Children took part in a unique high speed history lesson on a commemorative Southeastern Poppy Train.

More than 30 pupils from Dover College Junior School learned more about the sacrifices during the First World War while travelling from Dover Priory to Ashford International.

Yesterday's trip was in partnership with the Royal British Legion for its Thank You campaign to mark the end of the war, 100 years ago this Sunday.

The Year 5 and 6 youngsters drew pictures to honour those who fought and their families on the home front.

They also heard about the key role that the railway played in helping carry troops and supplies to the front line.

Many chose to dedicate their drawings to ex-Dover College pupil Capt Wilfred “Billie” Nevill, who led the famous Football Charge of the East Surrey Regiment in July 1916 at the Battle of the Somme.

He had got his men to kick footballs to keep their nerves as they charged along No Man's Land to enemy lines.

Just before the journey the children joined Southeastern’s managing director David Statham at the Dover Western Docks Remembrance service.

Head girl Ciara Flisher corr and head boy Sebastian Gebhardt corr laid a wreath at the War Memorial there to help commemorate the 556 men of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway who fought and died during the war.

Brett Fairclough, from the Junior School, said: “In this centenary year, our pupils have been learning about the people involved in the First World War during their history lessons.

"Southeastern helped us bring this to life for them and conveyed the importance of saying Thank You to a generation that has shaped the world in which they’re growing up.”

David Statham, managing director at Southeastern said: “We were delighted to welcome the pupils. Their pictures reflected a real sense of gratitude and appreciation the sacrifices made by so many. I hope their experience will inspire them to keep on remembering in the decades to come.”

The schoolchildren travelled between two important towns in supporting the First World War effort.

Dover was one of the principle embarkation ports for troops fighting along the Western Front.

Ashford was a strategic hub for the South Eastern and Chatham Railway transporting supplies between London and the south coast.

The railway played a vital part in the war effort, transporting troops on their way to France and helping convey thousands of the wounded back home to hospitals.

With men called up to serve in the armed forces, it was left to women to take on important railway jobs – becoming ticket collectors, engine cleaners, porters and train painters.

Every year since 2014, the centenary of the start of the war, Southeastern has run the annual Poppy Train for The RBL carrying special livery adornments to commemorate a year in the conflict.

Last year, the tour raised more than£20,000 and Southeastern hopes to beat this weekend with the new 2018 Poppy Train. It is also offering all armed forces personnel free travel on all its services on Remembrance Sunday.

The Thank You campaign honours the 1.1 million British and Commonwealth Armed Forces killed in the First World War plus those who returned and but also those who played their part on the home front.