Listen and learn
A unique oral history recording
Veterans of the Great War share fantastic personal reflections on their own experiences
I thoroughly enjoyed the war, I used to like the sing songs and what have you, the esprit de core of the men.
- Patrick Corrigan - WW1 veteranWho do you think they were?
In 2014, Legasee Educational Trust were gifted a unique oral history recording featuring three veterans of the Great War.
George Little, Henry Maddox and Patrick Corrigan are the 3 from 14 and in this 27 minute recording, they share fascinating accounts of their individual experiences of the First World War.
The recording was made in the 1960’s by a Doctor based in Essex, but that’s all we know. So who were these men? That question formed the basis for a Teaching resource that allows young people to engage in some investigative genealogy whilst learning about the Great war through these men who were there.
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Legasee partnered with the Colchester Academy to create a series of 5 lesson plans that have been designed for use as a group activity but can be adapted to individual study. Collectively they will help pupils develop skills and understanding in genealogy, research, oral history and remembrance.
Teach your children about the First World War.
Who were these men?
Who Do You Think They Were is an educational project, funded by the Heritage Lottery, that will enable pupils to learn about the First World War through three Veterans’ personal oral histories. This unique audio recording features three veterans talking candidly about their experiences of lives in the trenches of France. The recording can be found above or at: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/who-were-they/
There are five resources for Key Stage 2. They have been designed for use as a group activity but can be adapted to individual study. The resources will help pupils develop skills and understanding in genealogy, research, oral history and remembrance.
Lesson plan1
A world war
This lesson plan is designed to introduce pupils to primary research. To develop an understanding of what social history is and to devise relevant questions to aid research and to be able to review oral history as a starting point to conduct their research.
Lesson plan2
Private investigators
This lesson plan is focused on developing a stronger personal understanding of the veteran’s life as well as developing a better knowledge of research practices.
This task is intended to provide the research inputs to enable the pupil to prepare a report about their chosen veteran.
Lesson plan3
Extra sensory perception
Your pupils will use the internet to carry out their own research into the famous battles of World War One. They will analyse the statistics of how many Allied soldiers were involved, were wounded or killed.
Lesson plan4
Changing places
Life in the in the trenches was undoubtedly terrible but it wasn’t necessarily terrible all of the time. This lesson plan is focused on the realities of war. The aim is to try and help your students think about the practicalities of survival in these trying conditions.
Lesson plan5
Write your own history
Winston Churchill once said, “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.” He was right, most people remember him as a great man but he wasn’t always revered. What this quote highlights is how attitudes to our history change over time.
It is important to consider that the men featured in this Oral History recording are now deceased. Get your students to consider what Remembrance means and look at how it’s changed over the course of history and where it might be heading.
Ideas to help you teach
Activity sheet
There are five resources for Key Stage 2 pupils. They have been designed for use as a group activity but can be adapted to individual study. The resources will help pupils develop skills and understanding in genealogy, research, oral history and remembrance.
