National Archives
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First World War brought to life for students

With the recent commemoration of Armistice Day 90 years on, secondary school students throughout the UK have been given an insight into life in the trenches via The National Archives´ videoconference workshops.

The First World War videoconference, All Pals Together, tells the story of real-life Private Henry Fairhurst of the 14th Yorkshire and Lancashire Battalion - the Barnsley Pals - played by a costumed actor. From the comfort of their own classrooms, students are given the opportunity to pose questions to the soldier as he talks about the perils of life in the trenches, demonstrates his kit and describes the sensation of going ´over the top´ during the Battle of the Somme.

Documents from the archives

Service records, trench maps, attestation papers and casualty forms are just some of the original documents used as evidence for Private Fairhurst´s story. These sources, along with many other First World War documents, are held at The National Archives and have been used for extensive research to enable Private Fairhurst´s experience to live on for further generations.

Education officer at The National Archives, Lou Evans, commented on the value of such interactive learning: ´Videoconferences bring our documents into the classroom, no matter how far away schools are. They help bring documents to life.´

Schools have participated from as far afield as America, with regular participants from all across the UK.

´Using an actor and creating the atmosphere of war makes history more real,´ said fellow education officer Lisa Barber. ´It makes the events of the First World War hit home, more so than just reading about it.´

History retold

Other videoconference workshops taking place include a press conference between Prime Minister Asquith and a suffragette to bring to light the political activism of the early 20th century, and a step back in time to the Victorian era to investigate the working conditions of children in the mines.

For more information and images of the First World War, visit the Learning Curve online exhibition on the Great War

Details of all videoconferences can be found on The National Archives Learning Curve

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