Students visited the First World War Belgium Battlefields.

A total of 40 students went on the trip from Pleckgate High School, Blackburn and Adam Ismail, Amber Tariq and Assad Awan, were selected to lay a wreath at the Menin Gate.

For Assad the trip was intensely personnel because his family has a military background.

“Of all the trips that I have been on, this was the best one,” said Assad.

“When we got to lay the wreath it was one of the most special moments of my life.

“My great-great-great grandfather was a pilot in the First World War and because I went on this trip I actually went to areas where my family had fought. It was unforgettable.”

Before the trip, the school was visited by Jahan Mahmood a guest speaker who specialises in Asia’s involvement in the First World War. He was able to tell Assad about his relatives who had served.

History teacher Steven Herbert has led the trip four times, but this year there were more people gathered at the Menin Gate ceremony than he had ever witnessed.

Adam said: “The marching band came through the gate twice and then everything went silent as the Last Post was played at exactly 8pm.

“There were lots of veterans and they all had their medals on display. Because we were representing school and laying the wreath we were in front of everyone and we walked through with flags on either side of us.

“Veterans, including comrades from Belgium and veterans from the Second World War who had limbs amputated, were all there.

“I think it is something you have to experience in order to be able to feel the enormity of what went on.”

The students also walked in a First World War trench, visited cemeteries both German and Allied, stood where Hitler had stood and went to Hill 62 Sanctuary Wood Museum.

Adam added: “It made you feel happy that our country is still free for us, thanks to those soldiers who fought. We can go to school and we can speak our own language. We have a lot to be grateful for.”