BRITISH ARMY SUPPORTING EDUCATION WHY DO WE REMEMBER THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER? BRITISH ARMY SUPPORTING WHY DO WE REMEMBER EDUCATION THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER? HOW DO WE REMEMBER THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER? REMEMBRANCE PARADES TWO MINUTE SILENCE POPPIES But what is the meaning behind remembrance and how has this changed over the years? LESSON SLIDES 2 BRITISH ARMY SUPPORTING WHY DO WE REMEMBER EDUCATION THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER? WHY WAS THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER WHY WAS THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IN 1918? IN THE YEARS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE WAR? WHY DO WE REMEMBER THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER? What is the significance and importance of the day? How has the meaning of the day changed over time? WHY IS THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE POPPY? IMPORTANT TODAY? LESSON SLIDES 3 BRITISH ARMY SUPPORTING WHY DO WE REMEMBER EDUCATION THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER? PART 1: WHAT WAS THE ARMISTICE? OBJECTIVE DISCUSSION POINT To explore the reaction to What does the word the Armistice in 1918. Armistice mean? LESSON SLIDES 4 BRITISH ARMY SUPPORTING WHY DO WE REMEMBER EDUCATION THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER? The 11th of November 1918 marked the final day of fighting during the First World War. The war had begun in 1914 – four long years before. LESSON SLIDES 5 BRITISH ARMY SUPPORTING WHY DO WE REMEMBER EDUCATION THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER? Soldiers from Britain and the British Empire had persevered in their fight against German forces. By 1918 the Germans were in retreat on the battlefields of France and Belgium. © IWM (Q 3365) LESSON SLIDES 6 BRITISH ARMY SUPPORTING WHY DO WE REMEMBER EDUCATION THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER? At 5.10 on the morning of 11th of November 1918, the Armistice between the Allies (essentially Britain, France and America) and Germany was signed in a railway carriage just outside Paris. For the soldiers on the frontline it came into effect at 11am. LESSON SLIDES 7 BRITISH ARMY SUPPORTING WORKSHEET EDUCATION (SOLDIERS IN FRANCE HOW DID PEOPLE RESPOND TO THE ARMISTICE?: FIGHTING FRONT AND BELGIUM) 1. For each of these descriptions describe how that person may be ‘As far as the Armistice itself was ‘The Armistice came – the day we had ‘When it came, the Armistice was more concerned, it was kind of an anti-climax. dreamed of. The guns stopped, the fighting than a surprise – we heard about it in feeling and why. We were too far gone, too exhausted really, stopped. Four years of noise and bangs shock and disbelief. We wouldn’t believe it to enjoy it. There was no cheering – no ended in silence. We were stunned. I had until we marched into a farmyard and our 2. Extend your thinking by explaining singing. We celebrated the Armistice in been out since 1914. I should have been officer said, ‘now you and I can breathe the reasons why there would be silence and thankfulness that it was all happy – I was sad. I thought of the friends again – the war is over.’ Beyond that there different reactions. over. We were drained of all emotion.’ I had lost.’ was no emotion whatsoever. We simply went into the village and lay down. I don’t Corporal Clifford Lane, 1st Battalion, Sergeant Major Richard Tobin, think we quite got it.’ Hertfordshire Regiment Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division Private James Hewitt, Leicestershire Regiment LESSON SLIDES 8 BRITISH ARMY SUPPORTING WORKSHEET EDUCATION HOW DID PEOPLE RESPOND TO THE ARMISTICE?: HOME FRONT (CIVILIANS BACK IN BRITAIN) ‘November 11! A day never to be forgotten! ‘We came to school this morning hardly ‘Everywhere was closed down and no more The reactions on the fighting front and Practically all work was suspended, and realising what a great day this was going work was done that day. Then the town home front were so different because... the streets became packed with people. In to be. We cheered until we were hoarse. thronged with thousands of people giving front of Buckingham Palace was one vast At 11am the guns were fired, the church vent to their feelings. It was a wonderful flock of people. When the King and Queen bells were rung. We went out into the road sight. Towards night it rained – and even appeared from time to time on the balcony and cheered. Our homework was excused that did not disperse the crowds. It was of the Palace, the enthusiasm knew no for a week.’ carried on for a week, with fireworks and bounds.’ bonfires in the Square.’ Olive Wells, aged 13, Frederick Robinson, Attending Streatham High School, Marie Pankhurst, A civilian in London London Civilian LESSON SLIDES 9 BRITISH ARMY SUPPORTING WHY DO WE REMEMBER EDUCATION THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER? PART 2: WHO WAS THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR? OBJECTIVE DISCUSSION POINT To understand the Have you ever heard meaning behind the of the Tomb of the burial of the Unknown Unknown Warrior? Warrior. Does anyone know where he is buried? LESSON SLIDES 10 BRITISH ARMY SUPPORTING WHY DO WE REMEMBER EDUCATION THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER? Westminster Abbey is probably the most famous church in Britain. It is located right next to the Houses of Parliament in the centre of London. It contains the tombs of many famous kings and queens from English history. LESSON SLIDES 11 BRITISH ARMY SUPPORTING WHY DO WE REMEMBER EDUCATION THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER? In 1920 an unknown soldier from the First World THE INSCRIPTION ON HIS GRAVE READS: War was buried at Westminster Abbey. BENEATH THIS STONE RESTS THE BODY OF A BRITISH WARRIOR UNKNOWN BY NAME OR RANK BROUGHT FROM FRANCE TO LIE AMONG THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS OF THE LAND AND BURIED HERE ON ARMISTICE DAY 11 NOV: 1920, IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V HIS MINISTERS OF STATE THE CHIEFS OF HIS FORCES AND A VAST CONCOURSE OF THE NATION THUS ARE COMMEMORATED THE MANY MULTITUDES WHO DURING THE GREAT WAR OF 1914-1918 GAVE THE MOST THAT MAN CAN GIVE LIFE ITSELF FOR GOD FOR KING AND COUNTRY FOR LOVED ONES HOME AND EMPIRE FOR THE SACRED CAUSE OF JUSTICE AND THE FREEDOM OF THE WORLD THEY BURIED HIM AMONG THE KINGS BECAUSE HE HAD DONE GOOD TOWARD GOD AND TOWARD HIS HOUSE LESSON SLIDES 12 BRITISH ARMY SUPPORTING WHY DO WE REMEMBER EDUCATION THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER? Unknown soldiers were soldiers buried without anyone knowing who they were. Unfortunately this happened a lot during the First World War as much fighting took place on the same battlefields and temporary grave markers were often lost. There are many graves in France and Belgium today which still hold unknown soldiers. LESSON SLIDES 13 BRITISH ARMY SUPPORTING WHY DO WE REMEMBER EDUCATION THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER? A huge amount of thought and detail went into the burial of the Unknown Warrior. The story itself can reveal a lot about his significance to people at the time of his burial in 1920. LESSON SLIDES 14 BRITISH ARMY SUPPORTING WORKSHEET EDUCATION WHAT WAS THE STORY OF THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR? For each part of the Unknown Warrior story explain the meaning behind that aspect of the journey. 7th November 1920: Choosing the Soldier 8th November 1920: Journey Through France Morning, 9th November Six bodies of unknown soldiers were exhumed (removed from The Unknown Warrior was escorted by soldiers to Boulogne in The Unknown Warrior was transferred to a coffin made from the ground). They had been taken from six different battlefields the North of France. French soldiers lined the streets throughout oak timber from the trees of Hampton Court Palace. A medieval in France. They were all brought to the same chapel near Arras the journey. The Warrior then remained overnight at the sword, chosen by the King personally from the royal collection, in France. medieval castle in Boulogne with a guard of French soldiers was placed in the coffin with him. keeping vigil through the night. The remains were then placed in six plain coffins each covered WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COFFIN AND THE SWORD? by Union Flags. Two officers (senior soldiers) entered the chapel. They had no knowledge of where the bodies were from. WHY WERE THE FRENCH INVOLVED? One of the officers, Brigadier Wyatt, closed eyes rested his hand on one of the coffins. This soldier became the Unknown Warrior. The other soldiers were taken away for reburial. WHY GO TO SO MUCH TROUBLE WITH THE BODIES? LESSON SLIDES 15 BRITISH ARMY SUPPORTING WORKSHEET EDUCATION WHAT WAS THE STORY OF THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR? For each part of the Unknown Warrior story explain the meaning behind that aspect of the journey. Afternoon, 9th November 1920: Depart From France 10th November 1920: Journey Across England 11th November 1920: The Burial 1000 local schoolchildren and over 10,000 French soldiers led The Unknown Warrior landed in Dover. He was loaded on to a On the morning of 11th November 1920, the casket (coffin) a procession to the docks at Boulogne. At noon the Unknown single railway carriage at Dover. The train made its way up to was placed onto a gun carriage of the Royal Horse Artillery and Warrior was then loaded on to a British battleship called HMS Victoria Station in London. The train arrived that evening and drawn by six horses through immense and silent crowds. Verdun for the journey to England. Six battleships provided an the body lay there overnight. When the coffin arrived at Westminster Abbey one hundred escort to Dover. recipients of the Victoria Cross (Britain’s highest award for military bravery) formed an escort for the coffin. WHY DID THEY NOT USE AN ORDINARY SHIP? WHY A SINGLE RAILWAY CARRIAGE? The guests of honour at the Abbey were one hundred women who had lost their husbands or sons in the war.