Memories

Recommendations for further understanding around the subject / theme:

Film:

Peace on the Western Front – Britain’s First Anti-War Documentary (1930)

Photography:

World Press Photo 2020 Winner: Sudan Uprising

Audio:

The Rwandan radio show which brought children back from the dead (2019) BBC News

New Media:

Korea

Fusilier George Ridley – 1^st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) stationed at the Tower of London.

Korea 1952-3

The Forgiveness Project

The Forgiveness Project collects and shares stories from both victims/survivors and perpetrators of crime and conflict who have rebuilt their lives following hurt and trauma.

Founded in 2004 by journalist, Marina Cantacuzino, The Forgiveness Project provides resources and experiences to help people examine and overcome their own unresolved grievances. The testimonies we collect bear witness to the resilience of the human spirit and act as a powerful antidote to narratives of hate and dehumanisation, presenting alternatives to cycles of conflict, violence, crime and injustice.

Peter Archer, Military Artist

Considered by many to be the UK’s finest military painter, commissioned by the majority of the country’s regiments, covering practically all of the major conflicts from Clive, East India Company 1757, right up to Afghanistan 2014.

We will be in-conversation with Ben Archer at 14.00 on Sunday 3rd May.

‘Go to it’ – Corporal Tom Waters, The Royal Signals – Caen Canal Bridge, Benouville, Normandy, France (6^th June 1944)

‘Advance to Contact in the Arctic’ – 1^st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment – Finnmark, Norway on the afternoon of Monday 7^th January 1985

The Study of World War Two in Primary Schools

The 75^th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe) will be commemorated next week on Friday 8^th May 2020 and has been given added significance by the rather remarkable NHS fundraiser Captain…. or should I saw Colonel Tom Moore. While the on-going Covid-19 situation has scuppered all of the official events, many people will take the opportunity to mark the day with personal reflections on their own family’s involvement, and in many cases sacrifice, during that period.

With the Prime Ministers use of ‘combative’ language over the last few months and willingness to quote the old Bulldog spirit, it may surprise you to know that World War Two history is NOT compulsory in Primary Schools.

“Although World War Two was always a very popular, and usually well-taught, topic in primary schools, the government decided not to include it as a compulsory topic in the new National Curriculum which came into effect in August 2014. Notwithstanding this decision, many schools have decided to carry on teaching it anyway, as it works.”

Source: https://www.keystagehistory.co.uk/primary-ww2/

I’ll be talking to Erin Needham (9 yrs) at 3pm on Sunday 3^rd May, to find out what she discovered while studying the subject recently at her school. Erin took part in Kids in Museum’s Takeover Day here at the Documentary Media Centre back in November 2019.