Students experienced the sights, sounds and smells of war and learned about the reality of life in the trenches at a special session this week. (26/5)  

The living history workshop saw Year 10 and Year 11 history students taking part in gas drills, inspecting weaponry, medical and other equipment and trying on army uniforms.  

Lucy Cleak, Head of History at the Sir John Colfox Academy, said: “It was a fascinating session that gave students an insight into what life was really like in the trenches.  

“Students re-enacted actual drills and experienced what racing and fumbling to put on a gas mask in seconds would have been like. Examining the actual objects from the great war opened a window on the past and made learning fascinating.” 

Jay and Grace in Year 11 said: "It was really interesting, they showed us what would have happened if there was a gas attack and even set off a harmless version of mustard gas, it smelt strange, a bit like onions. They also showed us what illnesses, injuries and treatments soldiers would have undergone in the trenches, it was horrifying but fascinating!"