DAY 1

We all met at Didcot Sqn at 8:00am and waited for Chipping Norton Sqn to arrive. Once they arrived we set off to do the first parade of our trip at Beaconsfield. Once we had done the parade we went to Beaconsfield Sqn and got changed. We then packed the mini buses ready for our journey to France. On our way to Dover, Corporal Luke and I watched a film called "The Guardian" on his mini DVD player, it kept us occupied until we reached Dover. Once on the ferry, Corporal Luke and I went up onto the top deck of the ferry, and we watched as England disappered into the horizon. When we were out of the harbour it started to get choppy and very windy. The ferry was great fun! We had some fish and chips and a race on a motobike racing game. Before the ferry docked we all returned to our mini buses, to continue our journey to Achiet Le Grande. When we arrived we unpacked, watched a film called "My Boy Jack" and then went back to our rooms to bed.

Warrant Officer Middlemore came into our room to get us lazy cadets up! We got dressed and ready for breakfast. We had croissants and lots of bread and I had an amazing cup of hot chocolate. After this we made our way to Wellington Quarry,  where we had a tour of the quarry. It was dark and eerie, but it was interesting and I learnt alot. Afterwards we had lunch at a cafe and we looked at a restored trench that was on the front line. We made our way to the Somme Museum. There were lots of WWI rifles, bayonets and tin helmets etc. There was also a reconstructed trench with dummys, it really set the scene and it wasn't a good one... Once Corporal Luke, Corporal Bailey and I reached the shop at the end of the museum we all bought an ice-cream, well actually I bought two but shhh. Once everyone had exited the museum we got onto the buses and travelled to the Airmans Memorial which was full of headstones of men and boys who had lost their lives during WWI , it was very touching. We then returned to Achiet Le Grande were we had our dinner. Later on at the accommodation I slipped over in the shower, and I smashed my ribs on the shower step...haha it was very funny all though it hurt quite a bit... shh don't tell Flight Lieutenant Chaney who told me not to injure myself because I had already broken my toe!

Today was parade day! Our first parade was at Alsta Tower, it wasn't very long but it still meant a lot. The second parade was at Thiepval. It was longer and a C-130 Hercules performed a fly past which was filmed by ITV News at 10. We then returned to Alsta Tower to eat our lunch at the cafe. Afterwards we went back to Achiet Le Grande for our third parade of the day. There was a slight drizzle of rain but it cleared up throughout the ceremony. Our final parade of the trip was at the Cemetary at Achiet Le Grande, Corporal  Luke laid a wreath at the monument with Flight Lieutenant Hogan. After the ceremony we were each given a cross to lay on a headstone.

Today was our final day...

One of the cadets from Chipping Norton Sqn was dressed as a WWI soldier. We visited some restored trenches, it was very sad and upsetting. The guide told us lots of storys about bunkers collapsing on the men as they were sleeping who were then buried alive. After this we went  back to the accommodation to pack our bags and the mini buses, ready to return home. On the way back we told lots of jokes and listened to music. We arrived at Calais, went through passport control but missed our ferry. We finally boarded the ferry and bought loads of chocolate. Corporal Bailey and Corporal Luke had a game of battle ships.

Overall the trip was fun and I made loads of new friends but it was very sad. You honestly don't know how real it is until you have seen it for yourself. I would recommend this trip to all cadets.

If it wasn't for all these poor brave men and boys we would not be doing all the good things we do today.

When I got home I told my dads employer all about this trip. She then told me that her grandad Robert Ambrose was at Ypes in WWI, he was 21. He was seriously injured and spent three years in a spinal carriage. He was one of the lucky ones!