Remembrance Day

The First World War came to an end 91 years ago. Traditionally the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of each year is the time we remember all those who died in wars. Have a look at this video in memory of the soldiers who died in the conflict. it is accompanied by the Last Post.



For more information look at these links to previous posts on the Blog and a new article on the BBC.
Remembrance Day
Harry Patch
Special Remembrance Day Service

Life in Tudor England

To find out about life in Tudor England why not begin with a look at Woodland’s Junior School’s outstanding website on the Tudors. Use the menu on their home page to find out about Tudor houses, children, clothes, entertainment and daily life.

Nettlesworth school also has some interesting information on life in Tudor times, while this interactive site even gives you a chance to listen to some Tudor-style music. The History Learning site has a good page about Tudor entertainments, while if you want to go into more depth try the activities on the National Archives webpage.

If you fancy testing out your knowledge of Tudor England try this quiz on the Channel Four website.

The Bayeux Tapestry

The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most famous sources of information about the Norman Conquest. Probably ordered by William's half-brother Bishop Odo, many historians believe the tapestry was likely to have been made by English women in the 1070s. This great video really brings the tapestry to life.

Industrial Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs such as Josiah Wedgwood (pictured left), Abraham Darby and Richard Arkwright played an important part in the Industrial Revolution, harnessing the new technologies, sources of power and demand for materials to set up factories and profitable businesses.

For a profile of Wedgwood, take a look at the BBC History website. Also check out the Wedgwood museum for more information and a virtual tour of Etruria.

For information on the Darbys at Coalbrookdale try looking at the website for all the museums at Ironbridge, while for textile entrepreneur and inventor Richard Arkwright try another informative site at Cromford Mill.

Hyperinflation

As you know we have been looking at the impact of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany and the events surrounding the occupation of the Ruhr in 1923. Here is an informative video that does a good job in explaining the causes of Hyperinflation.



Now have a look at the second part of the Make Germany Pay video which also covers this topic:

The Treaty of Versailles

You can look back at this post to get an overview of the Treaty of Versailles, but it is also worth checking out John Clare's webpage and having a listen to this podcast if you want to become an expert on the Treaty and its effects.
Cast your eye over this powerpoint to revise the key terms of the Treaty:

Huge haul of Anglo-Saxon gold found in Staffordshire

A huge haul of Anglo-Saxon treasure has been found by a man with a metal detector in a field in the county of Staffordshire in England. Around 1,500 gold and silver pieces, including helmets, decorations, jewellery, coins and crossed which date from the 7th century were found by Tony Herbert.

For more on the find check out the BBC and the Guardian websites.

Harry Patch (1898-2009) - The last surviving soldier from the Western Front

Harry Patch was the last surviving soldier living in Europe to have fought in the trenches of the First World War. He died in July this year. At the time of his death, aged 111. He fought at Battle of Passchendaele (also known as the Third Battle of Ypres) and was injured by a shell explosion on 22 September 1917 in an incident in which three of his comrades were killed.

Patch had refused to discuss his war experiences, but the realisation that he was part of a fast dwindling group of veterans of the Great War persuaded him to speak.

A fierce critic of war, Patch once said "...if any man tells you he went over the top and he wasn't scared, he's a damn liar."

The group Radiohead marked his death by releasing a song about Patch.


Here are the lyrics and Thom from Radiohead's comments about the song:

Harry Patch (In Memory Of)
"I am the only one that got through
the others died where ever they fell
it was an ambush
they came up from all sides
give your leaders each a gun and then let them fight it out themselves
I've seen devils coming up from the ground
I've seen hell upon this earth
the next will be chemical but they will never learn"

Recently the last remaining UK veteran of the 1st world war Harry Patch died at the age of 111.

I had heard a very emotional interview with him a few years ago on the Today programme on Radio 4. The way he talked about war had a profound effect on me.

It became the inspiration for a song that we happened to record a few weeks before his death. It was done live in an abbey. The strings were arranged by Jonny.
I very much hope the song does justice to his memory as the last survivor.

It would be very easy for our generation to forget the true horror of war, without the likes of Harry to remind us. I hope we do not forget.

As Harry himself said:
"Irrespective of the uniforms we wore, we were all victims".

Thom

The impact of the First World War

In order to understand the atmosphere at the Paris Peace Conference after the First World War you need to be aware of the way the war had affected the continent.

Have a look at these three sites to help you do this:
BBC World War One site
Channel Four site
First World War.com

The 70th Anniversary of the start of the Second World War

Germany invaded Poland 70 years ago, an event that is usually seen as marking the start of the Second World War. Check out the BBC and the Guardian websites for a stack of information on these events.


British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain responded to Hitler's decision to invade Poland by declaring war on Germany on September 3rd, 1939. Here is an extract of the broadcast he made at the time: