Alnwick District in the Great War
Lesson 3 Plan - Alnwick Prepares for War
Lesson 3
On 4 August 1914, Britain declared war on Germany.
It became known as The Great War because it affected people all over the world and was the biggest war anyone had ever known. The war
was fought between two powerful groups.
Starter Activity
Why did war break out in August 1914?
Discuss how we make friends?
Common interest – Getting on together.
We don’t make friends with everybody and quarrels break out. We hope they are settled peacefully, but this is not always the case.
Countries sometimes behave like this.
Introduction
What were the countries of Europe in 1914?
Who were friends with one another and who were enemies? (There is no need to go into any great detail as to why they were friends or
enemies. You may mention the assassination of Franz Ferdinand as the spark that lit the fuse to war). However, you may wish to do the starter
activity about the causes of war.
The two alliances were called:
The Triple Entente – France, Great Britain and Russia
‘Entente’ means friendship
The Triple Alliance or Central Powers – Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. Italy swapped sides and joined the Triple Entente, whilst
newcomer Turkey joined the Triple Alliance.
Development
Activity a) Which side were they on?
Show the pupils the map of Europe in 1914. Name the countries.
Each group represents one country in the conflict. Write the name of the following countries on placards:
Britain, France, Germany, Austria- Hungary, Russia Italy, Serbia, Turkey
Have one child from each group, representing a country come to the front of the class. Britain, France, Russia, Italy and Serbia link arms.
Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey link arms. This is meant to demonstrate the alliances between the two opposing forces. The two
groups face the class and all have their arms linked to one another. What happens when one pulls? What effect does it have on the rest of the
countries? Each side being dragged into the war because of the countries they were friendly with caused the war.
Activity b) Why were they friends and enemies?
An optional activity if you wish to go into more detail about the causes of the war. The objective behind this exercise is for pupils to become
familiar with the main causes and for them to organise them into what they consider to be most important and less important. Cut out the
causes, place them in an envelope and then get the pupils to sort them into a list, diamond or any other shape which they think appropriate.
Explain terms such as ‘colony’, empire, ‘alliance’, ‘treaties’.
Activity c) Invasion! Alnwick District prepares for war
Despite the war rumbling on in Europe, there was some fear that north Northumberland may suffer invasion. The British and German navies
were the most powerful in the world and the use of aircraft and Zepplins (large inflatable airships) threatened aerial bombardment. In this
activity pupils are encouraged to think about the preparations that might be needed should a German invasion occur.
Activity d) Alnwick camp
By September there was a realisation that the war would not be over ‘by Christmas’. New ‘pals’ battalions were formed, so called because
they relied on friends and workmates joining up together.
Many were recruited in Newcastle – the Newcastle commercials (professional people, the Tyneside Scottish and the Tyneside Irish. There
was an urgent need for training camps. The Duke of Northumberland made land available on the pastures near Alnwick castle.
Regimental Sergeant-major Groves was given the task of preparing concerts and sporting competitions to keep the troops entertained.
What was provided for the troops? Write an invitation to attend one of these events or a diary entry of one you might have been to.
Plenary
Activity a)
Discuss how war might have been avoided – no secret treaties, talking round a table about their differences and so on.
Activity b)
Each group explains their arrangement of causes. Let the pupils go back to their original design and discuss whether they want to change it.
Activity c)
Discuss how effective the preparations would have been?
Activity d)
Life in the army camp. What appeared to be pleasant about life in the camp? Why might this have changed when they were sent of to fight?
Additional Material
Teachers Notes