“THEY shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.” Familiar words from Laurence Binyon’s poem, which are used in Remembrance services every year. These words took on a greater significance for the 1st Beath Pals Battalion who visited the area around the Ypres Salient this Easter.

Leaving Beath High in bright sunshine, the Pals arrived in Bruges some 16 hours later. By this time, we were well versed with many of the songs sung by the marching troops and had been introduced to the concept behind the defence of Ypres, or “Wipers” as the troops called the city.

Having spent some time, and money, in Bruges, the Pals headed off for their billet in Langemarck, Belgium. A

Reveille sounded at 07 00 the next day and they were on the road to visit the Messines Ridge.

Guide, Sam Henry, explained that Adolf Hitler was treated here in 1915. At this time he was a just an injured soldier who also won the Iron Cross in trying to save an officer from No-Man’s Land!

The return journey took pupils past the Black Watch memorial at Polygon Wood and Hill 60, where some 5000 bodies lie buried under the earth – a number 5 times Beath’s school population!

The next day they were at the Somme with the word “monumental” to consider. The experience truly was monumental from the Caribou in Newfoundland Park; through the scale of losses on the first day; to the Thiepval memorial and lastly the Lochnagar Crater. The numbers were on a scale which none of them could comprehend. The Thiepval memorial alone carries the names of over 74,000 men who died on the Somme and who have no known grave.

 A short service was held at the Highland Division memorial on the Somme where our group photograph was taken. This marks the taking of the German front line in November 1916, some four and half months after the battle started.

The return journey was halted at Vis-en-Artois Cemetery where we had a ceremony for a relative of Neve Young. The Pals had been asked before they left to identify any relatives in cemeteries and we would attempt to visit these cemeteries. A poignant ceremony took place as a cross was left in remembrance.

The last day was to be “dramatic” as they visited several cemeteries around Langemarck and along the Passchendaele Ridge. The first site was the Essex Farm Cemetery where John MacRae was stationed. He was a Canadian medical officer who one day sat down and wrote the words to “In Flanders Field”, which was read on site by Lucy Dalrymple. The cemetery also contains the grave of a 15 year old. By coincidence, one of the Pals, Logan Garvie, was celebrating his 15th birthday that day.

From there they went to Passchendaele Ridge where the Pals marched and sang their way to Tyne Cot, the largest British Military Cemetery in the world. Over 11 000 are buried here with the names of another 34 000 “unknowns” on memorials. A second personal ceremony was observed with due reverence for a relative of Roddie Hume, who left a cross in remembrance.

 A visit to the German cemetery at Langemarck reminded us that there are always two sides involved in any conflict. Much darker in atmosphere but the names of 40 000 German soldiers who died in the area are commemorated here.

They entered Ypres through the Menin Gate and spent the afternoon shopping and sight-seeing as we were to return later that evening for the Bugle Ceremony at the Menin Gate.