We watched a video clip from BBC Bitesize
During the clip, we heard the song 'For Your King and Your Country.'
We looked at the lyrics and how they may persuade men to enlist.
For
your King and your Country
We've
watched you playing cricket and every
kind of game
At football, golf and polo you men have made
your name
But now your country calls you to play your
part in war
And no matter what befalls you, we shall love
you all the more
So, come and join the Forces as your
fathers did before
Oh, we don't want to lose you, but we think
you ought to go
For your king and your country both need you
so
We shall want you and miss you, but with all
our might and main
We shall cheer you, thank you, kiss you,
when you come back again
We then looked at the poem 'The Call' by Jessie Pope.
The Call
Who’s
for
the trench—
Are
you, my laddie?
Who’ll
follow French—
Will
you, my laddie?
Who’s
fretting to begin,
Who’s
going out to win?
And
who wants to save his skin—
Do
you, my laddie?
Who’s
for the khaki suit—
Are
you, my laddie?
Who
longs to charge and shoot—
Do
you, my laddie?
Who’s
keen on getting fit,
Who
means to show his grit,
And
who’d rather wait a bit—
Would
you, my laddie?
Who’ll
earn the Empire’s thanks—
Will
you, my laddie?
Who’ll
swell the victor’s ranks—
Will
you, my laddie?
When
that procession comes,
Banners
and rolling drums—
Who’ll
stand and bite his thumbs—
Will
you, my laddie?
Jessie Pope
Pupils considered the style, language and purpose of the poem.
The final poem we studied was Fallen in Action by SJ Robinson
FALLEN IN ACTION
They
said he had fallen, fallen from grace:
Deserted
the
line, without a trace
They
said he was a Coward, deserving to die
We
know he was ill, so you tell us why
He'd
fought at Wipers, Mons and The Somme:
Won
medals for bravery, slogged on and on:
Lost
friends, lost a brother, but not once at all
Shirked
from his duty, let courage stall
Then
last
night in a barrage, the Germans advanced
HE
blocked their way, gave comrades a chance,
Ran
back to the lines to call for some aid
So
more senseless slaughter could be allayed
But
he couldn't run, couldn't move, couldn't speak
When
he saw his mate, blown to bits in a breach.
Should
have been used to it? Been Prepared?
He
was only nineteen-no wonder he's scared
They
say
he ran, deserted his station
A
total disgrace to battalion and nation
No
trial was given, 'Shellshock' dismissed
Though
they'd never even tried to enlist
They'll
shoot
him at dawn, it'll say on his grave
Not
mention the number of lives that he saved
But
could they later, go to that place
And
swear that he'd fallen, fallen from grace?
S
J Robinson
Our Responses: Did men 'volunteer'?
Some men did volunteer but some were made to feel guilty and pressured to start the army.
Reanna
Some men did volunteer but the army people made people feel guilty.
Joey
Some men volunteered, like Sid Wheelhouse but some didn't.
Luke
I think some men did volunteer or if they did not volunteer...
Kieran
