AN emotional trip to the Belgian battlefields and graveyards of the First World War allowed a group from Moreton to pay homage to those who gave their lives fighting for the freedom of Europe.o

Led by Graeme Cooper, the trip to Ypres Salient also raised funds for the ongoing refurbishment of the village's St Mary's Church.

The day trip began at 5.30am on Saturday, June 29, as the 47-strong group made the journey through the Channel Tunnel, through France and on to Belgium.

The first stop was Poperinge where the group saw the cells where deserters were held before being shot at dawn.

Visitor Gill Finch described the scene as "very tragic, especially when bearing in mind that many thought to be cowards were suffering the effects of shell shock, which was little understood at that time".

From there the group went on to Essex Farm where the grave of a 15-year-old boy was found. Mrs Finch explained that he had lied about his age in order to become a soldier.

Then it was off to Langemark, a German cemetery marking the site of a battle which involved the amazing bravery of one British soldier, Freddy Dancox, who was awarded the Victoria Cross.

The group moved on to the memorial at St Julien, the scene of German gas attacks in 1915 and what Mrs Finch described as the "profoundly moving" statue of the Brooding Soldier.

The day provided many peaceful scenes for the visitors, but these were sites of unimaginable terror years ago.

Mrs Finch added: "At Passchendaele we were shown photographs depicting the vast acres of mud faced by our soldiers, and where many tens of thousands of them disappeared into the mud without trace a horror almost impossible to comprehend on a warm summer's day."

The group also visited the largest Commonwealth War Cemetery at Tyne Cot where there are more than 11,000 graves and a memorial bearing the names of 34,000 men whose bodies were never found.

The group paid homage to Moreton man V. Cheek and laid a posy before his name on the memorial before moving on.

On visiting the famous Hill 62 an eerie feeling fell over the group.

The site has the only remaining trenches still in their original state and Mrs Finch said some of the more intrepid travellers expressed looks of relief after they emerged from a walk through the woods.

"The culmination of the day was the extremely moving Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate, at which a poppy wreath was laid on behalf of the people of Moreton," Mrs Finch explained.

Paying tribute to Mr Cooper, who acted as tour guide for the day, she said: "He brought history to life in an interesting, thought-provoking and sensitive way and held 46 people totally spellbound.

"He told the events of the war in a historically factual way, whilst sharing the pathos and emotion which cannot be avoided when looking back at the events of those terrible years."

Mr Cooper negotiated a donation from a Belgian chocolate shop, a special rate at a Ypres restaurant and auctioned six volumes of the history of the First World War to help boost funds.

St Mary's Church has been closed for 18 months for major works including re-roofing and work to the tower.

If you would like to help with the church's fundraising appeal ring 07710 805063.

July 18, 2002 08:30