A Level History Students Step Back in Time During Visit to Chatham Dockyards

This week, Y13 A Level History students went on a trip to the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham and later to the Chatham Dockyards.

At the museum, they learned about the contributions of the Engineers to the British armed forces, from the French Wars of the 1790s to the end of the First World War in 1918. The students participated in an activity that explored the story of a 14-year-old boy who served during the First World War. They also learned about pilot James McCudden, who served with distinction in the Royal Flying Corps, achieving 32 aerial victories - far above the average of just three. His story was inspiring and helped the students understand the human side of the war.

After visiting the museum, the students went to Chatham Dockyards. There, they participated in an educational session called Heart of Oak, which explained how the Royal Navy operated during key periods of British history. They saw where the famous HMS Victory was built and watched a visual representation of the Battle of Trafalgar, which was a highlight of the day.

They also explored the Command the Ocean exhibition, which showed how Britain’s naval power contributed to building the British Empire. The students learned about different shipyard jobs - from shipbuilding to engineering - linking the experience to their course studies.

They toured HMS Gannet, a historic warship that later became a training vessel, and visited the Lego Brick Shipwrecks exhibition, which everyone enjoyed. Finally, they went aboard HMS Ocelot, a Cold War submarine, which they found fascinating.

Overall, the students had a fantastic time and gained a real appreciation for the technological and historical developments of the British Military.

Mrs Allen-Monk
Head of History