THE DEATH of a young soldier in the First World War has been commemorated by a group of pupils from his former school.

Former Bancroft's schoolboy Harry Blake was 23 when he was killed in action on the Western Front in December 1915.

A group of nearly 50 Year 11 students from the school in Woodford Green - which Mr Blake attended until 1909 - visited his grave in Belgium to lay a wreath in honour of his sacrifice.

The event was part of the children's weekend trip to the First World War battlefields, which also included visits to the Thiepval Memorial and a section of preserved trench at Beaumont Hamel.

Pupil Harriet Chambers, 16, said: "When we talk about the war and the losses in lessons, it doesn’t give the full impression, but when you visit the cemeteries and see the rows and rows of graves it really hits you hard just how many men sacrificed themselves for us."

History teacher, Stuart Hunn said: "It was a fitting tribute to Harry Blake when the class of 2009 stood in silence around his final resting place, reflecting on the sacrifice that he, and so many other young men, made."

School spokeswoman Karen Rogers said: "The sheer enormity of the loss was brought home to the group during visits to British and German war cemeteries.

"The British cemetery at Tyne Cot, close to Paschendale, is the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery on the Western front, with almost twelve thousand burials.

"Here, it was not difficult to be moved by this dignified commemoration to a lost generation.

"The group also attended the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres: a very solemn moment."