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Student visits France to remember relatives killed in World War I

A Year 10 student has travelled to France for a memorial service to honour his great, great granddad who was one hundred years ago during a World War I battle.

A Year 10 student has travelled to France for a memorial service to honour his great, great granddad who was one hundred years ago during a World War I battle.

Ciaran Lowe made the visit with his family to the Loos Memorial in Northern France to honour his relative Arthur Adams who was killed on September 25th 1915, on the first day of the battle.

During the visit the family joined 1000 others for a memorial ceremony to remember those who lost their lives.

Ciaran said: “As soon as we arrived at Dud Corner (named this because they found loads of Dud bombs from World War One there) we went straight to my Great Great Grandads memorial stone and laid a wreath.

“My Great Great Grandad died on the 25th September 1915 on the first day of Battle of Loos. In his regiments war diary (1st Northamptonshire)   it states he was in the reserve trenches. Once they had word that the first wave of attack had been successful and that his comrades had broken through the German trenches, he was instructed to ‘go over the top’. Sadly his officers had been mis-informed and when they reached the trenches they realised that in fact the barbed wire in front of the German trenches hadn’t been cut. They were stuck in No Mans Land. It is here we believe he died.  He was one of about 60000 who lost their life during the three weeks of this battle.”

Ciaran’s great, great uncles Bert Lowe and Frank Lowe were also killed iin France during World War I.

The family spent three days in the area visiting museums and also searching the field area for any war remnants, such as bullets or shrapnel.

Ciaran’s mum Lisa Lowe said: “We had the most amazing weekend tinged with sadness but also immense pride. As a family we had researched a great deal beforehand but learnt so much more when we were there.”

Ciaran has written a report of the trip which will be used as part of the work toward his Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze award.

The report can be read here.