The History department’s second trip to Holland proved another great success, affording as it did varied insights into Second World War history. Our expert guide, Col. Storie-Pugh, brought history to life in the field as 38 pupils and the four history staff were at turns moved and inspired by visits to museums, cemeteries, battlefields – and bridges.

Highlights of a packed itinerary included three museum visits. The Anne Frank Museum was incredibly poignant. Our pupils ranged in age from 12 to 18 so there were striking resonances here – extracts from her diary, of course, but also the pencil wall markings showing Anne’s increasing height. Very different in tone was the Hartenstein Museum, British HQ during the battle for Arnhem. Although not celebrating war, it did portray warfare very much from a soldier’s viewpoint, complete with sound effects and original graffiti. Different again was the National Liberation Museum, which reminded us that Holland was occupied during World War II and what Allied forces were fighting for in September 1944. The museum made a powerful case for repose, remembrance and reconciliation.

The field sites were equally interesting. Col. Storie-Pugh’s account – delivered while wearing a red beret – of the landings and drops at Ginkelse Heide was dramatic and atmospheric in the early morning chill. But perhaps the pick of these visits was our walk over the bridge at Arnhem – the ‘bridge too far’ – which Col. Storie-Pugh’s uncle, John Frost, struggled valiantly but in vain to capture.

Visiting the graves of former pupils is key to any battlefields trip and we were able to pay our respects to two OKS. Pilot Officer C.J.C. Walker, shot down in 1942, aged just 21, is buried in Amsterdam while at Mierlo lies Major G.W. Cowley, former Head Boy and captain of cricket. Like our visits to other cemeteries at Groesbeek and Oosterbeek, these gave powerful testimony to the tragedy of war, of young and promising lives cut short. It certainly made us reflect and think.

View an album of photos.