Heathfield Cadets take part in National World War 1 Battlefield tour

Four Cadets and two instructors from Heathfield have just returned from a fascinating World War 1 Battlefield tour with Cadets from across the country.

Cadets at the Thiepval memorials

The cadets made an early start on Friday 26th of October travelling from a camp in Kent that was originally built in 1916 to house troops waiting to go to France.

They followed a similar journey by ferry from Dover to Calais, they visited the site of a destroyed windmill outside of Pozieres that was captured by Australian troops on the 4th of August 1916. It is now a memorial to Australian troops and a memorial to fallen animals of all nations involved in the war. The next stop was the Lochnagar crater where the cadets learnt about tunnelling operations during the war.

Heathfield Cadets at the Fricourt Cemetery

The third stop was to the Fricourt cemetery where the cadets got a chance to see the difference between the British and German war graves. There was a quick stop at a memorial to fallen South African troops before a final stand just outside of Mametz where the cadets visited the graves of fallen troops of the Devonshire regiment. The trip ended at the Thiepval Memorial where cadets were given a traditional French soup and baguette before taking part in a Drumhead service to honour the fallen.

Heathfield Cadets at the WW1 Memorial to animals of all nations

Cadet Corporal Taylor Pursall said: “I wanted to go on this trip to pay my respects to the fallen.”

Heathfield detachment is taking part in several events this year around Remembrance including the Beacon Lighting being organised by Heathfield Parish council.

For more information about the Army Cadets visit www.Armycadets.com

Sussex Cadets at the Lochnagar Crater