Military historian Andy Robertshaw and his team have created a replica Great War trench system at the Centre for Experimental Archaeology (CEMA) at Detling in Kent. It comes complete with dugouts, machine-gun positions, latrines and a first-aid post.
Now open for both junior and secondary school visits, the half-day experience will give students a real understanding of daily trench life for the British Tommy. If travelling to France and/or Belgium is just too difficult right now, then look no further!
Escorted by experienced guides, some in uniform, students can undertake a tour which includes a look inside a dugout, a walk through the trench itself, a demonstration of kit and equipment (including genuine artefacts) and an explanation of rations and how soldiers managed to cook. How did they survive trench conditions? It’s a great way for students to experience the damp and the claustrophobia of trench life.
If your students are studying the GCSE Medicine Through Time module, the team will demonstrate the evacuation route taken by wounded soldiers from trench to the Casualty Clearing Station and home to ‘Blighty’, explaining along the way the Royal Army Medical Corps’ pioneering role in the development of what we know today as trauma care. Exploring the medical revolution of the Great War, students will handle some weird and wonderful medical instruments from the period, enhancing the immersive experience. Teachers can also select from some detailed presentations to bring out aspects of uniform, equipment and conditions.
Tickets for a half-day visit are £12 per head for primary schools and £15 per head for secondary schools.
Extended visits are available for large groups or those wanting a more in-depth experience.
Note: the next adult open day will be on Sunday 25th September 2022 from 10 to 4.
For more information / to book a visit, email or telephone andy@cemahistory.org (Mobile: 07768 065054) or mark@cemahistory.org (Mobile: 07799 677712).