Cadets and staff from the Khalsa Academy CCF stand at La Coupole, with a wreath of poppies to lay in Remembrance. They are smartly dresses in their uniforms and standing to attention.

Students and Cadets from the Khalsa Academy Combined Cadet Force (CCF) in Wolverhampton recently embarked on an unforgettable visit to France.

They explored France’s rich culture, made (and sampled) famous French sweets and savouries, practised their language skills, and learnt about marine conversation and military history.

A moving movement of the trip saw their students pay their respects to the fallen at the Étaples Military Cemetery, reflecting on the sacrifices during the First World War.

At La Coupole, they stood at the site of the former German V2 rocket launch base which is now home to dedicated museum dedicated to 20th-century conflict and peace, which  left a lasting impression on their students and staff alike. Here their Cadets took part in a poignant wreath-laying ceremony.

Cadets and staff from the Khalsa Academy CCF stand at La Coupole, with a wreath of poppies to lay in Remembrance. They are smartly dresses in their uniforms and standing to attention.

Cadet Lance Corporal Clair said: “We were truly honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of our school at such a historic site as La Coupole. It was a  powerful moment of Remembrance and reflection.”

School Staff instructor at the Khalsa Academy Combined Cadet Force, Sub-Lieutenant Paul Phillips, added: “I was incredibly proud to stand alongside our Cadets and lay a wreath at such a historic and moving site. The team at La Coupole went above and beyond to make our visit unforgettable – a truly memorable experience we’ll never forget.”

There are Combined Cadet Force contingents located in over 500 secondary schools in the UK, which offer young people a wide range of educational, adventurous and exciting challenges.

Learn more about what the CCF can offer schools and young people.

 

Published 02/10/25