Police called when college's World War One re-enactment gets too realistic
A SOUTH Devon college, which has built its own First World War 'trench', sparked a police alert when one wartime re-enactment session got a little too realistic.
The police were called in after a building worker thought he saw an armed man pointing a rifle at pupils and staff at Kingsbridge Community College.
What he had in fact spotted was a student dressed in a military trench coat several sizes too large and a tin hat, 'armed' with a wooden rifle.
Officers immediately contacted Kingsbridge Community College where officials were able to assure them the youngsters and the wooden rifle were harmless.
Nevertheless officers from Kingsbridge police station went to the college to see for themselves, inspected the six foot deep trench and left without taking any action.
"It caused a lot of wry smiles," said a school spokesman. "The police arrived and satisfied themselves that everything was all right."
The 30 metres of First World War trench has been built by the pupils themselves over two years as part of a history project.
Around 40 youngsters aged from 11 to 14 years were involved in this year's Challenge Week activity programme involving the history of the First World War.
The youngsters had raided the school's drama department for military trench coats and steel helmets – along with the wooden rifle.
The youngsters then re-enacted conditions in the trenches during the Great War: looking at what food the troops ate, how they tried to stay safe in the trench environment and even about First World War military manoeuvres – including notorious 'over the top' assaults.
Rower Pope, principal of the 1,350 pupil college, said: "It has given the students a real insight into some of the challenges facing First World Wart soldiers.
"They all enjoyed themselves and it gave them a great sense of satisfaction."
The police alert happened when a building worker working on the college's new English centre spotted one of the students dressed up and carrying the wooden rifle.
Police confirmed that they had been called to the school following an initial report that someone was pointing a shotgun or a rifle at the school.
He said that officers had spoken to staff and been assured it was part of a re-enactment.
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by Sean Bradford, Kingsbridge, Devon, England
Thursday, September 09 2010, 6:52PM
“Wow, I was one of the students there helping out in our challenge week activity! Never thought this would go in the news paper! There was laughs all round and will definetly be telling my classmates that this was in the paper :)”
by Stuart, Plymouth
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 6:23AM
“I don't know! Kids can't even play 'war' now without some nosey parker sticking their snout in. I might go get my Johnny Seven OMA down from the attic; I could make front page of the national dailies with that, I reckon.”
by Matt, St Judes, Plymouth, UK
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 1:48AM
“And should Hiroshima not have a capital 'h'?
Your like the blind leading blind, the general public is cynical to the point of ignorant nowadays.
Does the story and it's substance not matter? Is it more important to be grammatical superior to the next man?
I think not, we can all play such games, no?”
by Matt, St Judes, Plymouth, UK
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 1:44AM
“Yeah because the average American does not rape the English language at all.
Keep your spell checks for CNN.
Why children need to learn what life is like for a soldier in a trench is beyond me, my father is a Korean war vet, and the last thing he ever wants to do is remember it.”
by C, Plymouth
Monday, September 06 2010, 8:43PM
“The children haven't learnt much, the trench isn't deep enough and it's too wide, a few feet of mud should have been made at the bottom of the trench and a row of barbed wire along the top. Projects like these are a waste of time and money, the students would have learnt more had they watched a film and met some Servicemen at the Royal British Legion”