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. A community might be town or village but equally it could be a school, a workplace or a place of worship. The location of war memorials is significant. There are stories, nationally, where memorials were designed to stand in a very public location, outside a town hall for example, but grieving families found this too difficult. They didn’t want to pass the memorial every day and preferred a location that they could choose to visit. As a result there are many war memorials in parks, churches or churchyards. There is little evidence of the decision making process regarding type of war memorial and location in Lincolnshire villages but Lincolnshire Archives, a partner in this project, holds a small book which reveals that it was the relatives who voted on the location of the war memorial in Barrow on Humber. The result was: In favour of: The Churchyard 16 Mr Bentley’s triangle 11 Cemetery 2 Market Place 1 The book (reference BARROW PAR 23/8) records that the relatives also chose the design which was a Runic Cross in Aberdeen Granite at a cost of £360. Names on war memorials There are no rules on which names appear on war memorials. Some memorials name only the people who lived in the immediate community; others include the family members who may have moved out of a village for work. Local communities often paid for the memorials, through public subscription, so they largely decided on which names would appear. Researchers have found names on war memorials where there is no obvious link between the person named and community. The assumption is that someone in the village must have known the person who died. Similarly, there are cases of the same person being named on several monuments because they fit the criteria for each one. For example, the same person could be listed on a local community memorial, a memorial in their workplace and in the

7 school they attended. In Lincolnshire there are memorials for bell ringers, swimming clubs and choirs. There are very strong views on whether or not names should be added to war memorials at a later date. Many names have been added to war memorials over time and particularly in 2014, the centenary of the start of the First World War. Some people believe war memorials should remain as they were at the moment in time when they were created; others believe that if it was the wish of the family not to add a name, their wishes should be respected. However some people see the omissions almost as errors to be corrected and think that the names of all of the people who died should be added to local war memorials. Styles of memorial Lincolnshire’s memorials are different in many ways in:  Choice of memorial (formal such as cenotaph or sculpture, or living such as a park or wood)  Location (in the centre of a village, a religious setting or in a park)  Design (military, symbolic, religious  Inscriptions (prayers, poems, quotations, names)  Materials used (marble, brass, wood, stone)  Which names are presented on the memorial (how chosen)  How the names are presented on the memorial. One of the most famous memorials in Lincolnshire is the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/. Pilots fly meticulously maintained aircraft, that were operational during the Second World War, at strategic and often celebratory events as a reminder all of the people who fought and died. The effect is both dramatic and poignant. The towns and villages of Lincolnshire have many different kinds of memorials. PowerPoint Presentation: War Memorials in Lincolnshire (Key Stage 1 resource pack). These include:  Arches  Boards, plaques, tablets and panels  Broken column (symbolising a life cut short)  Cenotaphs  Chapels, churches and devotion items  Crosses  Gateways  Living memorials  Obelisks  Sculpture.

Arches and gateways are often in the style of triumphal arches and reference Roman designs.

8 Boards, plaques, tablets and panels are often found in churches, community halls and military chapels as well as in public spaces. These vary in their design (plain oblong panels to shields or triptychs) and the materials used. Typically they are made from bronze, brass, marble or wood. They have either incised or relief types of lettering in sombre colours. They often have inscriptions. The Church of St Peter and St Paul in Bourne holds a number of memorials. The broken column symbolises a life cut short. Often the precise meaning of the symbolism is not understood. Many people see the broken column and simply think it is in need of repair. The word, cenotaph, means empty tomb. The symbolism of an empty tomb is that it commemorates people who are elsewhere. The Cenotaph in Whitehall, London was designed by Edwin Lutyens as a temporary memorial that was put in place for the victory parade of 1919. So many people visited it that a permanent memorial was created. There are similar cenotaph memorials in Lincolnshire, for example the cenotaph in Bourne Memorial Gardens, which lists the names of those who died in both the First and Second World Wars. Chapels and churches may contain different types of war memorial such as crosses, plaques on lychgates, and devotional items (candlesticks, altars, lecterns and bells). Many such examples can be found in Lincolnshire. St Marys Parish Church at Welton by Lincoln has two memorials: the first is a stained glass window commemorating the RAF pilots lost in training in the parish; the second is a statue of a life-size figure of a private in the Lincolnshire Regiment, with arms reversed. Arms reversed, where a soldier is holding rifle by the butt, with the barrel pointed downwards to the ground, is a mark of respect and mourning. Crosses are often used as powerful symbols of remembrance. They can take a number of different forms including wheeled, hooded, Celtic and Calvary. Wheeled crosses are thought to symbolise eternity, Celtic crosses often date back to early British saints and may have been restored to become war memorials (Broughton). The Calvary cross makes a powerful link to the sacrifice of Christ. Christian symbolism is not as widely used in new memorials, which is probably a reflection of the decrease in numbers of practising Christians. This may also have happened in recognition of the fact that commemoration applies to people of all faiths or none. Living memorials are largely spaces that can be enjoyed by the public. One such memorial is the playing field at Gedney Drove End. Councillor A.P. Walker gave the playing field to the village in memory of his son, John Thomas Walker, who died during the Second World War on 4th September 1943. Bourne Hospital has a Peace Memorial Ward. The inscription, in carved and gilded letters states: ERECTED 1920. IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WH0 GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR, 1914 – 1918.

9 Obelisks are often used as monuments. They are four sided structures that come to a point referencing Egyptian culture. They usually have inscriptions on all four sides. Sculpture features heavily on war memorials: some depict service men and women; others use more traditional symbols of mourning such as angels or torches. The Lincolnshire Remembrance database provides links to archive documents on memorials from Lincolnshire villages. The documents contain images of the memorials, some information about the people named on the memorial, information on the symbolism chosen and perhaps an order of service or newspaper report on the dedication service or ceremony. The Lincolnshire Remembrance database contains further information on memorials of all types. Remembering people from other countries and counties People from Lincolnshire played an active role in both the First and Second World Wars. Many young men signed up to the Lincolnshire Regiment although casualties are recorded from many more regiments. Thousands of military personnel were based in the county, serving in army training facilities (such as Belton Camp, near Grantham), the aerodromes of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service (these two services were amalgamated to form the RAF in April 1918) and with the Royal Navy at Immingham Docks. Lincolnshire’s war memorials commemorate both people who lived in communities in Lincolnshire and those who volunteered from other countries both in Europe, notably Poland, and the Commonwealth. In the Second World War, Lincolnshire welcomed volunteers from Canada, the United States of America, Australia, Poland and many other countries. The role of women in the First World War At the time of the First World War men in positions of power were reluctant to allow women to take an active role either in the war effort or in support services. This attitude changed as the War progressed and a shortage of men meant women had to carry out roles that had not previously been open to them. Women helped in a number of ways through newly established organisations such as:  First Aid Nursing Yeomanry  Voluntary Aid Detachments  Women’s Auxiliary Army  Women’s Land Army  Women’s Police Force  Women’s Royal Air force  Women’s Royal Navy. Interestingly, many of these organisations were established some time before the start of the First World War. First Aid Nursing Yeomanry Captain Edward Baker founded the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry in 1907. The Yeomanry was active in both the First and Second World Wars. Women were

10 recruited not only for their nursing skills but also for their ability to get casualties off a battlefield. So alongside nursing, they were trained in cavalry work, signalling and camping. Grace Ashley Smith and Lillian Franklin ran the Yeomanry, and in August 1914 they demonstrated how useful the Yeomanry could be but senior staff in the British Army largely ignored them. This didn’t stop recruits from going to Belgium at the outbreak of war. The Yeomanry helped Belgian casualties and provided support in hospitals. Between 1914 and 1916 they had treated over 4,000 patients. The women treated injured soldiers but they also drove ambulances, set up soup kitchens and canteens. Their work was dangerous and took them to the frontline of battles. Many women received medals for bravery including 27 Croix de Guerre, one Legion d’Honneur and three were awarded the Order of Leopold II. Members of the Yeomanry had to be over 23 years of age. They had to pass an interview at the headquarters in London and provide their own uniform. They also had to pass a driving test. They had two weeks leave at the end of six months’ duty. Voluntary Aid Detachments Voluntary Aid Detachments (VADs) were formed in 1909 to provide medical help in times of war. Katherine Furse became the Commander in Chief of the organisation before going on to become director of the Women’s Royal Navy in 1917. By 1914 there were 74,000 volunteers, two-thirds of which were women and girls. In the next four years, 38,000 VADs worked as assistant nurses, ambulance drivers and cooks. VAD hospitals began to appear in most large British towns. As with many of these organisations, military leaders were reluctant to accept their help on the front line. By 1915, their attitudes had changed and women volunteers over the age of 23 were sent to the Western Front if they had more than three months’ experience. Some volunteered as letter writers offering to write letters for soldiers who were either too ill or illiterate to write letters home themselves. Women’s Auxiliary Army Corp (WAAC) In 1916 the British Army suffered heavy losses on the Western Front and Brigadier General Auckland Geddes, Director of Recruitment for the War Office needed to recruit more soldiers. He decided to target men carrying out what he considered to be ‘soft jobs’. But these men had to be replaced and so the decision was taken to create the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps. Women volunteers were recruited to serve as clerks, telephonists, waitresses, cooks and instructors in the use of gas masks. The women were not given full military status, nor were they given military ranks. Over 57,000 women served in the WAAC. Some of the women were sent to France and, although not on combat duties, they endured shelling from heavy artillery and bombing raids. During one attack, nine WAACs were killed at the Etaples Army Camp. Newspapers described the attack on the women as an atrocity but Helen Gwynne-Vaughan, Chief Controller of the WAACs pointed out that as the women were in the camp as replacement soldiers the enemy was entitled to try and kill them. Helen Gwynne-Vaughan was so respected as a leader that she went on to

11 become one of the first commanders of the newly formed Women’s Royal Air Force in September 1918. She was given the powers of a Brigadier. Women’s Land Army With so many men being sent to fight, the Government quickly realised that there was a desperate labour shortage. The only way to address this shortage was to allow women to take on the work that men would have done. There was so much resistance from farmers that the Board of Trade sent agricultural organising officers around the country to persuade farmers to accept women workers. This worked. By 1917 260,000 women were working as farm labourers. Although some farmers had been very dismissive of women working on farms, there was some acknowledgement that women had worked on family farms for years carrying out work like milking, butter making, poultry keeping and haymaking. Throughout the war it became clear that women were capable of ‘men’s work’ although men were reluctant to admit this, even after the War. Women’s Police Force In 1914, with large numbers of police officers signing up to the armed forces, the Headmistresses Association suggested creating a Women’s Police Force to control the behaviour of young women. Over 2,000 Women’s Patrols were formed and they patrolled public parks and cinemas with the aim of preventing ‘acts of immorality’. Before the First World War there had been opposition to a Women’s Police Service but opposition largely subsided when it became clear that Margaret Damer Dawson’s Women’s Police Volunteer Service was made up of unpaid volunteers. In 1915, she renamed the service Women’s Police Service (WPS). The first WPS worked in London but Grantham in Lincolnshire became the first provincial town to have a Women’s Police Service. Two of the women in Grantham became full police officers in 1915. The Bishop of Grantham praised their work and called for a national Women’s Police Service. At the Armistice there were 357 members of the service and Margaret Damer Dawson and Mary Allen asked the Chief Commissioner, Sir Nevil Macready, to make the women a permanent part of the police force. He refused saying that the women were too educated and would irritate his regular police officers. He did however recruit and train his own women police officers. Women’s Royal Air Force In April 1918 the Royal Air Force (RAF) was formed by amalgamating the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). The Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) was established alongside the RAF. Gertrude Crawford was appointed as its first commandant. In the first nine months 9,000 women were recruited to work as clerks, fitters, drivers, cooks and storekeepers. Helen Gwynne-Vaughan was a great success as the new commander of the organisation. Sir Sefton Brancker argued that "the WRAF was the best disciplined and best turned-out women's organization in the country." Gwynne-Vaughan's work was recognised in June, 1919, when she was awarded the

12 Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). However, after the War, the WRAF was disbanded and Helen Gwynne-Vaughan left office in December, 1919. Women’s Royal Navy The Royal Navy was the first of the armed forces to recruit women. The Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) was formed in 1917 and women took over the roles of cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, code experts and electricians. Katharine Furse, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Voluntary Aid Detachment, was appointed director in 1917. The success of the WRNS led to the formation of other women’s organizations such as the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) and the Women's Royal Air Force. When the Armistice was signed in November, 1918, the WRNS had 5,000 ratings and nearly 450 officers. Munitionettes At the beginning of the First World War, the munitions industry struggled to keep up with the demand for weapons and ammunition. The government passed the Munitions of War Act giving the government direct control over the industry. It outlawed Trade Union activity and forced the industry to accept unskilled workers, opening the door to women. Women were also called upon to work in factories making aircraft and munitions. These women became known as Munitionettes. In 1914, 212,000 women worked in the munitions industry, but by the end of the war there were 950,000. About 80 per cent of all weapons and shells were produced by women. Working in munitions was extremely dangerous. Accidents in munitions factories led to over 200 deaths during the First World War. Working conditions were poor and many women suffered health problems such as TNT poisoning because of the dangerous chemicals they were using. Although women were paid to work in the munitions factories they earned much less than men doing the same work. Mary Macarthur a trade union leader, took up their cause and managed to get a pay increase. Even so, by 1918, the average male wage in the munitions industry was £4 6s. 6d.;for women it was only £2 2s. 4d. There are several stories of courageous women and the vital part they played in the War. Women were killed during the conflict; on the battlefield, in hospitals or on the home front, in factories. They too are remembered on Lincolnshire’s war memorials. Thankful villages A thankful village is a village that did not suffer any military fatalities during the First World War. There are 52 thankful villages in England and Wales but none in Scotland and Ireland. Poverty was a great driver for young men to enlist. Poorer communities tended to suffer the greatest losses.

13 In Lincolnshire there appears to be only five thankful villages. These are Flixborough, High Toynton, Bigby, Minting and Allington. Flixborough and High Toynton are actually counted amongst the doubly thankful villages, suffering no military losses in either the First or Second World Wars. Flixborough however has recorded several civilian casualties during the Second World War. However Private Hubert Cox (1391) 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment was born in Bigby and killed in action at West Vlaanderen, Belgium in October 1917. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial and in Barnetby because his parents lived there. This illustrates the complex decisions behind which names appear on which memorials and also indicates that these decisions may lead to a false impression of the number of people who died in a particular community.

14 The human stories behind war memorials Lincolnshire Remembrance is a community project that is uncovering the stories of people involved in conflict in the county. The second section of this resource focuses on how research can breathe life into stories. War Memorials, by their nature, can only contain a limited amount of information and, even with the very best of intentions some of this information may be misleading. This section contains a range of stories about different people commemorated on war memorials. The stories have been pieced together from different sources of information such as newspaper stories, military documents, parish records etc. The stories often feature very young men, some of whom will have given false ages so that they could join the Armed Forces. The minimum age to join the armed forces at the time of the First World War was initially 18 but was increased to 19. However many of the young men who signed up were much younger. These records show a variety of reasons for signing up and a range of experiences. It is interesting to see the attitude to boys signing up and the impact of the Order of the White Feather campaign, which clearly intimidated James Lovegrove into volunteering even though he was only 16. The stories of the boy soldiers, although often tragic, make excellent source material and may be of great interest to young people as the boys would have been of school age today. The stories can be used as illustrations of stories that have been pieced together from archive material but also for creative writing and historical enquiry. These stories have been pieced together by volunteers and archive staff, from oral histories, military records, old photographs, newspaper articles, minutes of meetings etc. The stories show the impact:  On individuals and communities  Of global events on local communities. Lincolnshire Archives are a great source of stories behind war memorials. This section contains a selection telling the stories behind the names and other, more general, stories that illustrate some less commonly known aspects of the First and Second World Wars.

Boy soldiers and sailors By the end of August 1914 over 300,000 men had answered the call at army recruitment centres. A significant number of those who had enlisted were younger than the official minimum age for military service overseas, which was 18 (this was subsequently raised to 19 because of public concern). Some of the boys who joined up were undoubtedly motivated by thoughts of serving King and country, but many enlisted because their older friends or brothers had already joined, or because they wished to escape strict parents or poor living conditions. Hundreds of boys gave false birth dates to meet the minimum age requirements and recruiting officers did not always check their details very carefully. Sometimes there was little need for subterfuge on the part of the would-be recruit: George Coppard,

15 who enlisted in August 1914, admitted to the recruiting sergeant that he was only 16 and was told to "Clear off and come back tomorrow and see if you're nineteen, eh?" On the following day George gave his age as 19 and was enlisted in the West Surrey Regiment: "The sergeant winked as he gave me the King's shilling". James Lovegrove, who was only 16 when he signed up shortly after the outbreak of war, enlisted after an encounter with the Order of the White Feather: "On my way to work a group of women surrounded me. They called me all sorts of names for not being a soldier and stuck a white feather in my coat." Lovegrove felt so ashamed that he decided to enlist: "I went to the recruiting office. The sergeant there couldn't stop laughing at me, saying things like "Looking for your father, sonny?", and "Come back next year when the war's over!" Well, I must have looked so crestfallen that he said "Let's check your measurements again". You see, I was five foot six inches and only about eight and a half stone. This time he made me out to be about six feet tall and twelve stone - at least, that is what he wrote down. All lies of course - but I was in!" The youngest soldier to have served with the British Army during the First World War is believed to have been Sidney Lewis, who enlisted in the East Surrey Regiment at the age of 12. He subsequently served with the Machine Gun Corps on the Somme, but was discharged from the army in August 1916 when his mother sent a letter to the War Office with an accompanying copy of his birth certificate. Although the army's boy soldiers have received a lot of publicity, it is often forgotten that hundreds of junior seamen and midshipmen in the Royal Navy, who were as young as 14, served on warships with official sanction. The racing driver Glen Kidston, who won the Le Mans 24 Hour race in 1930, was a midshipman in the Royal Navy during the First World War and was only 15 when his ship was sunk by a German submarine. Anthony Eden's younger brother, Nicholas, was killed at the Battle of Jutland at the age of 16 when the battlecruiser on which he was serving was sunk by German shellfire. The stories of James Lovegrove, George Coppard and Glen Kidston were found on the internet. The information on Sidney Lewis came from 'Britain At War' magazine. The information on Nicholas Eden came from Anthony Eden's, 'Another World', the memoir of his war years.

16

George Ernest Lancaster – Boy Soldier

Photograph of George Ernest Lancaster taken at the time of his enlistment in the army at the age of 16. He was severely wounded in the right leg, but survived the war and later worked for the Post Office in Gainsborough. He served with the Home Guard during the Second World War and died in Gainsborough in 1971. Document reference: MISC DON 1588/4/1. As George did not die in either of the Wars he is not recorded on any memorials. Researchers find it is often more difficult to find information on people who survived than those who died and are commemorated.

17 Alfred Newbury – Boy Soldier

Alfred Newbury was born in a caravan on Monks Road, Lincoln, on 24th December 1897. His parents, Thomas and Annie, eventually settled at 11 Union Road. Alfred joined the 1st Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment at the age of 16 and served on the Western Front. On 16th June 1915 he was severely wounded at Hooge in Flanders and died at Calais four days later. He is remembered on the Lincoln War memorial.

18 Herbert Thomas Elliott – Boy soldier

Herbert Thomas Elliott was born in November 1898 and attended the Wesleyan School on Rosemary Lane, Lincoln. He joined the 1/4th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment in August 1914 at the age of 15. He served on the Western Front and died of the wounds he received on 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He is remembered on the Lincoln War Memorial.

19 Jack Cornwell VC – Boy Sailor Jack Cornwell joined the Royal Navy. He saw action when he was only 16 and received the Victoria Cross for his bravery.

John (“Jack”) Cornwell was born at Leyton in Essex on 8 January 1900. Following the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, he joined the Royal Navy and was assigned to the light cruiser HMS Chester. When HMS Chester went into action at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, Jack Cornwell was part of a team operating one of the cruiser’s 5.5 inch guns. The Chester was hit by German shellfire in the early stages of the battle and Jack was the sole survivor from his gun crew. Despite having received severe injuries, he remained standing at his post until the Chester retired from the action. HMS Chester sailed for the Lincolnshire port of Immingham for repairs and Jack was transferred to Grimsby General Hospital. A message was immediately sent to his mother in Essex, but Jack died of his injuries before she arrived. Jack Cornwell was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, which was presented to his mother by George V in November 1916. Jack was just 16 years of age at the time of his death and he is one of the youngest recipients of Britain’s highest award for bravery. The gun mounting operated by Jack Cornwall can still be seen today at the Imperial War Museum in London.

20 Stories behind the names Lincolnshire Remembrance contains a number of stories behind the names on the memorials. Here are the stories of: John Harman Harold Douglas John Rankin Sidney Tuck. Their stories contain a lot of detail some of which is shocking, not only relating to the circumstances of their deaths but also to the callous behaviour of the authorities, for example, John Harman’s funeral expenses being added to his Mess bill and passed on to his father. The stories can be used for comprehension work, as the basis for creative writing (put yourself in the shoes of) and as a starting point for further research. The stories refer to different battles and locations so there is the potential for young people to carry out more research into these stories. The stories were researched by Lincolnshire Remembrance, Memories and Memorials Project, using newspaper stories (which are referenced in the text), the Commonwealth War Graves website and the website Ancestry.co.uk.

21 Lieutenant John Augustus Harman – The Rugby Forward Killed in a Flying Accident at Hibaldstow John Augustus Harman was born in 1893, the son of a London barrister, John Eustice Harman. He was educated at Uppingham School, where like many patriotic school boys he joined the Officer Training Corps. John later studied law at the Inns of Court and, having excelled at rugby at school, he joined the Rosslyn Park Rugby Club in London. He was working on a tea plantation in Ceylon when war broke out and soon returned to England to enlist in the army. He served in the Gallipoli campaign and then volunteered for the Royal Flying Corps in 1917. John Harman was assigned to Number 33 (Home Defence) Squadron, which had its headquarters and workshops in Gainsborough and aerodromes at Elsham Wolds, Kirton-in-Lindsey and Brattleby (later re-named Scampton). On the evening of 17th November 1917 Harman took off on a night patrol in a FE2b, but at around 6.30pm his aircraft crashed near Hibaldstow and he sustained fatal injuries. An investigation into the accident was held nine days later and it was found that, as both the engine and airframe were in "satisfactory condition", the crash was probably caused by pilot error. John Harman was buried in Gainsborough Cemetery with full military honours, a contingent from the North Staffordshire Regiment firing the customary three volleys over his grave. The funeral expenses were added to John Harman's mess bill and his bereaved father was requested to ensure that "all outstanding debts incurred by the deceased" would be paid in full. John Augustus Harman is commemorated on the Gainsborough First World War Roll of Honour.

22 Private Harold Douglas Parkinson 1467 of the 10th Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment. Died of wounds 26th July 1916. He is remembered on the Lincoln War Memorial. Harold Parkinson was born in 1896, the son of Fred and Elizabeth Parkinson of the Homestead, York Avenue, Lincoln. He was popularly known as 'Hal.' Before enlisting, Hal worked in the offices of Ruston, Proctor and Co Ironworks. He was also well known in sporting circles. He enlisted into the Lincolnshire Regiment in October 1915 with his close friend Dick Wilkinson, who also died in the same campaign. Harold's horrific story was told by the Lincolnshire Chronicle in August 1916. On the 1st July 1916 he was part of a forward attack group which started over the top at 7.30am. When he was about half-way across 'no man's land' he was hit in the shoulder. He somehow struggled back over the wire to the support trenches and had lain there for two days. Whilst he lay there a piece of high explosive shell hit him. Many stretcher bearers passed him and promised to send help, but no help came. He was eventually found by 2nd Lieutenant A Paton who describes nearly stepping on him, not seeing him and thinking he must be dead. He was moved to the Canadian General Hospital and his parents were informed. They requested permission to visit, but unfortunately Hal was very badly injured and died of his wounds on 26th July 1916. He was 20 years of age. He is buried at Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport Seine- Maritime, France. He is remembered on the Lincoln War Memorial.

23 Second Lieutenant John Rankin, 7th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment: Died 23rd April 1917. He is remembered on the Lincoln War Memorial John Rankin was born in 1895 in Motherwell, Scotland, He was the eldest son of Robert Cullen and Euphemia Rankin. His father was a boilermaker. Like many families of this era the Rankin family seemed to move quite frequently following work prospects. Before they came to Lincoln, they moved from Motherwell to Edinburgh, back to Motherwell, then to Nottingham and on to Lincoln. Robert Cullen Rankin found work at Ruston's and John joined him there once he finished school, as an apprentice engineer. The family were members of the Newland Congregational Church and lived at 290 West Parade, Lincoln (later moving to Rauceby Terrace). John also joined the YMCA. At the start of the First World War John enlisted with the Lincolnshire Yeomanry. To join the Yeomanry you needed to be able to ride a horse. The Yeomanry did lots of training but did not see active service until October 1915. They were due to sail for Salonika on the SS Mercian and all was well until leaving Gibraltar they were attacked by a U-Boat. The Mercian was unarmed, but they had some Maxim guns on deck. John Rankin was one of the soldiers that started operating these guns to keep the U-boat at bay. The U-boat had run out of torpedos, which was probably why the Mercian just managed to limp to safety at Oran. However, many horses were killed and several men died or were severely injured in the attack. Whilst at Oran the Yeomanry received new orders to proceed to Egypt. In Egypt they had to swap their horses for camels - Imagine that- Lincolnshire lads riding camels – some of them had probably never left Lincolnshire before! Whilst in Egypt John became ill and was sent back to England. Once John had recovered from his illness he applied for a commission and trained as an officer, part of his training took place in Ireland. Within a few months he was swiftly sent to France with the 7th Lincolnshire Regiment. The regimental diaries held at the Lincolnshire Archives helped me to understand what John’s last few days were like. There was a lot of moving about and sleeping at the side of the road and they were often under heavy fire. He was killed leading his men forward near Monchy le Preux. His body was never recovered and he is remembered on the Arras memorial. He is remembered on several memorials in Lincoln including the main Lincoln War memorial.

24 Trooper Sidney Tuck of the Lincolnshire Yeomanry. Died of Wounds 11/11/1915. He is remembered on the Lincoln War Memorial Sidney Harold Tuck was born in Hackney, London to Henry James Holder Tuck and Catherine Harriet Tuck. His father was a Doctor and at the time of the war was based in Stoke Newington. Sidney Tuck was an apprentice at Messrs. Ruston, Proctor and Co. He boarded at a house on Monks Road. He was a member of the YMCA Like his friend John Rankin, Sidney Tuck eagerly signed up for duty with the Lincolnshire Yeomanry at the beginning of the war. However Sidney's war was to be very short. When the U-Boat attacked their troop ship the SS Mercian as it left Gibraltar Sidney was hit. The attack took place on the 27th October 1915. In a letter home which was printed in the Lincolnshire Chronicle (20/11/1915) John Rankin describes what happened to him Poor old Tuck has been knocked about. He got a piece of shrapnel just below the knee of his right leg, it broke the bone and tore all the muscles away. He had it amputated last night…but he is bearing up wonderfully. Antibiotics had not been invented and like many, many others Sidney Tuck died of infected wounds. Sidney Tuck is buried in Oran at Le Petit Lac Cemetery, Algeria. He was 20 years of age. Sidney is remembered on the Lincoln War Memorial.

25 Themes These stories are illustrations of the type of information that can be gleaned from further investigation into the names on a war memorial using a range of research methods. Again there is potential to use these pieces of information in different ways. Young people may find the stories shocking but again if they put themselves in the shoes of people at the time, without the benefit of hindsight they may gain a different view. Boy soldiers and sailors often enlisted to escape poverty or to seek adventure. The Order of the White Feather shows that there was an organised movement to shame or bully young men into enlisting. Dr Katherine Storr has an excellent website http://www.southhollandlife.com/dr-katherine-storr-archive/ which suggests that there is no evidence that the Order of the White Feather was active in Lincolnshire. This raises a number of issues to discuss and explore that may be relevant to young people today. Why did the Order exist? Why would women behave in such a way? Why would men react to this type of intimidation? It may be difficult for young people to imagine a world without the communication tools that we have today. What might the impact of 24-hour news coverage have had on young men enlisting?

26 Keeping history alive o Call to action to encourage young people to research local war memorials and contribute to the Lincolnshire Remembrance Project.

This section provides useful sources of information and ways to engage with the Lincolnshire Remembrance project. As it is 100 years since the start of the First World War it may be difficult, especially for children and young people to make links with the past simply from a name on a memorial. This section provides tools to help teachers and young people find out more about their local war memorials and the stories behind the names. Lincolnshire Remembrance has produced useful guidance to help volunteers to research names that appear on memorials. Schools can also access this information and training. The guidance can be downloaded from http://www.lincstothepast.com/learning-and-resources/learn-about-lincolnshire-at- war/ Sources of the stories. This section explores how stories, like those in the previous section of this resource, can be pieced together using primary sources of information from oral history, through to newspapers, records, etc. This part of the project can be used to teach research and communication skills. It would also complement the new computing curriculum. How to research a name Lincolnshire Remembrance has excellent resources to help in researching a name. These resources are available in PDF form. To access the guides follow this link. http://www.lincstothepast.com/learning-and-resources/learn-about- lincolnshire-at-war/lincolnshire-remembrance-how-to-guides/ Advice given suggests starting with the war memorial, finding the name and then finding any family connections. Oral history is particularly useful. The Internet is an obvious source of information and a list of useful websites has been provided in the resources section. Local libraries can be excellent. They provide free access to specialist websites such as Ancestry, Find my past and British Newspapers online. The Lincolnshire Archives is another useful source of information. The Archives often holds unique primary sources of information.

27 Ways of finding out more from Lincolnshire’s Archives The Lincs to the Past website is a great starting point. It contains over 100,000 recently scanned documents. (http://lincstothepast.com)

Local archives Local archives and libraries hold information that can help to tell the stories of the people named on war memorials. Battalion War Diaries Battalion War Diaries provide information on the activities and operations that units undertook. These are operational diaries for a Battalion rather than personal diaries. These documents rarely contain information on named individuals. Battalion war diaries can be found in the Lincolnshire Archives under the heading Battalions of the Lincolnshire Regiment. Personal Records www.ancestry.co.uk contains the majority of the personal records. These include Service Records: relating to soldiers who were killed and those who remained in service until the end of the War. Many of the First World War Service Records were destroyed by bombing in the Second World War. Pension Records: these documents relate to soldiers who were discharged during the War, usually due to injury. Medal Rolls Index Cards: these contain information on the medals that each soldier was entitled to. The majority of men who served would have received medals. Casualties and War Dead Brocklesby Park was used as a military hospital during the War. The admission and discharge register from 1915 to 1919 contains patient details including: name, regiment, rank, number, age, date of admission and discharge. It also provides details the patient’s illness or injury. st List of battles and casualties sustained by the 1 Battalion. [Ref: REGI/DOC BOX 9/237] This document lists the names of all of the officers in the 1st Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment who died or were wounded. It only provides casualty figures for other ranks. Lincoln City Roll of Honour The Lincoln City Roll of Honour is kept in Lincoln City Library. Lincolnshire Archives also holds questionnaires that were completed by the families of servicemen who died in conflicts. They were asked to provide details about the people who died. The library also contains photographs that have not been claimed by relatives.

28 There is also 'In memoriam a record of the Lincoln boys who laid down their lives in the Great War 1914 – 1918'. [Ref: REGI/DOC BOX 12.5 which is available to view on CD. This record often includes the soldier’s rank, date of death and a photograph. Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919: Part 15 The Lincolnshire Regiment. Antony Rowe Ltd, 1921. [Ref: SR L. 940.3 IMP]. This document lists every soldier that died serving in the Lincolnshire Regiment. It includes their rank, where they were born, where they enlisted, service number and the country in which they died. www.roll-of-honour.com/Lincolnshire/: This site has transcripts and photographs from memorials throughout Lincolnshire. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission The Commonwealth War Graves Commission cares for the cemeteries and memorials of the 1.7 million people who died in the First and Second World Wars. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has a searchable database of the people who died during both World Wars. To find out more click here: http://www.cwgc.org/ Personal Diaries Lincolnshire Archive has transcripts of diaries. These include: st nd  The diary of Lieutenant C. C. Holmes 1 Battalion 1st August – 22 August 1914. Lieutenant Holmes was injured on 24 August and died in Frameries Hospice Belgium on 26th August 1914. [Ref: REGI/DOC BOX 4/197/3]. th th th  The diary of Corporal Ralph Clark 1/4 Battalion 28 July 1914 – 27 July th 1915. Corporal Clark was killed in Action 28 July 1915, a year to the day of starting his diary. [Ref: REGI/DOC BOX 4/197/1 & 2]. th th th  The diary of Sergeant C C Allport 6 (service) Battalion 28 June 1915 – 4 December 1915. Sergeant Allport served at Gallipoli and subsequently contracted dysentery and was evacuated to Britain in September 1915. [Ref: REGI/DOC BOX 4/254]. Letters from the front The archive also holds letters from the Western Front. The archive specifically mentions records relating to Barnard Reeve Beechey [Ref: BEECHEY 1] who served in nd the 2 battalion Lincolnshire Regiment on the Western Front. Barnard’s records are held with other documents relating to the Beechey family. 'Brothers in War' by Michael Walsh © Lincolnshire County Council is a source of further information. There are letters from Harry Butt [Ref: MISC DON 1025] to his girlfriend Alice Green th Harry Butt was killed in action near Arras on 4 April 1918. Photographs th Group photograph of No 8 Platoon 1/5 battalion France, 1917. [Ref: REGI/DOC

29 BOX 11.5, Museum accession/reference numbers: 1998/57]. th Group photograph of the football team of B Coy of the 6 (Service) Battalion. Winners of the Inter Company League, 1917-1918. [Ref: REGI/DOC BOX 50]. th Group photograph of the men of 12 Hut, B Coy, 8 Battalion. Undated (1914-1918) [Ref: REGI/DOC BOX 59]. th Group photograph of soldiers of the 10 (Service) Battalion stood behind a representation of the battalion crest made from rocks and pebbles. Salisbury Plain, Early 1915. [Ref: REGI/PHOTO BOX 11]. Maps The archive holds trench maps of France and Belgium dating from 1916 -1917. [Ref: REGI/TEMP BOX 6 181]. th Ordnance Survey maps of France and Belgium belonging to E.W. Garrad of 2/5 battalion. [Ref: REGI/TEMP BOX 5]. Absent voters list Kesteven absent voters electoral registers for Grantham, Rutland and Stamford 1918 are an interesting source of information. Anyone who was eligible to vote in 1918, but was absent because of wartime service, can be found listed alongside his permanent address, service number, rank and regiment. Printed Sources rd Army Service Records of the First World War (3 Edition), by William Spencer [Ref: SR Box 355.929.3 SPE]. An overall guide to army service records. The History of the Lincolnshire Regiment 1914 – 1918, by C.R Simpson, The Medici Society, 1931. [Ref: SR L.355.31SIM] This history is mainly compiled from war diaries, dispatches and officers notes. Has an interesting selection of maps. The Poachers, by David Nalson, CIT Brace Harvatt, 2003 [Ref: SR L.355.3 NAL] A good overview of the history of the Lincolnshire Regiment. The appendix includes a list of all the major engagements each battalion fought in during the First World War. th A History of the 5 Battalion: The Lincolnshire Regiment, by T.E Sandall, Basil th Blackwell, 1922. [Ref: SR L.355.31 SAN] This book focuses solely on the 5 battalion (territorial force) from 1914 -1918. © Lincolnshire County Council

30 Online resources www.ancestry.co.uk: digitised personal records. www.1914-1918.net: has information on the Lincolnshire Regiment and an impressive overview of the War and how it was fought. Also has a forum where you can post questions: www.1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/. www.thelincolnshireregiment.org: a history of the Lincolnshire Regiment. http://website.lineone.net/~eebo/history10thlincolns.htm th A history of the 10 battalion Grimsby Chums. www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/lincolnshireregiment.php the public share stories about their Lincolnshire Regiment ancestors. This guide is a small sample of the documents we hold regarding the Lincolnshire Regiment. More information can be gleaned from our catalogues in the search room or by emailing [email protected].

For further reading please see Lincolnshire Archives’ online catalogue included on the Lincs to the Past website at: http://www.lincstothepast.com

31 Resources Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire. This site contains education resources designed to support visits to ten aviation heritage venues in Lincolnshire. The focus of this resource is Bomber Command, the Home Front and the science of aviation. It focuses largely on the impact of the Second World War in Lincolnshire. http://www.ahleducation.org.uk/ Battle of Britain Memorial Flight The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight provides information about this iconic memorial. There is a visitor centre attached to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight that welcomes school visits. http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/visitorscentre/ Down Your Wold Down Your Wold is a Lincolnshire-based project focusing on conservation and heritage in the Wolds http://www.down-your-wold.co.uk/get-involved/learning-and-training English Heritage’s England Places website English Heritage has an online collection of over 600,000 images photographs. It provides an unparalleled visual record of England’s built heritage, and shows the changing face of cities, towns and villages from the mid 19th to the late 20th centuries. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/archives-and- collections/EnglandsPlacesLanding/# Heritage Explorer Heritage Explorer is English Heritage’s education website and is full of ideas, primary source material, photographs, case studies and resources for teachers to use. It is searchable by topic, subject and key stage. http://www.heritage-explorer.co.uk/web/he/default.aspx Heritage Lincolnshire Heritage Lincolnshire: Heritage Lincolnshire offers a range of services for schools to help them incorporate the history and archaeology of the county in their teaching: http://www.lincsheritage.org/news/archive-article-content.php?id=238 Imperial War Museums The Imperial War Museums’ learning site contains excellent resources on a range of war related topics. Its resources on Recruitment and Conscription may be of particular interest. http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resources/learning-resources

32 Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes This local project focuses on the heritage of the Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes. The project’s website contains information about the Coastal Grazing Marshes in the Second World War as well as a range of other education resources exploring cultural heritage, changing landscapes and bio-diversity. http://www.lincsmarshes.org.uk/heritage Lincolnshire Remembrance Project This resource is currently being populated with information about Lincolnshire War Memorials. It is a great source of information and images. The project team is happy to help with further information. http://www.lincstothepast.com/home/lincolnshire-remembrance/ Lincs to the Past This site has lots of valuable resources to help with local history studies on a range of topics with a Lincolnshire focus. Use the search engine to find local archive documents and photographs. http://www.lincstothepast.com/home/ National Arboretum learning programme The National Arboretum has an active and engaging education programme and resources to support teachers interested in finding out more about Remembrance, memorials and the impact of conflict. http://www.thenma.org.uk/learn/learning/learning-programme/ Royal British Legion The Royal British Legion has produced a free Learning Pack for Key Stages 1-4, which is updated every year: http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/schools-and-learning/learning-pack Dr Kathine Storr’s Archive The website http://www.southhollandlife.com/dr-katherine-storr-archive/ contains archive material from Dr Katherine Storr which looks at the impact of WW1 on Lincolnshire. War Memorials Trust War Memorials Trust has a Learning Programme for schools and youth groups that is designed to build a greater understanding of war memorial heritage and is a great partner site for this resource. http://www.learnaboutwarmemorials.org/ War Memorials Trust’s is also running projects to record and look after war memorials across the UK, and schools are welcome to get involved. Find out more visit the In Memorium site at https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/ and http://www.inmemoriam2014.org/

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