Hampshire and Isle of Wight Army Cadet Force travels to Belgium

The trip, during the Easter Holidays, was supported by a grant from the Connaught Trust. The cadets were led on the tour of Flanders, known as “Exercise War Horse” by their own Dettingen Music Band.

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 supported by a grant from the Connaught Trust. 

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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 youth organisation visited key battle sites as well and war cemeteries for both allied and German soldiers. The tour culminated in a “drum head service” at Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, the largest British and Commonwealth Cemetery in the world.

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Afterwards, the cadets took part in a parade 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. 

Commandant of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Army Cadet Force, Colonel Tim Hope, said: “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 cadet force is a youth organisation sponsored by the Ministry of Defence. Anyone aged 12 to 18 who is interested in becoming a cadet or over 18s who wants to volunteer should go to armycadets.com for more information.