Learning Pack 2015-2016

The Royal British Legion Learning Pack 2015 2016 Key Stages 1–4 History, English & Citizenship Welcome to The Royal British Legion’s Learning 01 Pack 2015|16. This pack should be used with additional resources on the Legion website: www.britishlegion.org.uk as well as the two DVDs and posters in the back pocket of this pack. Together the resources support History, English and Citizenship for key stages 1–4, as well as older students.

Designed to work within the National Curriculum, Dame Jacqueline Wilson, these resources allow teachers, and others working DBE, FRSL, wrote her first The work of with young people, the flexibility to cover a novel at the age of nine. range of topics within key subject areas. This One of the nation’s favourite may also include work outside the classroom the Legion & and cross-curricular projects and activities. authors, Jacqueline has won Remembrance countless awards, sold millions The Royal British Legion’s learning resources of books worldwide and The essential welfare work of the contain in-depth historical information, from 2005 to 2007 was the Legion, campaigns and current downloadable classroom activities, lesson 01 issues. What Remembrance means, Children’s Laureate. She lives plans, assembly ideas and witness testimonies in Kingston upon Thames. the story of the poppy and the via case studies. From peacetime operations importance of Remembrance today. to international conflict, wartime heroes to | Pages 02 11 world leaders, students can see how past and present conflicts have shaped the world today and affect the lives of ordinary people now. To reflect the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the Centenary of the First World War, in particular the 2016 It always makes me cry when I watch the special centenary of the Battle of the Somme, additional information and resources have been included ceremony in London on Remembrance Sunday. The both within this pack and on the Legion website.

British Armed Forces veterans march so determinedly, Topics covered by the learning resources support current areas of the National Curriculum very proud to have fought for their country. I always for the following: buy a poppy because I know the money raised means History The Royal British Legion can help support these valiant • Commemorative days and anniversaries • First World War men and women. My Grandad was a soldier in the Legacy: over 100 • Second World War years of conflict • Britain since 1930 First World War and saw so many of his friends dying • Local history study on the battlefields of France. That war haunted him The history of the First and Second World Wars and the impact of Citizenship throughout his life. He couldn’t help remembering. recent conflicts. How they have • War, conflict and peace 02 shaped the world today, including • Identity and diversity the role of women and attitudes • Challenging racism and discrimination towards diversity. • The identities behind Britain today | I thought of him when I wrote my 1914 based novel Pages 12 25 • Issues supporting rights and responsibilities ‘Opal Plumstead’. Many children wrote to me asking English why my book had such a sad ending. I think we need • Reading, writing and spelling • Vocabulary, grammar and comprehension to remember that all wars have very sad consequences. • Writing and learning poetry These resources help children learn about past conflict. • Learning through discussion and debate Perhaps they’ll also learn how to create a more These Remembrance-focused materials are provided free of charge to schools and learning peaceful future. groups as part of the Legion’s commitment to promoting Remembrance and its charitable work to younger people. For further free copies of this pack or to order a pack in the Welsh language, please visit the Legion’s website: www.britishlegion.org.uk Lesson ideas, group debate & activities Topics for lessons and learning Front cover: and group activities based on the Tower of London poppies at night. 03 themes introduced in the pack. © Tower of London (HRP) and Pages 26|31 Paul Cummins/Tom Piper

www.britishlegion.org.uk Easily-accessible Much-needed 02 ‘Pop-in’ centres holiday breaks for The Work of across the UK Service families There are 16 Pop-in Centres The Legion offers breaks across the UK. Help is to those recovering from also available online via an illness, bereavement or www.britishlegion.org.uk other life-affecting events, and via our Freephone in its own centres and at the Legion & 0808 802 8080. partnership centres. Help at home Support for Residential care for disabled bereaved families & nursing homes Remembrance The Legion helps bereaved The Legion has six care homes veterans partners and families through across the UK, each providing Part of the vital Legion welfare the inquest process with expert long term nursing and support is the provision of a legal advice and assistance, personal care in high quality free handy person service for as well as providing emotional environments. those unable to carry out small support. repairs and minor household alterations.

Recovery and Dementia and rehabilitation for respite care injured personnel All of the Legion’s care homes offer respite care and four The Battle Back Centre in of them provide specialist Lillieshall offers sports and dementia care services. adventurous activities for wounded, injured and sick Service men and women.

www.britishlegion.org.uk

Serving personnel, ex-Service men and Who we help England, Scotland and Wales The Legion is there for all members of has supported the Legion’s campaign women and their families, make, and the British Armed Forces community, and committed to delivering the not just serving members of the terms of the Covenant in their have made, incredible sacrifices to meet Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air regions. This has resulted in better the demands of being part of the British Force, but also ex-Service men and overall Armed Forces welfare women (veterans), their carers and and the securing of significant Armed Forces community. The job of families. Millions of people in the improvements in compensation for UK and overseas are eligible to those who have suffered injury and The Royal British Legion is to support them call on the Legion for help and half bereavement. The principles of the the people helped by the Legion Covenant are now enshrined in law. all, now and for as long as it is needed. are below retirement age. How funds are spent Campaigns The Royal British Legion is the UK’s Since its formation in 1921, the biggest Armed Forces charity. It Legion has always campaigned provides practical, emotional and for a better deal for the men, financial support to all members of women and families it represents. the British Armed Forces past and In 2007, the Legion called on the present, and their families. Apart British Government to honour the from the extensive campaigning Military Covenant with our Armed activities mentioned above, the Forces, recognising its lifelong duty Legion also organises the Poppy of care to those making a unique Appeal, is one of the UK’s largest commitment to their country. Today, membership organisations and the campaign has achieved its is recognised as the nation’s objectives: every Local Authority in custodian of Remembrance. 04 service children’s School clubs

The Royal British Legion is affiliated to a Service children’s organisation that operates through school clubs, currently established in 120 schools with over 7,500 members. The aim of the clubs is to provide a mutual network of support and comradeship to help young people deal with the additional pressures faced as part of a British Service family due to frequent moving, deployment or injury. By providing a range of activities in a positive environment, the clubs ensure that children can get to know others in a similar situation, share their experiences and concerns and benefit from the mentoring of older members. Raising understanding and awareness of life as a Service family amongst the general public, is a central part of the organisation’s work.

The Jackson Family

Harley Jackson is nine and has two younger brothers aged four and three. His stepdad is in the British Army and has had several recent, lengthy tours of duty overseas. Apart from the extended absence, the family have also recently been through an especially difficult time.

Harley attends a school where around a quarter of the pupils “The help from the club really are from Forces families; he also receives support from brought out Harley’s confidence. the Legion-affiliated Service Children’s School Club which Without the Legion’s support, helps him both in school and I would have been lost, it made at home. Being involved in the club means that he always has such a positive difference to the someone to talk to when things are difficult and is given attention family Christmas.” Zoe Jackson and time to ensure he feels supported and valued, as well as having lots of fun with other club members.

The Legion also provided practical support for the family when they moved home, helping with a rental deposit, vouchers for food and Christmas presents for the boys, as well as a stair gate and tumble dryer. Legion-affiliated schools’ clubs support 7,500 children from British Service families across the UK, USA, Germany and the Falklands.

www.britishlegion.org.uk 2016 marks 100 years since the Battle of the Somme, a catastrophic battle that cost 07 an estimated 620,000 British Remembrance and French casualties during the First World War.

The Royal British Legion is the national custodian of over £106,000, a small fortune at The Poppy is: the time. In 1920, Major George • A powerful symbol of Remembrance, facilitating national, regional and local Howson, himself a decorated Remembrance and hope commemorative events and promoting Remembrance veteran of the First World War, set • Worn by millions of people up a factory in London where five • Red for the natural colour widely to communities across the UK. disabled ex-Service men began of field poppies making poppies. Three years later they moved the Poppy Factory to its current site on Richmond Hill where today those working there, many of whom are from the

© IWM (Q 70168) ex-Service community, produce millions of poppies, wreaths and Remembrance symbols to meet In Flanders fields the poppies blow The Legion is responsible for the demand from across Britain. Between the crosses, row on row, Poppy Appeal, the Festival of Remembrance and the march How we remember That mark our place; and in the sky past the Cenotaph each year. Remembrance is part of modern The larks, still bravely singing, fly British life, culture and heritage. During the annual Poppy Appeal, Embedded in the public calendar, Scarce heard amid the guns below. which starts at the end of October most people associate and lasts until 11 November, over Remembrance in Britain with We are the Dead. Short days ago 40 million poppies are distributed. Remembrance Sunday and The poppy lies at the heart of the 11 November, Armistice Day. We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Legion’s identity – each and every This is when millions of people Loved and were loved, and now we lie one is a symbol of Remembrance stop what they are doing and and hope and, every year, millions In Flanders fields. observe a Two Minute Silence The Poppy is not: of people make the personal at 11am on the 11th day of the decision to wear one. 11th month, commemorating the • A symbol of death or blood Take up our quarrel with the foe: original Armistice of 1918 which • A sign of support for war The story of the Poppy subsequently led to the end of the • A reflection of politics or To you from failing hands we throw During the First World War First World War. religious faith (1914–1918) much of the conflict A series of national The torch; be yours to hold it high. took place in Western Europe. commemorative events are Remembrance 100 years ago If ye break faith with us who die Countryside that had once been planned in 2015 to honour reflected the harsh reality that beautiful was devastated by bombs the 70th anniversary of the We shall not sleep, though poppies grow almost every family and community and lengthy battles. The landscape end of the Second World War, In Flanders fields. in Britain had been directly and turned from green fields to mud, including VE and VJ Days. very personally affected by the © IWM (HU 041808) bleak and barren land where First World War. Remembrance in Lt Col John McCrae little or nothing could grow. Bright Britain today reflects many of the Remembrance is for red Flanders poppies, however, changes brought about 100 years everyone affected by somehow survived and thrived in the ago. It also connects those who conflict, past and present. chaos and destruction around them. have died and been affected by Though delicate in appearance, they the many conflicts since the First were in fact resilient, growing in their World War, including more recent thousands and turning the muddy conflicts such as those in Iraq and landscape into a sea of red. In the Afghanistan. Remembrance is spring of 1915, a Canadian doctor something that touches people of called Lt Col John McCrae, mourning all ages and backgrounds, faiths the recent loss and burial of a close and political opinions. Everyone friend, was inspired by the sight of can be involved and take part in poppies to write a now-famous poem Remembrance activities, whether called ‘In Flanders Fields’. public or private, formal or informal, collective or individual. The humble Wearing a McCrae’s poem inspired an poppy remains unchanged – a American academic, Moina universally-recognised symbol of Poppy: Michael, to make handmade red Remembrance and hope, allowing • Is a personal choice fabric poppies which were then us to remember the past whilst • Is not compulsory brought to England by a French looking ahead to a brighter future. • Is appreciated by all those lady, Anna Guerin. The (Royal) it helps British Legion, formed in 1921, ordered several million of the poppies and sold them on 11 November that year. They sold out almost immediately and that www.britishlegion.org.uk first ever ‘Poppy Appeal’ raised The Armed Forces Memorial Open 364 08 The National days a year The Arboretum welcomes visitors of all ages and Memorial abilities. Arboretum

The National Memorial Arboretum is the UK’s Over 300 year-round Centre of Remembrance and is part memorials and of The Royal British Legion family of charities. 30,000 trees The Arboretum is a unique living Remembrance on 150 acres of mature woodland.

The Shot at Dawn Memorial

History often focuses on specific Anne Frank, as well as memorials For students battles or conflicts and this is a vital to those who lived and worked on The Arboretum has an part of putting past events into the Home Front during the Second extensive learning context. Remembrance, however, World War, e.g. the Bevin Boys. programme for schools and focuses on all those individuals, young people, supporting families and communities affected At the heart of the Arboretum is curriculum-based objectives. by conflict. Trying to remember the Armed Forces Memorial all those involved can be difficult which commemorates the 16,000 as their names add up to millions. men and women of the British This is where memorials are Armed and Merchant Services important as many of them record killed in conflict, as a result of the names of those who were terrorist action or on training killed. Memorials also serve exercises since 1945. The memorial The RAF Association as a community focal point for is a nationally-significant focus for Silver Eagle Daily 11am Remembrance activities and Remembrance and was designed are often a physical means of by Liam O’Connor with sculptures Act of identifying local families impacted by Ian Rank-Broadley. The by war. figurative sculptures represent loss Remembrance and sacrifice and were specifically The Arboretum is the In Alrewas, Staffordshire, the designed so that, at 11am on only place in the UK that National Memorial Arboretum 11 November each year, the sun’s holds a daily 11am Act is an outdoor site that contains rays stream through a doorway of Remembrance in its a large and varied number of in the sculpture, illuminating the multi-faith chapel. memorials to commemorate those bronze wreath at the centre of who have given their lives for the memorial. their country and those who have suffered as a result of conflict. The site reflects the contribution Understanding of the Armed Forces and Remembrance organisations connected with conflict from the First World War The Arboretum offers a through to the present day. range of opportunities for developing an understanding The Arboretum uses trees and of Remembrance, memorials plants as well as plaques, statues and the impact of conflict. and other symbols to remember those affected by war. There is a Garden of the Innocents for children affected by conflict, including a tree dedicated to

A young student enjoying a Poppy Activity Workshop at the Arboretum, a fun and interactive hands-on session where students learn about the history of Remembrance. The Burma Railway Memorial The Armed Forces Memorial www.britishlegion.org.uk 10 the Legion’s First world www.britishlegion.org.uk 11 war centenary Projects

4 August 2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the day 14–18 Legacy Britain entered one of the costliest The 14–18 Legacy promotes conflicts in history – the First World greater understanding of the war War – with fighting continuing until and the development of a giving 11 November 1918, Armistice Day. spirit in young people aged 11 to 18. It aims to raise £1 million for The Royal British Legion was The Royal British Legion by 2018, founded by veterans of the and has raised over £80,000 to First World War who adopted date. www.britishlegion.org.uk/ the poppy as their symbol of 14-18-legacy Remembrance and hope. Today the Legion is at the forefront of First World War Centenary commemorations, creating events Centenary Poppy and opportunities for people to come together in Remembrance campaign of events a century ago. From an idea conceived by members of the Greenhithe The Legion is involved in a number and Swanscombe Branch of commemorative First World War of the Legion, this project Centenary projects at national, has ensured that the UK regional and local levels across will be covered in red the UK. An update on some of Flanders poppies throughout these projects is provided here, 2014–2018. Thanks to however more details can be funding by the Heritage Lottery found within a downloadable Fund, free poppy seeds booklet on the Legion website: National Memorial Arboretum were sent to schools www.britishlegion.org.uk. There in 2014 and have are many diverse and innovative The UK’s national Centre of Remembrance has launched been successfully projects for all ages and interests so a series of special activities to commemorate the planted and do check out the website for the full centenary of the First World War. These include a WW1 nurtured. range of projects and inspirational Discovery Trail, Poppy Workshops for all ages and ways to get involved. abilities, poetry recitals and special school programmes. Visit www.thenma.org.uk for details.

The Tower of London Poppies ‘Only Remembered’:

From August to November 2014, a major artistic installation Michael Morpurgo entitled ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ saw the Tower of Michael Morpurgo has curated a collection London’s moat filled with over 888,246 ceramic poppies, each of stories whose sales help support the representing a British or Colonial fatality in the First World War. Legion. Perfect as a useful tool for pupils studying English, History and Citizenship. Created by renowned ceramic artist Paul Cummins and stage www.randomhouse.co.uk designer Tom Piper, the project was led by Historic Royal Palaces. The Royal British Legion was involved from the very early stages of the project and the charity’s permission was given for the use of the poppy as a symbol of Remembrance and hope, as the core theme of the installation. Every Man Millions of people visited the Tower of London to view the installation and to reflect on the human cost of the First World Remembered War. The Legion was fortunate to be one of six Service charities to benefit from the sale of the ceramic poppies – the total raised A Legion partnership with the was over £9.5 million. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. To date, over 150,000 Service men and women have been remembered – help us to commemorate all 1,117,000 who died in the First World War. “Today almost every one of us, whatever our racial, Following the assassination of 12 Archduke Ferdinand, heir to the ethnic, national or religious roots, is directly connected Austro-Hungarian Empire, in June 1914, Britain declared war on legacy: to the First World War. After all, the war of 1914 Germany. The First World War, became global and total: it was hard to escape its also known as ‘The Great War’, was fought between the Allies impact wherever you were.” (Britain, France, Russia and, from 1917, the USA) and the Central Professor Sir Hew Strachan, 2014 Powers (led by Germany, Austria- over 100 years Hungary with Turkey).

The First World War changed many people’s understanding of conflict. Young men from across the world either enlisted, or were conscripted, of conflict to fight. Battles took place in many locations – at sea, in Gallipoli (Turkey), in the Middle East and Africa, in Eastern Europe and in the infamous trenches of Western Europe. Millions of men died in terrible conditions.

The war introduced new weapons, leading to terrifying numbers of dead and severe injuries for hundreds of thousands. The new way of fighting a war also meant that battles went on for a very long time. New units for Armed Forces such as the RAF (Royal Air Force) were created, whilst other traditional forms of force, such as horse-led cavalry, became redundant after a single battle.

The First World War © IWM (Q 000743) After the Germans invaded Belgium and France, a defensive line of trenches and front lines was Four years of war 65 million fought established. Starting in Belgium it ran For Britain, the First World War 65 million men from 30 different south all the way to Switzerland. began on 4 August 1914 and countries fought in the First This line was known as the ended on 11 November 1918. World War. British Forces Western Front and is the area The formal Peace Treaty was included over 15,000 men from where the majority of British troops signed in 1919. When war British colonies in the Caribbean fought. It was also where the Battle broke out, the British Government – 185 of them were killed, 697 of the Somme took place almost asked for 100,000 volunteers injured and a further 1,071 died exactly 100 years ago. to join the Army: 750,000 of sickness. Many of the wounded applied in the first month. returned to Britain for treatment. First World War battles were also fought beyond Western Europe. In Gallipoli, British troops, along with Australian and New Zealand 628 awards for (ANZAC) Forces, attacked Turkey in the Dardanelles, beginning in extreme bravery February 1915 with British Naval The Victoria Cross, the highest action. Allied Forces were defeated military award, was awarded at Gallipoli and suffered over 628 times in the First World 200,000 casualties. The defeat War. Recipients included Jack led to a change of command at the Cornwell, just 16 when he top and the decision was made to remained at his battle post evacuate the Allied Forces, resulting despite suffering fatal injuries. in arguably the one successful aspect of the campaign. Today © IWM (Q 005100) © IWM (CO 000924) there are 31 Commonwealth War Graves Cemeteries on the Young soldiers Over nine million Dardanelles. It is estimated that around lives lost 250,000 British boys lied about their age in order to join up. More than nine million fighting The youngest was found to men were killed during the be just 12 and was duly sent conflict, one third of them home. Average life expectancy through disease. At least in the trenches was six weeks, 750,000 were British – considerably lower if you were a including the British Colonial junior officer or a stretcher-bearer. military fatalities, the figure increases to over 888,000. www.britishlegion.org.uk Jack Cornwell © IWM (Q 020883) © Crown Copyright 2015 Over the top 14 Going ‘over the top’ at 15 the Somme was ironically The Legacy of the the first taste of battle for many British troops. A large number of them were part of First World War ‘Lord Kitchener’s Volunteer GERMANY Army’and had enlisted to HOLLAND show their patriotism. BRITAIN © IWM (Q 070165)

BELGIUM The First World War is infamous for the number of lives it cost, however it also generated some extraordinary developments in medicine, warfare, technology and in the global political, Somme social and cultural landscapes. It also laid the foundations of region British Remembrance and saw the emergence of the poppy as a universally-recognised symbol of Remembrance and hope.

FRANCE © IWM (Q 000823)

The cavalry Medical advances Thankful Villages Language There is little doubt that the rapid Of the hundreds of thousands of Another legacy of the war was Even after two years of advances in warfare during the cities, towns and villages in Britain, the influence of trench language conflict, British military faith First World War contributed to the only 53 in England and Wales that contributed many words to was still being placed in millions of deaths, however it also were fortunate enough not to have modern English language: ‘lousy’ cavalry attacks. A cavalry left many hundreds of thousands anyone from their communities die and ‘crummy’ reflected the lice regiment was put on stand-by of men severely injured, surviving in the war. They were known as that infested the soldiers, as well at the Battle of the Somme the war with permanent, life- ‘Thankful Villages’ where ‘all as words like ‘dud’ (something that to ‘exploit the hole in the changing disabilities. The nature those who left to serve came doesn’t work) and ‘blotto’ (heavily German defences created by of trench warfare meant that the home again’. Not one Thankful intoxicated). Bits of toilet paper the British infantry attack.’ heads and faces of most of those Village exists in either Scotland floating across the battlefields © IWM (Q 000001) fighting were especially exposed or Ireland, where every single were given the nickname ‘trench to enemy fire, with shrapnel in community lost someone to the war. butterflies’ or ‘bum fodder’ The Battle of the Somme PALS particular causing horrific injuries. War memorials were erected leading to the word ‘bumpf’ During the war, both civil and all over Britain and several of the used today. Almost exactly 100 years ago, one of the most famous battles Many Pals battalions were military hospitals acted as theatres Thankful Villages (13 of which formed, made up of men from of experimental medical intervention, became ‘double thankful villages’ Ironically, many of the more serious of the First World War, the Battle of the Somme, began on the same villages or towns, developing pioneering techniques after the Second World War) also issues facing soldiers and their who enlisted to serve together. that have positively influenced constructed memorials to remember families after the First World War 1 July 1916. It is most famous because of the loss of 19,000 These battalions suffered many modern surgical techniques their community’s good fortune – injury, permanent disability, British troops killed in a single day (from a total of 58,000 catastrophic losses, with whole used today. and gratitude. homelessness, poverty and a units dying together, leaving nation challenged economically, casualties) – the first day of the battle. No other conflict, before their close-knit communities at Technology Memorials to the missing still exist today. Members of the home devastated. The First World War was the first Men who died in the war were British Armed Forces community,

or since, can state such a statistic. © IWM (Q 001247) time aircraft were used in conflict, buried close to where they fell, 100 years on from the First World initially for reconnaissance but resulting in the creation of military War, deal with regular risk and The battle began with an attack on British bombarded the German the highest number of deaths as pilots and engineers learned cemeteries across the world. The sacrifice. The Royal British Legion a 30km front in France, north of the lines for eight days in June 1916. ever on a single day of battle. Weapons of war from experience, this lead to Tyne Cot (Commonwealth War is here to support them and provide Somme river, between the towns They intended to destroy the Despite the losses, the British and The Battle of the Somme saw the development of many types Graves Commission) Cemetery life-long care, today and for as of Arras and Albert. Fighting German defences so that the British French continued the attack. German of aircraft, including fighters, in Belgium has almost 12,000 long as it is needed. © IWM (Q 001247) several different weapons raged for almost five months, from could attack over ‘no man’s land’ troops were reinforced from Verdun being used, including mines, bombers and ground-attack graves alone, over 8,000 of 1 July to 18 November 1916. and capture the German lines. and despite occasional Allied poisonous gas and machine planes. The war also saw the whom are unidentified – it is now Originally planned as a joint British The Germans, however, had built victories (Pozieres was captured guns. Some of the larger arrival of the first tank, designed the largest Commonwealth war and French offensive, its aims were heavy concrete bunkers together by the Australians in July) most machine guns needed 12 in 1915 and which initially saw cemetery in the world. Monuments both to exhaust the German forces with ferocious barbed wire barriers advances were rarely followed men to operate them. combat at the Somme. Poisonous erected to commemorate the and to gain territory. At the start – the British bombardment failed to up and were quickly lost again. gas had also been developed missing include the Menin Gate of 1916, however, the Battle of destroy either. Many of the poorly- and was used by both sides in at Ypres, Thiepval and Gallipoli. Verdun had drained France of constructed British munitions failed Poor weather, including snow, the conflict, with devastating The Cenotaph in Whitehall, most of their troops, thus the Somme to work and the eight-day British finally stopped the Somme offensive effects. British inventions included central London, was erected in attack became predominantly assault alerted the Germans to on 18 November 1916. During the tracer-bullet that left a visible 1919 as a temporary structure British and, in addition, was the impending attack – they were the attack, the Allies had gained The lost phosphorescent trail after firing, but replaced the following year brought forward from August to armed, ready and solidly defended approximately 12km of ground pinpointing potential areas of by a permanent stone Cenotaph. relieve the pressure on the French. by concrete and barbed wire. at an estimated cost of 620,000 generation attack and creating light over Its name literally means “Empty casualties (420,000 British, The Battle of the Somme enemy lines at night. Tomb” in Greek. Sir Douglas Haig, the new The British, having been led to 200,000 French). The Germans had dire political and social British Commander in Chief, took believe there would be little enemy lost around 500,000 men. consequences in Britain. over the planning and execution opposition, were pushed back People spoke of “the lost of the attack and worked with by the German machine guns or generation” and many found General Rawlinson, whose Fourth simply mown down as they crossed it almost impossible to justify Army was to lead the assault. In no man’s land, leading to the the loss of 88,000 men per preparation for the attack, the infamous statistics relating to mile of ground gained. © IWM (Q 008467) www.britishlegion.org.uk The most 16 destructive 17 conflict in history The Second World War The Second World War killed more people, damaged more property and cost far more financially than any other war. Total casualties are estimated from 50 to 70 million people.

Just 21 years after the end of the First World War, a Second taking Bucharest, Estonia and Budapest. In the Battle of the Bulge, World War began in September 1939 when Nazi Germany however, in the Ardennes region of France, the Germans killed 19,000 invaded Poland. Of the Western European countries opposing of the US forces which delayed Germany, only Britain succeeded in avoiding invasion. the Allied march into Germany. In 1945, the concentration camp By October 1939, British men between the ages of 20 and at Auschwitz-Berkenau was liberated, revealing the horrors of 41 were required to register, ready “to be called up into the Holocaust and the true scale of the murderous reality of the Nazi the Services”. regime. German rockets continued The Blitz, London 1941 © IWM (HU 001129) Shortly after the war began, it was 1942 saw fighting spread to to rain down on London and the often described in Britain as ‘the Africa as well as further intense British retaliated with the bombing A global war phoney war’ with few actual signs bombing of England and Germany. of the German city of Dresden. of conflict – civilians who had fled In the Pacific, Japanese expansion The war spread across Europe, London at the first signs of trouble continued into Borneo, Java and The Russians reached Berlin on into Africa, the Middle East, started drifting back to the capital. Sumatra. The fall of Singapore 21 April 1945 and Hitler the Far East and the Pacific. In Gas masks were distributed as to the Japanese resulted in over committed suicide a few days 1941 the USA joined the Allies people waited for ‘the real war’ 25,000 people being taken prisoner. later. Mussolini was executed by following the Japanese attack to begin in earnest. On 10 May Many thousands of them would partisans and Germany formally on Pearl Harbour. The longest 1940, Winston Churchill replaced die in Japanese camps in the surrendered on 7 May. 8 May was battle, the Battle of the Atlantic, Neville Chamberlain as Britain’s following years, including those declared Victory in Europe (VE) lasted five years, eight months, Prime Minister and the same day, forced to work on the construction Day. In the meantime in the Pacific, & five days from 1939 to 1945. Germany invaded France, Belgium of the Burma and Sumatra the war had raged on. The British and Holland (Denmark and Norway railways. Later that year the war advanced in Burma, the US forces Pearl Harbour, had already been captured). The turned – the US destroyed five had invaded Iwo Jima, followed by 7 December 1941 Blitzkrieg began and the highly Japanese warships and German the Philippines and Okinawa. The effective German forces drove the forces were defeated by General Japanese at last began to withdraw British Expeditionary Forces back, Montgomery’s troops at El from China. Harry Truman, the taking Paris along the way. British Alamein in Africa. new US President, sanctioned the © IWM (OEM 003606) forces retreated and 226,000 of use of atomic bombs on Japan. them, along with 110,000 French, In 1943, Germany surrendered to On 6 August, one was dropped were rescued from the beaches of the Russians at Stalingrad, Hitler’s on Hiroshima and three days later, Dunkirk by a multitude of various first major defeat of the war. The another followed on Nagasaki. The ships, many returning safely to the UK. work of the British code-breakers Japanese surrendered on 14 August A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying at Bletchley Park, combined with 1945. The Second World War over East London during the The Battle of Britain, which lasted long-range aircraft, was having a was finally at an end. Victory over Battle of Britain, 1940 © IWM (C 005422) from July to September 1940, was considerable effect on the Allied Japan (VJ) Day is commemorated the first battle ever to be fought efforts. The German fleet pulled on 15 August each year. entirely in the air. The RAF was back and the Italians surrendered Operation The Holocaust narrowly victorious and Britain was alongside the German forces The Home Front Overlord One of the most significant able, crucially, to postpone the in North Africa. Italy’s surrender Back in Britain, day-to-day living events of the war was the German invasion plans. The Blitz in September prompted Hitler’s changed enormously. Householders D-Day, 6 June 1944, Holocaust, the Nazi’s systematic of Britain’s cities lasted throughout invasion of Italy, slowing the Allied had to conform to ‘Blackout’ codenamed ‘Operation murder of over six million the war, claiming around 40,000 progression. In the Pacific, US forces restrictions, covering windows and Overlord’ was the largest people. The Nazis targeted civilian lives and with places gained victory over the Japanese at doors to prevent showing the enemy amphibious attack from Jewish people, Roma (Gypsies), of national heritage (such as Guadalcanal while British and Indian where to drop bombs. Place names water to land, in history. disabled people, Slavs and Buckingham Palace) being hit. forces together commenced their and street signs were dismantled or 156,000 British, US and Poles, the majority of whom The City of Coventry was almost guerrilla campaign in Burma. adjusted to confuse the Germans Canadian troops landed in were persecuted and murdered. completely destroyed. in case of invasion. By 1940, Northern France and broke By 1944 the Allied landings in rationing had been introduced for © USHMM through the German defences In 1941 the war extended further Anzio continued to apply pressure food (sugar and sweets, tea, fruit, (over 370,000 Allied Forces globally, with Germany invading in Italy but the Germans counter- meat and dairy products) as well as in total were involved in Allied victory Greece and Yugoslavia, then attacked and the mediaeval cotton and petrol. Most people used the Battle of Normandy). Russia. The fierce Russian winter, monastery of Monte Cassino was every inch of outdoor space to grow Over 2,500 casualties 8 May 1945 marked VE Day (Victory in Europe) however however, crippled the German destroyed after Allied bombing. additional food for themselves and were recorded on the first the Second World War was not yet over. Thousands of Allied forces and when Russia fought It took three battles for the Allies to their families. Thousands of people, day alone, however ultimate Forces were still fighting in the Far East against the Japanese back, the Eastern Front stagnated. capture the area, in large part due mainly children, were evacuated success meant the beginning of and thousands more were suffering unimaginable hardship and to the Polish forces in their midst. from towns and cities and sent to the end for the Nazi regime. persecution as Prisoners of War. It was not until 15 August 1945 On 7 December 1941, the Japanese Rome was liberated by the Allies live with strangers in the country or that the official Allied Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) was attacked the US Forces in Pearl in June, just before D-Day and the by the sea where it was regarded declared, marking the global end of the Second World War. Harbour. Germany promptly declared Allied invasion of France. as safe from the German bombs. war on the US and Japan invaded Women worked in jobs previously Right: Landing craft on Juno Beach, www.britishlegion.org.uk the Philippines, Burma and Hong Hitler’s troubles were compounded carried out by men and contributed Normandy, 6 June 1940 © IWM (B 005217) Kong – the Pacific War had started. when the Russians counter-attacked, enormously to the war effort. 18 The Legacy of the Second world war

Veterans from the Second World War who are still living are generally in their 90s or older. Many live with original war injuries and others with disabilities developed or exacerbated as a consequence of the war. Others face dealing with hidden disabilities such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), coping with the memories of wartime experiences and trying to manage the devastating effects of war that can affect everyday life.

Britain after the culturally. 70 years on there are Second World War unresolved issues and, for certain Following victory in 1945, Britain communities, unanswered questions suffered the repercussions of a and understandable resentments. global conflict and it took many The Japanese Government is years to restore its pre-war standards often criticised for the atrocities of living. An economic depression sanctioned by its wartime regime meant that rationing continued and there remain organisations and low fuel stocks led to factories tasked with tracing Nazi war and other businesses unable to criminals to bring them to justice. work at the levels demanded for For the veterans who fought in the rebuilding a nation devastated by conflict, for those left behind and almost six years of war. Electricity for the families and descendants was restricted and the winter of of those veterans, the effects of the Memorial to 1946/47 was one of the worst war continue. on record. The British Empire the Far East started its decline with India granted Today the needs of the Armed independence in 1947 and most Forces community from the Prisoners of War of the rest of the Empire by 1970. Second World War generation The division of the continent of are as diverse and varied as the Over 50,000 British troops Europe into two separate blocs individuals themselves. The Royal were captured by the (broadly Communist and non- British Legion offers care, support Japanese in the Second Communist) led to the USA and and very practical assistance to World War – 12,433 of Russia assuming super-power veterans of all ages, and their them were killed or died proportions and the slide into the families, for as long as that help in captivity. This memorial Cold War. is needed. Elderly, frail or disabled commemorates those who veterans and widows can choose died, those who lived through The 1950s saw a steady flow full-time, permanent residential the persecution and suffering to Britain of immigrants from or nursing care or remain in their William Stoneman of the camps and those still Commonwealth nations, mainly own homes. They may need D-Day veteran living with the effects of those the Caribbean and the Indian specialist help from dementia experiences. This building nursing professionals or require subcontinent. Most of these people Squadron Leader William is located at the National day or respite care in a safe remained in Britain and made lives Stoneman was a rear gunner on Memorial Arboretum. and comfortable environment. for themselves and their families, D-Day. His job was to fly behind Alternatively, living in their own contributing to the multi-cultural the enemy lines, dropping homes, they may need occasional, British society of today. Britain was decoy parachutists to confuse reliable assistance with a range of also one of the founder members the enemy. of the United Nations, formed in tasks. They may require handyman services or need pension advice, Veterans march past the Cenotaph 1945 and four years later part of “The idea was to confuse the they may be lonely and want some NATO which originally comprised Germans. The decoy men we company or wish to attend a local ten Western European Countries, dropped exploded on impact with the ground and left the enemy Remembrance event. The Legion including Britain, along with the uncertain about what was happening. We were terrified but we is there to meet all these needs, USA and Canada. Membership of weren’t going to let that stop us. We knew the future of everything NATO for Britain meant a smaller all year round.

© IWM (D 018156) depended on victory. but better-equipped force, able to deal with a wide variety of tasks After all those hours of deafening noise, I now suffer from deafness across the globe. and tinnitus. But just as we did all we could to help the lads on the beaches, the Legion has done all they can for me. They secured me The Second World War still a Disablement War Pension, provided me with special hearing aids impacts life in Britain today; we and helped me through a very stressful time when my wife fell ill.” are a changed nation socially, Veterans at a rehabilitation VE Day celebrations www.britishlegion.org.uk centre in Roehampton, 1944 at a Legion Care Home economically, politically and Conflicts since Not forgotten 20 1945: There are over 16,000 21 names on the Armed Forces Recent Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Palestine 1947 Staffordshire. conflicts Malaya 1948

Yangtse 1949 Sadly conflicts around the world continue today, for many Korea 1950 reasons. The British Armed Forces, however, have undergone Canal major changes since 1945. Zone 1951

Kenya 1952 © Crown copyright 2015 National Service ended in 1963 following 1968 a reduction of Britain’s colonial commitments and the development of a nuclear deterrent. Britain’s Cyprus 1955 There has been only one year membership of the United Nations and NATO, (1968) since the end of the together with rapid technological advances, Second World War when a have resulted in a smaller but better-equipped Suez 1956 British Service person has not force, able to deal with a variety of tasks. been killed. Increasingly British Forces have taken on peacekeeping roles including recent projects in Oman and Sierra Leone tackling the Ebola crisis, peace Dhofar 1962 support in other African countries, defence support and training in Afghanistan and a tri-service presence in the Falkland Islands.

Aron Shelton Aden and As the nature of conflict has changed, so too have Aron Shelton was seriously Radfen 1964 the advances in medical support, technological injured in 2007 by an and transport developments as well as public Improvised Explosive Device understanding of the needs of the British Armed (IED) in Afghanistan – his close Forces community. Injured Service men and friend Thomas was killed in the Borneo 1965 women, who would almost certainly have died same incident. Aron’s left leg in earlier conflicts, survive today. They have the was amputated the following immediate back up and assistance of superbly- year and his right leg was Northern trained Forces medical experts and later the permanently and severely rehabilitation and recovery programmes funded

damaged. Ireland 1969 © Crown copyright 2015 or managed by, amongst others, The Royal British Legion. Bereaved families are supported by the Aron was helped by the Legion Legion, given legal expertise to guide them through who supported his claim for Emergency inquests and offered immediate practical assistance benefits he had initially been Falklands 1982 through the bleakest of times. Respite care, family denied – he is now both a assistance holidays and long-term family support remain at member of the Legion and works Medics and reservists from the the centre of Legion welfare services, helping the for the organisation, fundraising Gulf 1 1991 British Armed Forces responded Armed Forces community live on. for the Poppy Appeal and rapidly and effectively to the speaking to school children in Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone his area. He has also become – over 110 medically-trained a devoted father. Balkans 1999 personnel were sent there in October 2014. “I used to be a Sierre rebel, now I’m Leone 2000 £40 million proud of who I am, The Royal British Legion what I’ve done, the raised over £40 million in Afghanistan 2014 to support thousands of friends I’ve lost and 2001 people from the British Armed Forces community eligible for those still Serving to its charitable help. keep us all safe.” Gulf 2 2003

www.britishlegion.org.uk 22 unitsand smashing downdoors.” infirearms where women areserving Forces.Ithasbeendonealreadyinthe frontlineforpolice,example, Armed ofwomenintoanybranch ofthe to applyfor…itis wrong torestricttheentry think itisrightnow toexcludewomenfromconsidering anyrolethattheywant ”There arewomen flyingfighterbombersatthemoment overIraqandIdon’t www © IWM (HU 016541) life isimpaired. seriously often ones areindanger. Daily family tension, knowingtheirloved- separation andtimesofgreat They canfacelongperiodsof Forces. in theBritishArmed ofmenserving wives orpartners affected byconflicttoday, asthe Many womenaredirectly A courage. Both womenreceivedtheGeorgeCrossfortheirexceptional atRavensbruckconcentrationcamp. executed bytheGermans whilstfulfillingtheirsecretroles.VioletteSzabo was tortured Executives intheSecondWorld War, werebothcapturedand Violette SzaboandOdetteChurchill,SpecialOperations Special Operations Executives (SOEs) t home r .britishlegion.o IN CONFLICT the Role of Women

© IWM (OP-TELIC 03-010-09-065) © The National Archives g.uk Below: NoorKhan Left: VioletteSzabo&OdetteChurchill © The National Archives Service (8.4%) Service (9.6%)andNaval in theArmy higher intheRAF(14.3%)than intake offemalepersonnelwas and 9%ofotherranks;the women, 12%atofficerlevel Forces personnelwere Armed In July2014,10%ofBritish A t work Source: D Defence Secretary MichaelFallon, December2014 Defence Secretary ASA 20 minuteslateragedjust26. shell anddiedlessthan German She washitbyafragmentfrom close totheBelgianfrontline. a tentedmedicalclearingstation nurse fromWakefield at serving in1891,wasa Spindler, born grave amongst10,000.N worked –hersistheonlyfemale alongside themenwithwhomshe inBelgium, Lijssenthoek Cemetery of theFirstWorld War isburiedat One ofthefewfemalecasualties their foresight wasremarkable. intimesofwar’– ‘act assupport (VAD) the Only afewyearsearlierin1909, the FirstWorld War beingdeclared. mobilised fordutywithinaweekof theywereimmediatelyService, and Territorial ForceNursing and alongwiththeQAINSReserve Exclusivelyopentowomen Service. Nursing 1902, replacingtheArmy (QAINS) wasestablishedin M Queen Alexandra’s Imperial medical, clericalandotherjobs. and Britain,fulfillingessential inFrance in activecombat,served though notallowedtotakepart Corps of theWomen’s Army Auxiliary included 57,000W to theconflict.Theirnumber playing activeroleslinkeddirectly had increasedby1.5million,many of Britishwomeninemployment andby1918everything thenumber Seacole. Mary by Florence Nightingaleand role ofnursing,asepitomised wasthe toundertake permitted the onlytaskthatwomenwere Before theFirstWorld War, about The FirstWorld War ilitary N V id Detachment AidDetachment oluntary setupin1917)who, was formed in Britain to inBritainto was formed ursing War changed ervice Service AAC s (members ellie

sabotage andsubversion. missions overseascomprised secret andhighlydangerous smashing downdoors.” unitsand infirearms serving for example,wherewomenare already inthefrontlineforpolice, Forces. Ithasbeendone Armed women intoanybranchofthe of is wrongtorestricttheentry that theywanttoapplyfor…it women fromconsideringanyrole think itisrightnowtoexclude the momentoverIraqandIdon’t women flyingfighterbombersat roles.”Thereare in frontlineinfantry the Army’s banonwomenserving announced thathewantedtoend Defence Secretary, MichaelFallon, future. InDecember2014,thethen this islikelytochangeinthenear hand-to-hand combat,though exceptin male counterparts, their rolesequaltomanyof Forces, across theBritishArmed Today womenplayleadingroles Armed Women inthe and N V Operations Executives) including also recruitedasSOEs(Special filled bymen.37Women were on manyoftherolespreviously labouringandtaking on farms, and feedthoseathomebyworking thewareffort vital jobstosupport 1939, meantthatwomentookon Women’s in LandArmy, formed directly involvedinwarwork.The and 80%ofmarriedwomenwere By 1943,90%ofsinglewomen bombingcampaigns. German and dockyards,alltargetsfor camps at radarstations,military women inBritainwerebased in hospitalsnearthefrontlines, fromnursingroles arenas. Apart andcivilian in bothmilitary women’s roleswereextended During theSecondWorld War, The SecondWorld War hurchill Churchill Szabo,Odette iolette oor Inyat Khan Forces today Forces today , whose www.cavellnursestrust.org millions sinceherdeath. forgiveness haveinspired professionalism and anyone”. Hercompassion, towards hatred orbitterness not enough.Imusthaveno comments was“patriotismis and theUSA.Oneofherlast despite protestsfromBritain executed byfiringsquad, arrested, chargedandlater forcesshewas the German hand overAlliedsoldiersto humanity”. Afterrefusingto the quarrel–ourworkisfor in her staffto“takenopart from bothsides,sheinstructed Brussels nursingthewounded during conflict. Working in and assistinghercountrymen by theenemyforprotecting War; aBritishnurseexecuted figure fromtheFirst World Edith Cavellwasaniconic Cavell Edith him, he was there.” – thatnight,when Ineeded kept megoing, mealive could gettome. Thepadre 20 minutesormorebeforethey called forthemedicsbutittook and apadreopenedup.They like hell.Ibangedonthedoor – notabigdistancebutithurt the showerblocksindarkness across theground,headingto Idraggedmyself the nerves. right throughmyleg,cuttingall went shrapnel fromthemortar so muchbloodbecausethe after Iwasinjured,losing such ashock.About10minutes fatal shrapnelwounds.“Itwas resulted inhersufferingnear her basebyIraqiinsurgents in Iraqwhenanattackagainst In 2006,Bowenwasontour a gunnerintheRoyalArtillery. at16andbecame British Army Samantha Bowenjoinedthe amantha BowenSamantha

Amber Rose Revah

For over 100 years, men and women from all over the world have served both At the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, within and alongside the British Armed Forces. Thousands left their homes, families thousands of Indian soldiers fought as and countries to fight for a nation they had never seen, often simply to bring part of a total Allied Force of 40,000 honour and glory to their communities. Many faced issues of racism, ignorance – the Indian troops suffered enormous and lack of understanding of their cultural, social and religious differences. losses in the form of 4,200 casualties.

Five high-profile British Indians lent their support to a Legion event to The First World War Lord Bilimoria During the First World War, over one million ethnic minority commemorate the centenary of the troops contributed to the British Allied Forces. Wherever Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea, Britain had established colonies, local regiments were formed CBE DL, founder of Cobra Battle of Neuve Chappelle. They and went on to serve across the world. Troops came from Beer, remembering Subedar India, Africa and the Caribbean to join others from Canada, Major Thakur Singh Bahadur are pictured here commemorating Australia and New Zealand, strengthening the Allied Forces who was awarded the and making an immeasurable difference to the outcome of the Military Cross by King all those Indians who fought, were war. As well as ethnic diversity, there was historic religious George VI in recognition injured and died in the battle. diversity in the British Forces. 40,000 British Jews fought of gallantry. in the First World War and men from Hindu, Muslim, Sikh Pictured right and Buddhist faiths also fought as part of the Empire troops. The Second World War “I am aware of the Walter Tull Johnson Beharry In the Second World War, nearly three million ethnic minority troops volunteered to fight in the Army, RAF sacrifices that have been Born in Kent in 1888, the Johnson Beharry was awarded and Navy. The Indian subcontinent contributed the largest made, I feel that we son of a Barbados carpenter the Victoria Cross in 2005 volunteer Army in history to the Allied cause. Of a total and a white English mother, for valour in the British and population of 384 million, over 2.5 million Service men have a strong obligation Walter Tull became a Commonwealth Armed Forces, and women volunteered. 700,000 of them fought at Burma, to remember, be forever professional footballer and the first VC recipient for 20 others served in the North African campaign, in Eritrea, played for Clapton, Tottenham years. Born in Grenada in the Abyssinia, Iran, Iraq and the Far East and of course at grateful and inspired by and Northampton. As part of West Indies, Beharry joined Kohima. Hundreds of thousands of Indian women served these men.” the 1st Football Battalion of his regiment in 2001 and in the Naval Service and Auxiliary Corps. It is estimated that Lord Bilimoria the Middlesex Regiment, Tull was trained to drive armoured a further 14 million Indian people took part in other forms was given officer status and vehicles. In Iraq in 2004, of war work. Five Sikh soldiers were awarded the Victoria made a Second Lieutenant, an Beharry carried out two acts of Cross, the highest military award for bravery, in recognition extraordinary achievement for great heroism, saving the lives of their actions in battles in Burma. someone with his background of his comrades – both in direct at the time. Killed on 25 face of the enemy, under intense Gurkhas, renowned for their extraordinary bravery, have March 1918, his men tried fire, at great personal risk to been an integral part of the British Forces for 200 years, to retrieve his body but failed himself (he sustained serious fighting in all major conflicts including Afghanistan. 130,000 – he has no marked grave. injuries). “Beharry displayed Gurkhas fought in the Second World War, their bravery His Commanding Officer extreme gallantry and resulting in ten Victoria Crosses. The inscription on the described him as “brave and unquestioned valour, despite Gurkha Memorial in central London reads: “Bravest of conscientious” and added intense direct attacks, personal the brave, most generous of the generous, never had “we have lost a faithful officer injury and damage to his a country more faithful friends than you.” (Words of and personally I have lost vehicle in the face of relentless Professor Sir Ralph Turner MC.) a friend”. enemy action.” Some 375,000 men and women from African countries also served with the Allied Forces in the Second World War, taking part in campaigns in the Middle East, North and East Nasser Hussain Africa, Italy and the Far East. Men of the 81st and 82nd Former England cricket West African Divisions served with great distinction against Captain Nasser Hussain the Japanese in Burma. commemorating Bal Bahadur, who rescued a colleague Today black and minority ethnic (BME) men and during the Battle of Neuve women make up 7.1% of the UK Regular Armed Forces. Chapelle, 1915 and returned The Army has the highest proportion of BME Regular to rescue another, but was Forces (10.3%), followed by Naval Service (3.5%) badly wounded when hit by and RAF (2.1%). a German bullet. www.britishlegion.org.uk Hardeep Singh Kohli Pictured above 26 Diversity www.britishlegion.org.uk 27 Lesson Ideas These questions relate to the Diversity section of this pack. Additional information can be group debate found in the enclosed DVD set.

3. Nand Singh, in the 1/11th Sikh Regiment, was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery during the Second World War. & activities 4. Private Joseva Saqanagonedau Vatubua, from Figi, served with The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, and was killed in 2011 while serving in Afghanistan. 5. Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry VC carrying the Olympic Torch, 2012

3. © IWM (IND 003975)

1. © IWM (Q 003983) 4.

1. Indian cyclists during the Battle of the Somme, 1916 2. West Indian troops in Britain: Two motor cyclists: Sapper Hibbert (left) and Corporal Simmons, both from Jamaica, serving with the Royal Engineers at Clitheroe, Lancashire, 1941

• Imagine you are a soldier from • Find out about Johnson Beharry. • Joseva Vatubua was from • What do you know about the a Caribbean country who has Where was he born, what job Fiji and part of British Forces Ghurkas? List ten things about enlisted to fight with the British does he do in the British Army, in Afghanistan. Find out about them and find some images to Forces in the First World War. what happened to him? his life, background and support what you have found. Write a letter home, describing List three positive things he has family. a day in your life and giving done since he was injured • Choose two VC recipients from examples of what you are doing – try and find images to reflect • Why would men from certain the last 100 years who were not and how you are feeling. your selection. countries be especially suited born in Britain but who achieved to fighting with the British in this highest award for their • Find out how many countries sent different conflicts? Consider actions. Write about them and older students men to fight alongside and within their backgrounds, cultures and compare their stories. the British Armed Forces during upbringing including education, • What kinds of issues would the First and Second World personal expectations and even soldiers from diverse ethnic Wars. Try and find specific case the geographical landscape of communities have dealt with, studies of men from a few of their home countries. fighting within and alongside these countries. What sort of British Forces in the First challenges did they face? • Research Walter Tull. Why do World War? you think he was made an • Why do you think someone officer when this was such an • How have things changed in would fight for a country they extraordinary event for someone 100 years and why? have never lived in? of his background? 28 Remembrance www.britishlegion.org.uk 29 These questions relate to the Work of the Legion & Remembrance section of this pack. Additional information can be found in the enclosed DVD set.

A young girl admires the 20,000 All ages ACTIVITIES flags with messages to D-Day heroes planted near Asnelles • Organise a trip to the National • Find out about the men and Memorial Arboretum and book women in the British Armed in with the learning team there. Forces today: Why not try a Discovery Trail – What sorts of tasks are they or a fun and interactive asked to fulfil? ‘Poppy Activity’ workshop? – How does life for their family www.thenma.org.uk/learn and friends differ from those of people outside the forces? • Find out about the poppy and – How does Remembrance 1. the story behind it. What does connect them to the British it mean to you personally? public? Write a poem or a piece of 1. Serving personnel enjoying the OLDER STUDENTS company of a D-Day veteran prose to reflect your thoughts • Find out about the ‘Unknown 2. A garden of Remembrance and ideas. • Why is Remembrance Warrior’. How was he selected, 3. VJ celebrations in London, 1945 significant today? where is he buried and what is 4. The National Memorial • Plan a fun summer activity the tradition that links him and Arboretum at night with family and friends to • How does Remembrance link British Royal brides? 5. Millions of people, both young commemorate 70 years since to the role of the Armed Forces and old, make the personal VJ Day and celebrate the end in modern Britain? • Find out who lays the wreaths decision to wear a poppy in of the Second World War of poppies at the Cenotaph in Remembrance each year against Japan, in the Far East. Whitehall on Remembrance 6. Students scatter poppies in • How did the First World War the fountain during Silence in Choose some Second World affect life today, giving Sunday. Describe what you think the Square, London War ration recipes to make your examples? of when you see the veterans party even more realistic. marching past afterwards. • Does Remembrance have to • Design your own war memorial be sad? Explain your answer • Research the different medals to reflect your thoughts on and describe how Remembrance from various conflicts involving Remembrance today. Who are affects your thoughts and feelings. British Forces. What are the key you commemorating and where differences between them? Why will your memorial be located? • Why do you think people felt not design your own medal – Remembrance was so important what is it for and who do you • Create your own First World after the First World War? Do you think should receive it? War Centenary Remembrance think that differs for people today? project: it could involve planting • Find out about the different poppy seeds, baking poppy • Find out about The Royal British monuments and memorials in cupcakes, researching family or Legion as a membership London or in your local area. 2. local community connections to organisation. What important Who do they commemorate and the war or supporting an existing roles do members play and what do they make you think project in your area. Check the how does this help the public about when you see them? Legion website for ideas and understand the work of the inspiration. charity?

• Why not extend your • List five things that The Royal Remembrance activities this year British Legion does, all year and hold a special event for the round. Include something about Legion? You could have a ‘dress the people helped by the Legion. red and black’ day to reflect the colours of the poppy or make • Find out about VE Day and 3. ceramic poppies like the ones at VJ Day. Why are they special the Tower of London. 3. © IWM (EA 75893) 4. days in the British calendar? Talk to people in your family or community who remember those days and ask them to tell you about their experiences.

5. 6. 30 The role of women www.britishlegion.org.uk Injury & disability www.britishlegion.org.uk 31 These questions relate to The Role of Women in These questions relate to both World War sections Conflict section of this pack. Additional information and the Recent Conflicts section of this pack. Additional can be found in the enclosed DVD set. information can be found in the enclosed DVD set.

1. Disabled First World War 4. Female Service personnel fulfil veterans at Roehampton using key roles in the British Armed their newly-fitted artificial limbs Forces 2. Wounded British troops, 5. UK Armed Forces personnel evacuated from the Normandy working closely with a local beaches, June 1944 community in Afghanistan 3. Battleback Centre in Lillieshall

4. Legion-funded rehabilitation, recovery and sports activities for wounded, sick and injured veterans

1. Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps mechanics at work at Abbeville, France, 1917

2. A female gas lamp cleaner outside Victoria station, Manchester, 1917

3. Wrens working at a naval exchange station, Scotland, 1942

3. © IWM (A 013717) 5. 2. © IWM (H 039209) 4. younger students older students all ages group discussion older students all ages

• What jobs did women do • Compare and contrast the • What was life like for women • What issues do you think women • Research the kinds of • Find out about a Legion • Discuss how attitudes to disability in the First and Second role of women in conflict on the British Home Front in the Armed Forces might face disabilities that men who project to help veterans have changed in the past World Wars in Britain? 100 years ago and today. between 1918 and 1945? today and how do you think they fought in the First and and their families, e.g. the 70 years. may choose to deal with them? Second World Wars Battleback Centre in Lillieshall, • What kind of jobs can • How did women contribute • How did life change for most experienced. What kinds Bravo 22 Company, Galanos • Check the Legion website women do in the Armed to the British war effort in women after 1945? of treatment, rehabilitation House. Briefly describe the and DVDs for case studies Forces today? the First World War, both and practical support were project, explain who it helps of injured veterans and their at home and closer to the • How do women today benefit available to them? How and include your personal families. Watch their stories battlefields? from changes made in the last does this differ from support opinion about it. and make a note of your 70 years? for injured veterans today? thoughts and reactions. • How have technological • Write a letter to a disabled Which do you remember and other developments • Find out about memorials to veteran (this could be someone best and why? improved the lives of women women in London. Who do elderly and frail or a much in the last 100 years? Give they commemorate, what do younger veteran); make it as some relevant examples to they look like and why is the positive and supportive as support your answer. design appropriate? Check out possible and include your own monumenttowomenwhitehall.com encouraging thoughts and to start your research. how you personally overcome challenges in your life. Photographs, images and case studies used with the kind permission of: 32 Howard Bagshaw Useful numbers Alison Baskerville Adrian Brooks, Imagewise Ltd Justin Creedy-Smith The Ministry of Defence (MoD) & Websites National Army Museum Sean Power The National Archives, London The Trustees of the Imperial War Museum, London United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington The Royal British Poppy Appeal Poppy Scotland National Armed Forces Memorial Sculptures by Ian Rank-Broadley Legion 01622 717172 0131 557 2782 Memorial (National Memorial Arboretum) www.poppyscotland.org.uk Haig House Arboretum Designed by 199 Borough High Street The Poppy Brand+Soul London SE1 1AA Remembrance Croxall Road, Alrewas www.brandandsoul.co.uk www.britishlegion.org.uk Factory Staffordshire DE13 7AR 01283 245100 Helpline: 0808 802 8080 020 8940 3305 Travel www.thenma.org.uk 01473 660 800 www.remembrancetravel.org.uk

Imperial War United States Museum Holocaust 020 7416 5000 Memorial www.iwm.org.uk Museum www.ushmm.org

National Memorial Arboretum

The National Commonwealth The London Archives War Graves Jewish Cultural 020 8876 3444 Commission Centre www.nationalarchives.gov.uk 01628 634221 www.theholocaustexplained.org www.cwgc.org © IWM (EA 65948)

Bruce Castle Veterans UK National Army Museum Helpline: 0808 1914 218 Museum www.veterans-uk.info (Haringey Culture, Libraries 020 7730 0717 and Learning Service) www.nam.ac.uk 020 8808 8772 Bletchley Park www.haringey.gov.uk 01908 640404 www.bletchleypark.org.uk

Menin Gate

The Gallipoli The Gurkha Thiepval Visitors’ Association Museum Centre www.gallopoli-association.org 01962 842832 8 Rue de l’Ancre www.thegurkhamuseum.co.uk 80300 Thiepval, France 00 33 (0)3 22 83 14 18 Wiener Library www.historial.org 020 7636 7247 www.wienerlibrary.co.uk

Bletchley park To the memory of the fallen and the future of the living