Ailsa looks back

The school has been running visits to the Ypres Salient in Belgium and the Somme in France since the early 1990’s under the leadership of the Head of History, Mr John Davey. He is a great believer in the value of such trips as they support GCSE studies. “Trips of this nature are vital to help pupils really understand the cost of war, and bring home just what a profound social and economic impact the Great War had on this country.”

Ailsa knew that her great great uncle, Second Lieutenant Alexander Henry McCullagh of the Royal Enniskillin Fusiliers, had fought and died in the First World War in the Ypres Sector. By visiting the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website she was able to track down his grave to New Irish Farm Cemetery. After a quick word with Mr Davey, he arranged for the school party to visit the cemetery so that she could pay her respects to her late relative, and sign the cemetery visitors’ book.

Ailsa said of her visit: “He was only 21 when he died, and I felt quite emotional and privileged, as I am the first member of our family to visit his grave.”

Posted by: J R Davey
Date: Thursday 16/03/2006