Over the Easter Holidays, Army Cadets from across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight travelled to Flanders, Belgium to visit the World War One Battlefields of the Western Front.
Members of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Army Cadet Force were led on the tour of Belgium, known as “Exercise War Horse” by their own Dettingen Music Band.
The Army Cadets visited key battle sites as well as visiting several War Cemeteries for both Allied and German war dead. The tour culminated in a “drum head service” at Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, the largest British and Commonwealth Cemetery in the World with much music being played by the band.
Later that same day the Cadets took part in a parade and musical performance at the Menin Gate as a part of the daily “last post” ceremony that is held there every evening at 8pm to remember those lost in the Great War.
Colonel Tim Hope MBE, Commandant of Hampshire and Isle of Wight ACF was full of pride for their contribution in Belgium.
“I am immensely proud of the hard work and dedication of our Cadets and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers who travelled to Belgium over Easter and put on a string of great performances and acts of remembrance in and around Ypres, Belgium. A place of greatly significant military history and sombre acts of remembrance for many people. They were all a credit to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Army Cadet Force”.
The Army Cadet Force is a youth organisation sponsored by the Ministry of Defence. If you are aged 12-18 and interested in becoming a cadet or over 18 and interested in becoming a CFAV visit armycadets.com
