A WEEK commemorating the bravery of WWI servicemen in the run up to the Armistice centenary at the weekend, has been an inspiring life lesson for pupils of St Bartholomew’s Primary School, in Haslemere.

The whole school took part in the history project and St Bart’s also has a Royal British Legion Silent Soldier to mark this year’s Remembrance Day landmark.

During the week, pupils learned about the privations of trench warfare, including living with rats and lice and suffering afflictions such as trench foot.

Imagining what life must have been like for soldiers, they wrote letters home and took part in drama classes.

They also listened to morale-boosting songs from the time, notably Pack Up Your Troubles and It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary.

Some of the children cooked the kind of fruit cakes that would have been sent by families to their loved ones fighting at the Front.

The youngest children in the reception classes even built trenches outside, complete with duck boards.

Every pupil created a piece of art work linked to the theme, ranging from paintings of poppies to sketches of soldiers in uniform.

A highlight for pupils in years three to six was a moving performance by Mance Productions, entitled, ‘Lest We Forget,’ on Thursday.

The week culminated in a dressing up day, when years five and six also re-enacted the football match that was allegedly in played on No Man’s Land during the Christmas Day truce in 1914.

History leader Helen Gillert, said: “The children have been thoroughly immersed in their learning and the calibre of work that they have produced reflects their interest in the war.

“This week has also been a time of remembrance.

“We have been thinking about all those who sacrificed their lives for their country, the focus for the Remembrance service at church on Wednesday.”