PUPILS from a Wolverley school paid their respects to those who lost their lives during the First World Way with a poignant trip to European battlefield sites.

A group of 16 Year 10 students from Heathfield Knoll School visited Belgium and France to attend ceremonies and lay wreaths to honour fallen soldiers, including former pupils and relatives of the children.

During the trip, pupils visited Wellington Quarry, Lochnagar Crater, Thiepval Memorial as well as a number of other graveyards.

Listed among the dead at Thiepval Memorial were former Heathfield students Frederick and Charles Brampton - two brothers who died within a fortnight of each other during the Battle of the Somme.

The Brampton family lived opposite Heathfield Knoll School and sent four sons to fight in the war.

It was a particularly poignant trip for twins, Raife and Nathaniel, as they visited the grave of their great great grandfather Private Edward Parkes, a soldier from the Staffordshire regiment.

On the first evening the Year 10 pupils attended the ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres.

Two pupils, Amelia Cove and Darcy Scott-Worrall, laid wreaths at the Gate on behalf of Heathfield Knoll School and the Old Wolvernian's Society.

Mr Neil Edwards, Head of History at Heathfield Knoll, said: “The pupils had carried out their own research into former pupils of the school (previously known as Wolverley Grammar school) that died during the conflict.

“It became a trip of reflection and empathy, all the pupils felt moved during their visits to the memorials.”

Those who attended shared their experiences with the whole school during a special Remembrance Day assembly.