A GROUP of nearly 40 year eight and nine pupils from Holy Family Catholic School are back from a visit to the war graves and memorials of the Western Front.

The school has been sending students to these sites in France and Belgium once a year for the last 14 years.

This year's trip was led by head of history Emma Salisbury.

Staff and pupils spent four days visiting cemeteries and memorials such as Menin Gate, Thiepval, Tyne Cot, and the German Langemark military graveyard.

They also went to Sanctuary Wood Museum Hill 62, which includes a trench network, showing pupils the conditions under which the soldiers had to fight.

Among the group were year nine pupils Josh Cuzziol and Elisabeth King and year eight student McKenzie Boocock. They were able to see the graves of their own ancestors who died on the Western Front.

Josh, who found his relative buried next to a Victoria Cross winner, said: "I hadn't really been expecting the trip to be this emotional."

Elisabeth said: "It was really interesting. When we went to Hill 62 it was raining and the bottoms of the trenches were boggy, which made it more realistic."

McKenzie had the honour of reciting the Ode of Remembrance at the Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate.

Also taking part in the visit was learning mentor John Packer. He said: "The trip was a sad but wonderful experience. The highlight for me was being able to visit my great granddad's memorial stone at Sanctuary Wood and put a poppy there.

"His name was James Moyles, from Ballina, county Mayo, who was part of the Connaught Rangers Regiment."

Another staff member of the school party, teaching assistant Kathryn Hyde, said: "The most significant part of the trip for me was visiting Menin Gate and taking part in the ceremony.

"I was deeply moved to see my great grandfather's name on one of the memorial panels. To see the kids pray for him and thank him for his sacrifice was humbling.

"I'm pleased we visited Langemark, as I believe it was important for our students to see that the German soldiers were just as young and innocent as our own."

She paid tribute to Andy Wade, of the Men of Worth project, who provided names and pictures of Keighley district First World War soldiers to help educate the pupils about the conflict's local impact.