On the group’s first day in France it was the Gawler High student who stumbled across a spent shell when the group stopped for lunch on the side of a road.

“I had to have a meeting with customs when I got back, because they thought I might be putting it all back together,” he said.

Matt researched the World War I service of Gawler’s Lieutenant Frank Scott, with help from the Returned Services League to earn his seat on the Premier’s tour.

The touring group also included Roseworthy’s Richard Hayman.

And one of the highlights of his trip was a personal tribute to Lieutenant Scott near the Menin Gate memorial in Ypres, Belgium.

Matt admits that he was moved most when he stood on the ridge that Lt Scott’s troops captured in the battle where he died.

Matt was also given the honour of reciting the Ode of Remembrance at a service at the Menin Gate. This service has been held every night since July 1928, except during World War II.

“After the Ode all the Aussies who were there were so proud and it was pretty emotional,” he said. “It made me proud to be an Australian.”

Matt also attended the Anzac Day memorial service held at Villers-Bretonneux in Northern France where he helped lay a wreath.

Matt said he looks up to the World War I diggers.

“I researched these men who didn’t know where they were going and the chances were they wouldn’t come back,” he said.

“It’s hard to know if I would have signed up back then (for World War I) but in today’s society I would go to help out and to be proud.

Jane Lomax-Smith, State Education Minister, said she was proud of the students who were great ambassadors for South Australia.