Scouts from Chippenham have returned from a trip to Europe after following in the Wiltshire Regiment’s footsteps from the First World War.

As part of the centenary commemorations, the tenth Chippenham Air Scout Group joined young people from Belgium, Germany and France to hike the 40 miles between Mons and Le Cateau.

It received a £10,000 donation towards the trip from the Heritage Lottery Then and Now programme and set out on their week-long trip at the end of August.

The Scouts were asked to research members of the Wiltshire regiment who were sent to the area in the First World War.

Three of the Scouts managed to trace relatives, with 11-year-old Luke Jackson finding the grave of his great great great uncle Ernest Brown in Ecoivres Military Cemetery near Arras, France.

Luke said: “I was told about Ernest by my granddad Rodney. It was nice to find the grave and put a cross on it.”

Jake and Sam Davies found their great great uncle George Iliff’s name on the Arras Flying Services Memorial. He died in September 1918 aged 19.

Sam, 17, said: “Finding out about him made the trip and learning about the war so much more personal.”

As well as the four-day hike, there were formal commemorations in Mons and le Cateau.

A tree planting in the city of Mons was attended by the Belgian Prime Minister with the British ambassador and tenth Chippenham Air Scout Fabian. Members of the group also laid flowers in Le Cateau on behalf of the town.

Scout group leader Chris Jones, who organised the trip, said: “The young people involved have had an international experience and took part in some pretty big commemorations.”

The group plans to invite Scouts from Belgium and France to Chippenham later in the year for commemoration events in November.

The Air Scouts are also looking for new leaders. For details, email info@chippen hamairscouts.org.uk