Young people gained poignant new perspectives on the First World War during a commemorative visit to battlefield sites in France and Belgium.

Bryan Kingscote, president of the Royal British Legion’s local branch, arranged for the party of 50 from Royal Wootton Bassett Academy to each have a poppy cross on which to write an individual message of remembrance.

Group leader, historian Phil Arthur, said: “Some of the messages were most thoughtful.”

Students from Year 9, led by sixth formers and staff, linked the visit with remembrance of the fallen from their community.

Mr Arthur said, “They decided to remember Charles William Gingell of Hilmarton, a relative of James Evans, one of our students, whose family provided letters and images to help us to personalise the soldier’s experience of war. We visited his grave, in the very peaceful, atmospheric Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, right in the centre of the city.

“James, 14, said, “It made a big impression on me to be able to visit my great-great-great-uncle’s grave, and to plant a poppy cross there.”

Mr Arthur said: “We were the only people there when our sixth form leaders laid a Royal British Legion poppy wreath at the memorial.”