Searching the CWGC Database

Lesson 7/8

Searching the CWGC database

Aim That the pupils should learn how to locate the correct CWGC entry for a soldier named on the local war memorial. At the end of this lesson pupils should have a hard copy of the CWGC register for ‘their’ soldier. Learning objectives In meeting this aim the pupils should:  Successfully access an Internet site & the information on it.  Learn the importance of being systematic in the search for information; refining their search methods as appropriate.  Evaluate the information that they are given; in order to make the correct choice. Prior knowledge You should assume that the pupils have no knowledge of how to access the Internet. The pupils will be familiar with the skills of historical enquiry from KS2 & KS3. Lesson Content 1. The pupils should access the Internet via your school’s own network. 2. The pupils should learn how to access an Internet site. 3. The pupils should search the register and locate the soldier whose name they copied from the local war memorial. Resources  Instruction sheet on how to search the Internet (one per pupil).  Fact sheet-‘How to interpret the CWGC register sheet for Leonard Williamson’.  Fact sheet-‘The rank structure of the British Army’.  Fact sheet-‘The structure of a British Army Division’. Teachers notes In our experience, lower ability pupils are quite capable of successfully completing this exercise. However, once the pupils begin to search the register you may need to guide them to the correct selection. A local address will definitely confirm that the pupil has found ‘their soldier’. However, not all of the sheets will feature the names and addresses of next of kin. Be prepared to answer the many questions that the pupils will ask about ‘their soldier’. Make sure that you have read the information sheets listed above. For Lessons 9/10 sheets all of the men on the memorial are needed. For Lessons 11/12 ensure that each pupil has a CWGC register sheet for a man from the King’s Own. Common problems 1. No record?  Have they typed the name in correctly?  Have they separated initials with a space or period? 2. Still no record?  Try entering the name without initials. This will give a larger number of options. However, unless the surname is unusual, the list of names that results will be very long.  Possibly the name on the memorial has been spelt incorrectly (common).  Perhaps the man was never actually killed (rare but it did happen). 3. Too many names?

©2000 'Remember!' was written and developed by Steve Irwin for the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum, Market Square, Lancaster. Email:[email protected]  A second pupil, on a separate computer, can search on the same name. One pupil searches from the bottom of the list and the other from the top.  Remember that the King’s Own recruited locally. Therefore, check men from that regiment first.