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The Old Ratclifan 2014 | Introductionhe Old Ratclifan 2014 | News from the College The Old R The Old Ratclifan 2014 | Introductionatclifan 2014 | News from the College T The most moving part of the day was being some extreme form of landscape January 14th 1916 at the age of 15 – Living the Faith the visit to Tyne Cot Cemetery. A sea gardening. It was a shame that the the same age as many of the pupils on of Portland stone encompassing the heavens opened, as it brought a swift the trip. This tragic loss emphasised Memorial to the Missing, containing end to the visit when the group sought that the pupils themselves could the names of 34,959 soldiers shelter from the rain. have been caught up in the fighting whose bodies were never found, of the Great War. As a member of the is reached after walking through The final visit of the day was to Territorial Army, he was a part-time the headstones of the 11,956 the Thiepval Memorial. Built to soldier who went to the Western Front serviceman buried. On closer look at commemorate the missing of the after the British Expeditionary Force the graves, pupils were able to take Somme, it was a poignant end to our were practically wiped out during the in the care, precision and respect day trip over the border to France from early stages of the war. with which the Commonwealth War Belgium. It provided an opportunity to Graves Commission maintains these connect with the School’s history, with The very last place of interest visited cemeteries. The most striking part pupils laying crosses for the fallen. was Talbot House, a sanctuary for was the epitaphs written by the Lara Gee located the name of Second soldiers away from the front line. It families of the dead. In no more than Lieutenant Francis J. Chadwick was here that soldiers put on cabaret twenty words, they had to sum up (1913) from Ilkeston, who joined the shows and amusement to de-stress their feelings for their lost loved ones. 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment and died after serving in the trenches. This gave Some expressed their excruciating on October 12th 1916 aged only 19. pupils an idea of the humour at the sense of loss: ‘His tender smile – His Elsewhere, the name of Rifleman time and the efforts that were made to loving face – No one on earth – Can Joseph M McGrath (1908) of the ensure that morale was maintained. Students enter the Race for Life take his place’. Others were propped London Rifle Brigade, who died on the In the attic room of the house was up by their faith: ‘Thy purpose Lord opening day of the Somme offensive, a chapel in which soldiers would we cannot see – But all is well that along with approximately 20,000 worship and receive spiritual support “A new command I give you: love one another. As I have is done by thee’. This helped pupils other Commonwealth soldiers, aged from the larger-than-life figure of loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone to understand how people dealt with only 24. This was a very profound Reverend Tubby Clayton. He provided will know that you are My disciples, if you love one loss. It was whilst in this cemetery experience, similar to one experienced a light-hearted atmosphere amongst another.” (John 13:34-35) that we were able to lay a cross by at Tyne Cot. the resident soldiers by posting The measure of our faith is how we live it. Every year, the Fr Willie Doyle MC (1890), the most The final day involved a trip to Essex humorous messages throughout the students, staff and families of Ratcliffe College undertake highly-decorated Old Ratcliffian of the Farm, a quick pit-stop at the chocolate building, such as ‘I was cut out for many fundraising and community service activities. This First World War. shop and then a visit to Talbot House. genius, but someone did not put me year, we have raised over £25,000 for more than a dozen From there, we travelled to the Essex together properly’. It was a lovely way On the second day of the trip, the Farm Cemetery, once an advanced to end a life-changing experience. causes, many with close personal connections. Each group visited Newfoundland Park. This dressing station. This cemetery Mr Michael Newman year group takes responsibility for a particular charity, is a cemetery and memorial to soldiers conveyed the significance of the war History Teacher presenting assemblies and running activities. from Newfoundland, now part of in the starkest terms to the students, Ratcliffe College Alongside this, there are various groups that serve the Canada. The main memorial features such as the grave of Valentine J School or broader community. The St Vincent de Paul a caribou (not a moose), which is Strudwick, a Rifleman, who died on Group, Mother Teresa Group and Voluntary Service Unit the symbol of Newfoundland. The are all lively examples. Year 12 students spent the first day statue was an evocative image which of Activities Week on community service around our area, aptly commemorated the devastation with some even giving up the first Saturday of their summer incurred by the Newfoundland holidays to help set up a local fête for our 2013-14 Whole Battalion on the opening day of the School Charity, Intercare. Somme. Forced to go ‘over the top’ from the reserve trenches, due to the The generosity and hard work of so many members of our frontline being clogged up with the School family is appreciated far beyond the boundaries of dead and wounded, they experienced Ratcliffe College. a 91% casualty rate. The pupils listened with quiet disbelief as the guide recounted the gritty details of the Somme. The 98th Anniversary coincided with our time on the Battlefields. From Newfoundland Park, we journeyed to the Lochnagar Crater. It is the largest man-made crater, created by the explosion of 24 tons of ammonal laid beneath the German trenches. The pupils were transfixed by the awesome spectacle of the crater. With the help of the guide, they understood how this tactic was to fit into the plan of attack on the first day of the Somme, rather than just Laying a wreath at the War Memorial The Mother Teresa Group at work Year 4 pupils at the Christmas by Candlelight Service Register online at www.ratclifanassociation.co.uknline at www.ratclifanassociation.co.uk 11 10 Register o 11 10