the First and Second World War was genuinely a rewarding experience that allowed us to engage deeply with the material from our GCSE History unit on the ‘Western Front’.

The day began with a tour of the site’s model trench system, the ‘Coltman Trench’. Our enthusiastic tour guide gave us a deep insight into the daily lives of soldiers in the trenches during the First World War, describing the illnesses they contracted and the hardships they valiantly faced. As the day progressed, we delved into an interactive talk about the Evacuation Route and the various treatments that casualties would undergo, featuring some demonstrations on pupil volunteers! After a relaxed lunch break, we headed to the Cannock Chase War Cemetery to commemorate the fallen British and German soldiers and civilians from both the First and Second World Wars. This aspect of the trip truly allowed us to reflect solemnly on their bravery. We then proceeded to pay our respects through an articulate pupil reading, followed by the laying of two wreaths, to honour those who gave their lives for their country.

The experience we gained throughout the day proved to be immensely valuable and enriching, providing us with a more profound understanding and appreciation of the subject matter in our GCSE History course.”

Thank you to Ridhima for her summary and to the Year Ten History pupils for their excellent engagement and interest during the day.

Mrs Jane Harrison, Head of History and Politics