The Trenches

15th January 1916

My name is Adam Scott. I live in Regent Street, London. I am 17 years old and the youngest in my family. My father and my two older brothers are fighting on the Western Front and my older sister is a nurse in a military hospital in Malta. They are the heroes of the family while I am left here with my mother.

24th January 1916

Today I decided to take a stand. I went to the recruiting office and lied about my age. I told the officer in charge that I wanted to join the war effort. He said that I could start on the 1st of February and that I would have to go to Cardiff. Then I thought of the horrid part - telling mum! I went back home and told her. She wept buckets. She told me not to go but I said it was for my King and for my country.

I sent a letter to my father at the front telling him that I was joining in.

1st February 1916

I took the train to Cardiff. It seemed like a very long journey. When I told the officer that I was a new recruit he put me with a platoon in Hut 6. I got a big welcome. The soldiers in my hut were called Danny, Charlie, Seb, Karl, Beppe and Luke and we soon became the best of friends.

28th February 1916

I heard that they're fighting in Verdun. Everyone wants to go to the Front.

29th February 1916

We are finally going to the Front. We marched to Plymouth, thinking that everything will be over by Christmas. We travelled to Belgium by boat and a lot of people got sick, including me. The sea was quite choppy.

1st March 1916

We arrived at Chattencourt and got sorted in. Luckily, I am with my friends.

2nd March 1916

Today we went to the trenches. I was horrified by what I saw. There were rotting bodies and carcasses and lots and lots of mud. This wasn't what I had imagined. So this is where I'm staying for the next few months. I took my position and started shooting. One time I saw my bullet fly into an enemy soldier's stomach!

9th March 1916

Finally I am back at camp. I was all dirty with mud, tired and deaf because of all the explosions. I rushed to be the first to have a nice hot shower.

4th October 1916

Today I went on a secret mission. I had to protect some engineers from an attack. I was trapped in a cave. My whole body was burning.

7th October 1916

I came to in a strange place. Karl was there. "You're in hospital."

"How did I end up here?"

"You were trapped in a cave with mustard gas. You broke your arm and you couldn't move."

A nurse came to see me. I asked her how long do I need to stay in hospital. "Two months," she replied.

7th December 1916

Today I returned to camp. My friends were overjoyed to see me. I realized that three of them were missing. I asked after Charlie, Danny and Seb. Beppe told me that Danny was killed by shrapnel.

"We realized it was Danny because of the ring on his hand."

Charlie was hit by a piece of metal and Seb got shot. I wept for my friends.

25th December 1916

We can hear gunfire again.

16th January 1917

The battle is over. I made it home with a broken leg, having tripped over barbed wire. My mother hugged me tight. With tears in her eyes, she told me that my father had been killed. I came home alive but I now know the devastation that war brings. Not the glory that we had been promised.

 

Adam - Grade 7

The Cruise

We woke up happy yesterday,
my mum said "Boys let's sail away",
on a big cruise ship we will go,
and plenty of pleasure and food will flow.

Departing from Valletta on a sunny day,
we headed to Spain, stopping at Palma on the way,
we laughed, we sang, we danced and played,
and it seemed like my parents had a date.

Whilst crossing at high speeds the open sea
after the unfortunate migrant tragedy,
one would ask "Why we?
Why are we so lucky?"

The days rolled by and slipped away,
we headed back to Valletta on a Wednesday,
after visiting Spain, France and Italy,
we ended this holiday happily

Beppe - Grade 6

Horrid Henry Falls in Love

Horrid Henry was at school. Ms Natasha, Henry's teacher, was announcing that a new girl was joining the class. Ms Natasha also said that her name was Jelly Jessie.

When Jessie came into the classroom Horrid Henry nearly fainted. Horrid Henry had never seen such a beautiful girl. Henry and Jessie became close friends. After school, when Henry was home, he couldn't stop thinking about her.

The next day Henry actually fainted. He couldn't believe his ears. Jessie had asked him out. They went to a fast food restaurant. After eating a pizza, Henry burped. Jessie laughed. "Henry, you're so funny," she said.

Quickly, Henry said: "Let's have some dessert."

"Ok, my little pumpkin," she replied. Henry had a triple scoop of chocolate ice-cream and Jessie had a triple scoop of strawberry ice-cream. They had a great time together, chatting and laughing all through the evening. But when the waiter brought the bill, Henry looked worried.

"Do you have any money on you, Henry?" asked Jessie.

"No. How about you, Jessie?" he replied.

"I don't have money with me. I have my clips, a brush, some string, chewing gum and my glasses."

"Why on earth do you have all those things in your pocket?" asked Henry.

"I'm going to my grandmother. What do you expect?"

"Jessie, you stay here while I go and get some money from home." Henry ran it all the way home and asked his mum for some money. She gave him €1. "Can you give me a bit more?" he asked.

"You're going to have to pay me back," she said.

"No problem," said Henry and his mother gave him €20. He sprinted back to the restaurant. Jessie was waiting for him. He paid the bill.

When they left Henry and Jessie decided not to date anymore but remain good friends. But the following day, Ms Natasha announced that another girl was joining the class and when Henry saw her...

Georgina - Grade 5

My Teddy Bear

 

Morgan - Grade 4