Find out about
Keeping Britain Afloat
Keeping Britain Afloat was an oral history project, recording the stories of 50 veterans of the Second World War convoys. In addition to a permanent exhibition at the Chatham Historic Dockyard, we created some lesson plans looking at the issues of supply and trade both during the Second World War and today.
The Teaching Resource
This teaching resource features five lesson plans which follow the broad course of the war and focus on the personal contributions of the Royal Navy, the Merchant Navy, the Fleet Air Arm and the Women of the Royal Naval Services [Wrens].
Within each session you will find links to video interviews specially recorded with veterans and we hope you will enjoy hearing their first-hand testimony which brings to life the rich stories of this amazing event in the Second World war. You will also see planned thinking points to stimulate classroom discussions, and task pointers for the activities associated with each session. The activities themselves are located within a separate workbook, and available to you to download and use with your learners – they include individual, pair and group tasks, research and written work, homework and family involvement.
Our resources are all provided free of charge, and whilst they remain the intellectual property of Legasee Educational Trust, we would be delighted if you would download, print off, photocopy and use in the way that best suits your learning and teaching styles.
Lesson Plan 1
Life on a convoy
At the outbreak of war, all British owned merchant shipping came under the control of the Ministry of Shipping and later the Ministry of War Transport. The Merchant Navy often used older, less reliable and slower ships which were highly vulnerable to attack, therefore Royal Navy ships escorted them around the globe, protecting them and their cargo from enemy attack.
Meet some of the men who protected the convoys.
Lesson Plan 2
Against all odds
In 1939 Britain imported 68 million tonnes worth of raw materials, food and other consumable goods, by 1941 this had fallen to 26 million tonnes.
Supply lines were creaking the convoys were struggling to keep Britain afloat.
Lesson Plan 3
A turning tide
The winter of 1942/3 was the worst year of the war for shipping losses. But the tide had turned.
Meet the men and women who helped to do this.
Lesson Plan 4
Political playmakers
Lesson Plan 5
Stretched to breaking point
In the convoy system, Royal Naval vessels would escort merchant shipping to protect them from sea and aerial attack.
However the Royal Navy were also needed for other tasks involving the war effort and this sometimes impacted upon the number of merchant vessels that were able to sail.
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Activity book
This Activity book links to the individual Lesson plans listed above.
