I took the day out to visit the concentration and extermination camps where 1.2 million people were murdered by the Nazis in just four years. Clinical industrialised murder with every detail designed.

The visit was organised by the Holocaust Education Trust who are funded by the UK government to take two 15-17 year old pupils from each secondary school to Auschwitz. The young peoplpe attend events before and after the visit and have an obligation to make presentations in their schools after the visit.

The rest of my pictures are available on my Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=67926&l=f6a4e&id=557305110.

It was an extraordinary experience to visit the site of possibly humanity's darkest time.  Human values were turned on their head, and it was good to visit with 200 youngsters who responded with great maturity and a demonstration of the best of human values.

It was moving, as much afterwards as while we were there.  It was very cold, wet and miserable.  We had layers of clothing on, full stomachs, footwear and the comfort of knowing we were going home at the end of it.  65 years ago they hadn't been so lucky. 

The one remaining gas chamber had scratchmarks on the walls.  The tracks to the incenerators next door are still there for efficiently carting the bodies.  I experienced this chilling sight with some who had relatives who'd been there.  My father in law is Jewish. If those we honour on Remembrance Sunday had not fought for us and won, my wife and children would never have been born.  That thought will be very much with me on Sunday at 11am.