On Wednesday afternoon, a group of Fourth Form Army cadets transported themselves back in time to the First World War trenches in Railway Wood, Ypres. The replica trenches at the Kent County Showground provide a snapshot of what it would be like to have been on the front line.

We were guided through the trenches learning about the history of the area and seeing where the soldier would have slept, worked and eaten their meals. A wealth of knowledge was shared with us by Andy who runs the Centre for Experimental Military Archaeology (CEMA), not only about the military history of our local area but about how the military services use such areas for training. The cadets were particularly impressed to discover that Andy has been the historical advisor for films such as 1917!