Learn about Lincolnshire's war memorials Background notes for teachers 1 Lincolnshire Remembrance Teachers’ notes About this project page 2 About this resource page 3 Sources of further information page 3 A word of caution page 4 Background information War memorials in Lincolnshire page 6 The human stories behind war memorials page 15 Boy Soldiers and Sailors page 15 Stories behind the names page 21 Keeping history alive page 27 Ways of finding out more from Lincolnshire’s Archives page 28 Resources page 31 ©Produced on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council. These resources can be reproduced for educational purposes only. 2 About this project Lincolnshire Remembrance: Memories and Memorials project aims to record and preserve information about the county’s estimated 3,000 war memorials, ensuring that the lives they commemorate are not forgotten. The project relies on volunteers to research and share information about the memorials and the people recorded on them. The information gathered contributes to a searchable online database and interactive map of memorials’ locations, the names on the memorials and the stories behind the names. The project is supported by How to… guides and training sessions for volunteers that cover: Learning how to uncover lost stories Discovering how to research local and family history Finding out how to care for memorials Understanding the social, cultural and historical significance of memorials Sharing discoveries with others. http://www.lincstothepast.com/home/lincolnshire-remembrance/ The Lincolnshire Remembrance website contains a wealth of information and the resources section of the site contains some helpful tools for researchers. The aim of this education resource is to encourage schools and young people to get involved too. The online resource is currently being populated with photographs, newspaper articles, first-hand accounts and stories all of which are excellent sources of information. This resource is designed to support teachers and young people wishing to find out more about the impact of war on their local community through a study that begins with war memorials. 3 About this resource This resource aims to engage schools with their local war memorials by providing support, information and activities in three areas: War memorials in Lincolnshire o What are war memorials? o How do communities in Lincolnshire remember sacrifice? The human stories behind war memorials o On individuals and communities o Exploring the impact of global events on local communities. Keeping history alive o Call to action to encourage young people to research local war memorials and contribute to the Lincolnshire Remembrance Project. For teachers these notes provide detailed background information and signposts to further information. There are three separate, age-specific resources that provide hands-on and engaging sessions for young people in Key Stages 1 to 3. These resources are structured to include: About the project A word of caution Learning outcomes Themes Sessions Resources. Local history is the main focus of the resources but teachers can use them to deliver cross-curricula projects and to develop or enhance literacy, numeracy and research skills. Curriculum links are provided showing how each session relates to the new National Curriculum for England. The resource offers a framework with information, ideas and activities to enhance and enrich the curriculum rather than lesson plans that follow it slavishly. The resources are designed to be flexible and it is hoped that teachers will use and adapt the material in the best way for their cohort of young people. Sources of further information The Centenary of the First World War means that many organisations have produced resources and sessions that can contribute to the theme of war and remembrance. Teachers may already be aware that there are several excellent resources that focus on war memorials from organisations such as War Memorials Trust website http://www.learnaboutwarmemorials.org/ and the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. This resource provides some generic background information but, wherever possible, the information and activities provided are specific to war memorials in Lincolnshire and the Lincolnshire Remembrance project. A list of useful resources is also provided in the Resources section but should not be viewed as an exhaustive list. This resource may also complement other education resources created for regional projects such as Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire, Down your 4 Wold, Heritage Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes, and other resources that can be found in the ‘Learning Resources’ section of the Lincs to the Past website http://www.lincstothepast.com/learning-and-resources/learn-about-lincolnshire-at- war/ A word of caution War memorials are inextricably linked to death, loss and grief. Teachers are advised to give this full consideration particularly if children in their class have experienced a bereavement or loss. The activities are designed to engage children in a positive way but only teachers can know if they are suitable for all of the children in their care. Teachers are strongly advised to read through all of the documents and supporting material to ensure they understand the implications of each activity. If teachers decide to visit a war memorial, encourage the children and young people to reflect on the people who are commemorated and what the memorial means to the families and the wider community. War memorials were largely created as the only focal point for grief for people who lost family members and friends in the First or Second World Wars so they have emotional as well as historic significance to local people. It is important that any groups visiting behave respectfully. Children and young people should know that it is fine to touch a war memorial but respectful behaviour means: No climbing, sitting or standing on the memorial. No treading on planting, knocking things over, or leaving litter. It also means no inappropriate comments. Running and shouting near a war memorial can also be viewed as disrespectful behaviour. Before the visit please explain to children and young people that many of the war memorials are up to 100 years old and can be fragile. There are lots of ‘no’s’ in the above list, teachers may choose to discuss appropriate behaviour with the children and young people prior to a visit and ask the children to come up with their own set of rules which can be added to if necessary. 5 Background information for teachers: War memorials in Lincolnshire This section explores: o What are war memorials? o How do communities in Lincolnshire remember sacrifice? Any physical object created, erected or installed to commemorate those involved in, or affected by, a conflict or war should be considered a war memorial. Memorials to civilians and animals should be included. War Memorials Trust In Lincolnshire, as elsewhere in the country, war memorials are associated with loss, sacrifice and grief. They exist because communities want to recognise their loss but they also want to make sure that the people who died in wars are not forgotten. There are 100,000 war memorials in the UK, with approximately two thirds of these thought to be associated with the First World War. The history of war memorials stretches back to Roman times. The Romans used war memorials to celebrate victories rather than to commemorate the people who served or died. The Romans commonly chose powerful symbols for their war memorials, such as triumphal arches, warriors on horseback and columns. War memorials in the UK often reference classical heritage through the symbolism of obelisks, arches, columns or laurel victory wreaths. There have been war memorials in the UK since the 7th century. Lincolnshire has war memorials for people who died in the Crimean and Boer Wars; these are largely plaques in churches. The majority of Lincolnshire’s war memorials commemorate people who died in the First and Second World Wars. Many communities suffered huge losses in the First World War. In 1915, it became government policy not to repatriate the bodies of those killed in conflicts. The reasons behind this decision related to hygiene and the logistics of bringing back bodies. After the Armistice, there was also the principle of equality of sacrifice meaning that the wealthy should not be able to repatriate the bodies of family members if the poor could not. As the bodies of those who died were rarely repatriated, grieving families were not able to attend a funeral or visit a grave. War memorials became a focal point for their grief and for remembrance. The policy of not repatriating bodies came to an end in 1982 when many families requested the return of those lost in the Falklands Conflict. Now the bodies of those killed in conflicts are repatriated. In recent times, bodies of servicemen and women killed in Afghanistan have been received at Royal Wootton Bassett and Carterton in Oxfordshire. How do communities in Lincolnshire remember sacrifice? War memorials are created by and for communities. There are no rules to follow. As a result war memorials can be very different. Some war memorials commemorate 6 the people who served in a war or conflict; others commemorate those who died. They take many forms, are created from different materials and carry different inscriptions. Lincolnshire has many different kinds of war memorials, suggesting that people in Lincolnshire dealt with grief and remembrance in different ways. Some communities chose cenotaphs or crosses whereas others opted for parks, hospitals or halls, providing a community asset that would benefit future generations as well as commemorate the dead. Occasionally a loss is not commemorated as families may have refused to accept that their son, although listed as missing in action, was in fact dead. Some families simply did not want a physical reminder of their loss. Communities decided on the type of war memorial that was appropriate for them.