Embedded Files
The names of those buried in the plot, or in graves elsewhere in the cemetery which could not be individually marked, are inscribed on Screen Walls around the burials.
A simple activity which can lead to further work later is simply to document the names, rank, date of birth, age, regiment, county or plot number, and to find where the soldiers are buried in Lodge Hill Cemetery.
We created simple quizzes to ensure the children explore all the screen walls and understood the significance of the plot numbers and how they related to the burials.
It can be the starting point for any exploration of particular stories, and encourage the group to consider where soldiers came from, what they might have been doing, and where they might go to find out more.
Sometimes the information that is missing can be as interesting than the information found. Encourage the children to ask questions about both the information presented and how they might find out more information.
Activities in the Cemetery
Activities in the Cemetery
As an introduction to the topic but also the cemetery itself we began with a quiz which required the children to read the graves and search for the answers to the questions, working in teams for this particular task activity. Each activity was slightly different depending on the individual the children had, to ensure they did not simply just copy the answers from one another.
The second activity was based on extracting information from the graves and understanding the relevance of the information on the graves by filling out tables which split the information into different sections. For one visit, by focusing solely on the period between July and November 1916 it began narrowing down those soldiers who were possibly involved in the Somme and highlighted that they all did not necessarily die in the same place, or the same way, even though they are commemorated in the same place.
We encouraged small and larger group discussion so the stories were shared and find out what was considered important, sad or significant. We ended the workshop with a discussion on childrens lives and roles in Birmingham during the war in the remembrance memorial in the cemetery.
The day after the cemetery we visited the class in school to see what progress was made on the creative writing tasks and to conclude the workshop. We used photos from archive images, selected from issues raised, and looked at how to 'read a photograph. The group was interested in photos of rallies in Birmingham City centre which aimed to raise money with war bonds and photographs Birmingham General Hospital, from which resources on tank bank were developed anduntold stories resources used. We evaluated the visit and further reinforced and developed learning. The diary entries written by the children were very empathetic and through these writings it was clear they had some understanding of how it might have felt living in Birmingham during World War One.
This is something that can be adapted to suit school's aims and curricular focus on the topic. A discussion or concluding activity such as the one mentioned above is useful in not only seeing the children's progress with the creative writing class but also to see what information the children have retained and focused on from the previous day.
Researching your stories
Researching your stories
Basic steps
- Find particular cemetery on the Commonwealth Graves website.
- Identify individual to research.
- Enter information into the 1911 online Uk census ( to see occupation and where individual resided before the war).
- Enter this information into WW1 records to see if others are also researching the same individual and get a timeline of the life of the soldier in question.
- Use rank and regiment on the War Forces Record databases to gain an insight into troop movement.
- Use ancestry.com and other sijmilar genalogy websites to see if anymore biographical information can be found.
The Commonwealth War Graves website is a good starting point for research. It allows you to search for specific cemeteries which are listed as commemorating soldiers in the First World War, in this instance our cemetery of interest was Lodge Hill Cemetery. Here, the names of those commemorated and buried at Lodge Hill Cemetery are listed including their name, rank, service number, date of death, age, regiment, grave reference and occasionally additional biographical information of the soldier's family or relatives. There is also an attachment PDF file which is a commemorative certificate with a picture of memorial at the cemetery.
From this, the age of the individual in question and the place they originate from (which was be estimated based on the name of the regiment they were in and also from the additional biographical information regarding where their family resides) can be used to search for information about individual's occupation and genealogy from the 1911 UK census. Incidentally this is only applicable to soldiers who were from the United Kingdom or resided within the UK during the time the census was conducted. This illuminated in some cases the occupation of the soldiers before they registered for military service and often can be connected to the regiment, rank and occupation they assumed as a solider. The census can also be used to pinpoint more precisely where soldiers resided before the war.
From here more specific information relating to particular individuals can be obtained from the Lives of WW1, although this information is usually not extensive or detailed. However, it is useful in the fact that from individual soldiers profiles you can see and contact other individuals who are researching or interested in the same person and area, allowing you to share and pool together resources. Also Lives of WW1 cites the places where the information was retrieved (such as online databases and archives) and can therefore be used to further research into other soldiers from the First World War.
Using the rank and regiment of the soldier - once again this is specific to UK soldiers however it is possible did to find an equivalent for Commonwealth soldiers on the War Forces Record to see the movements and location of the regiments throughout the war, mainly in relation to the Battle of the Somme. Using this in combination with the cause and date of death of soldier an estimation as to where he was (e.g. what battle or offensive he was participating in) when he died can be established (here give another example). For other Commonwealth countries national archives and databases specific to that country would likely have to be searched to gain similar information.
There is a more extensive list of online resources for those who are interested in general and specific research regarding primarily the First but also the Second World War. Online library catalogues and national archives are particularly useful for finding official documents and websites such as ancestry for more personal and biographical information.
Unexpected findings
Unexpected findings
At every visit we made to Lodge Hill Cemetery new questions led to further research and new findings. For example, Visiting other Cemeteries it was clear how unique the small numbered stones on the ground were. Research in to John Lenehan's story discovered a news article with an original picture of how the Plot looked in the 1920s
With every site visit and every story researched we built on our knowledge of World War One Heritage, guided by the questions and research of Paganel Primary Children.
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