2014 marks the centenary of the outbreak of the First World
War. Our local war memorials are something that many of us see
every day and are a reminder of this and other conflicts; a
reminder of the lives lost and the impact on those left behind. War
memorials have been created in the UK for hundreds of years but
there was massive increase in the number built in the years after
the First World War. Although it may not seem like it at first
sight, these memorials can give us a lot of information, not only
about the people who fought and died in the conflict, but also
about the communities who created the memorials in the aftermath of
the war. LOCAL WAR MEMORIALS
Slide 4
By the end of this lesson you will be able to: Explain what a
war memorial is. Identify what type of memorial the Armstrong
memorial (found in Newcastle University's Armstrong Building) is.
Explain when and why the Armstrong memorial was created. LEARNING
OUTCOMES
Slide 5
Discuss with a partner and agree on a definition. WHAT IS A WAR
MEMORIAL?
Slide 6
There are many different types of war memorial in the UK.
Memorials can range from traditional ones such as
cenotaphs(monuments), sculptures, crosses, plaques and books of
remembrance to more unusual ones including schools, hospitals,
cottages, gardens, windows, gates and church organs. TYPES OF WAR
MEMORIAL
Slide 7
WHAT TYPE OF MEMORIAL ARE EACH OF THESE? A B C D
Slide 8
A B C D Cenotaph Sculpture Nurses Cottage with plaques
Sculpture
Slide 9
The Armstrong Memorial: What type of memorial is this? Who do
you think would have wanted this memorial to be created and
why?
Slide 10
THE ARMSTRONG MEMORIAL This is a photograph of the Armstrong
Memorial, a commemorative plaque displayed on the wall inside
Newcastle Universitys Armstrong Building. It was unveiled in 1923
and contains the names of 223 individuals, all students,
ex-students or staff of Armstrong College (then part of the
University of Durham) who lost their lives in the First World War,
1914-1918. Above it is another plaque dedicated to those who gave
their lives in later conflicts.
Slide 11
We know very little about the creation of the Armstrong
memorial, who designed it and how the money was raised. What we do
know was that it was unveiled at a ceremony in 1923. Tasks: 1.Read
short article about the unveiling of the Armstrong Memorial from
the Durham University Journal. 2.Write down 3 interesting things
you have learned from reading this article and any questions you
have. THE UNVEILING OF THE ARMSTRONG MEMORIAL The unveiling of the
Armstrong Memorial, 1923 from a photo in a newspaper in the Durham
University Archives.
Slide 12
Task: Imagine that you are a relative of one of the students of
Armstrong College who died in the Great War. It is 1923. You have
just been to the ceremony where the Armstrong memorial was
unveiled. Write a letter to a friend or relative telling them about
the ceremony. Your letter must include the following information:
When and where the unveiling of the memorial took place. Who was
present at the unveiling ceremony. What the speakers said about
those members of Armstrong College who lost their lives in the
Great War. What the memorial looks like. How you felt being present
at the unveiling ceremony. A LETTER TO A RELATIVE
Slide 13
1) What is a war memorial? 2) What type of memorial is the
Armstrong memorial? 3) When and why was the Armstrong memorial
created? REVIEW