Groups from each of the island’s secondary schools will be working all week to dig a scaled-down version of the trench occupied by Guernseymen in the First World War.
The site has been mapped out at Home Farm field, near Saumarez Park, by Ladies’ College teachers Peter Fotheringham and Tom McGovern, but all of the schools will have a chance to take part over the coming week.
Maps made by a Canadian geographer at the time were cross-referenced against the known location of the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry at the battle on 20 November 1917.
Geography teacher Mr McGovern and his colleague Mr Fotheringham, an economics teacher, have been making plans for the dig for around eight months to make the activity historically accurate.
‘Part of what the RGLI engaged in as reserves would have been digging roads and trenches, although not this specific trench, but in fact their first casualty occurred during road repair, it was still very hazardous,’ Mr McGovern said.
Full story in today's Guernsey Press
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