Children pay tribute to the Fallen at touching First World War commemoration at Wisbech General Cemetery

Children from a Wisbech school paid tribute to some of the town’s fallen heroes during a touching First World War centenary commemoration at Wisbech General Cemetery on Monday.

For the third year running, pupils from St Peter’s Church of England Junior School attended an Armistice Day commemoration at the cemetery to honour those who served and died in the 1914-18 conflict.

Around 50 Year Six pupils took part in the event, which was once again organised by Sue Beel, chairman of the cemetery’s Friends group, and Emma Ball-Rye, one of the school’s teachers.

During the commemoration, pupils toured the cemetery and laid poppy wreaths they’d made themselves at each of the ten First World War soldiers buried at the cemetery – Private Percy Kitchen, Private Charles Willie Hill, Private Sidney Knowles, Private William Cawthron, Private Ernest Richard Worlding, Pioneer Harry Wilkinson, Private George Cook, Corporal John Thomas Canham, Private Sidney James Johnson and George Plitsch.

A wreath was also laid at the grave of Flight Sergeant Jack Smith, who served in the Second World War.

Nine of the graves were previously unmarked, but thanks to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission new headstones were installed in September.

Two years ago St Peter’s pupil Mackenzie Plitsch laid a poppy cross at the grave of George Plitsch, his great, great grandfather, and on Sunday, November 11, he returned to the cemetery with his family to lay some flowers.

Monday’s commemoration followed a week of activities at St Peter’s to teach pupils about Remembrance leading up to November 11, with Year 6 pupils making a First World War banner for their school hall, trenches and poppies.

They also wrote Remembrance poems and attended a service at Walsoken Church on Friday.

Mrs Ball-Rye said: “It has been a very poignant few days; everything the children have been doing in school, the church service and the commemoration have helped the children realise the impact of the First World War and given them a real sense of tragedy and respect.”

Sue Beel added: “It’s been lovely to welcome children from St Peter’s to the cemetery for the past three years; it’s a very moving occasion for everyone. Now that our chapel restoration works are nearing completion, we hope they will come back soon to take advantage of everything it has to offer.”