Lesson plan: Letters from the Front World Studies, 9 th grade Unit 7 World War I & the Interwar period Day 5: March 7, 2014 Objective: SWBAT analyze two letters from the front for the difficulties and experiences of trench warfare. Using that analysis, SWBAT compose a letter, imagining they are a soldier at the front lines of the war. Standards: RH.9-10.6. Compare the point of view of two or more authors for how they treat the same or similar topics, including which details they include and emphasize in their respective accounts. RH.9-10.9. Compare and contrast treatments of the same topic in several primary and secondary sources. WHST.9-10.4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. Context: This is the 5 th day on the WWI unit. In preparation for this assignment, the previous day will have been spent watching, reading, and discussing the more concrete and gritty details of fighting in the trenches such as weapons, tactics, and conditions. Learning Activities: 1. Students will choose two letter sets to read (there are four to choose from). They will then read the letters, filling in the graphic organizer to make sure that they are reading the documents and understanding the necessary details. This will most likely take about 30 minutes. 2. When students are finished, I will go over the Your Letters From the Front assignment, in which students take on the roles of soldiers fighting in the war. Ensure that they understand that they have to select a name, home country, age, and fate in the war before they get too creative.
Letters from the Front LETTER 1 Lance-Corporal Frank Earley, a young journalist from Derby, England This is his last letter he died of a chest wound the next day Sunday afternoon, 1 Sep, 1918. My dear Father, It is a strange feeling to me but a very real one, that every letter now that I write home to you or to the little sisters may be the last that I shall write or you read. I do not want you to think that I am depressed; indeed on the contrary, I am very cheerful. But out here, in odd moments the realisation comes to me of how close death is to us. A week ago I was talking with a man, a catholic, from Preston, who had been out here for nearly four years, untouched. He was looking forward with certainty to going on leave soon. And now he is dead killed in a moment during our last advance. Well it was God s will. I say this to you because I hope that you will realise, as I do, the possibility of the like happening to myself. I feel very glad myself that I can look the fact in the face without fear or misgiving. Much as I hope to live thro it all for your sakes and my little sisters! I am quite prepared to give my life as so many have done before me. All I can do is put myself in God s hands for him to decide, and you and the little ones pray for me to the Sacred Heart and Our Lady. I hope that you will not move out of the old house yet. Write and let me know when anything happens. I see that you went to Preston a few days ago. It seems years and years since I tried to get drowned in the canal. Well I have not much time left and I must end. With my dear love. Pray for me. Your son Frank.
LETTER SET 2 The following 3 letters are from Private Donald Ross, 187th Battalion, from Grafton, Ontario, Canada, who died in 1918 at the age of 20 Somewhere in France, Jan 1 1917 Dear Mother, My cold has left me quite deaf. This morning a couple of shells landed within 10 yards of me but I did not hear them. But the dead certainly make me creepy. I never was quite so bad. The mud is terrible, over your boots, everywhere. You would not know me now if you saw me. I am covered head to foot and cannot get it off me. Katie said in her letter that they are going to send me a parcel. Would it be too much trouble to ask you to send one every week? I am your loving lonely son Pte. Donald Ross. War Hospital, May 3 1917 Dear Katie No doubt you will be wondering why I have not written. Well you can see by the address that I have been wounded. I have been in bed almost a month. I was shot through the right foot on the morning of April 9, Easter Monday. I was unable to get to the first aid station until Tuesday morning and then I had to crawl a mile on my hand and knees as I was unable to walk. It was very swollen as I was unable to dress it properly in the field. When I got to a clearing station in France I was put under chloroform and the doctors literally cut my foot all to pieces... Your loving brother Donald. March 15 1918 Dearest Mother, I rather expect to go over tomorrow. They put me back in training company. But I had already completed my training and they tried to put me thru it again so I volunteered for France. Maybe I was foolish but I am simply fed up with training. However it is done now so there is no use crying over spilt milk. Donald
LETTER 3 Laurie Rowlands of the 15 th Battalion of England Writing of the Third Battle of Ypres to his girlfriend Alice May 2, 1918 France, Evening Sweetheart Mine, Now barring accidents you will get to know all about it. I know you will have a big surprise when you get this letter I hope it lands without mishap. If anybody in authority was to see it -! Of course you have guessed by now where I had my first experience of the line. Yes, it was on the Ypres salient Oh it was a lovely baptism of fire that night. We had to dig ourselves in and early in the morning Fritz started straffing. Oh Lord, if ever a fellow was afraid, absolutely frightened to death, it was this child. Then one of my Section took shell shock when a big un dropped a couple of yards off the parapet and then the instinct of the leader, or one whose place it is to lead, came to the top and I became as cool and steady as a rock. I had twelve men when we went in, I came out with three. Oh it was ghastly. Perhaps you would like to know something of the spirit of the men out here now. Well the truth is (and as I said before I d be shot if anyone of importance collared this missive) every man Jack is fed up almost past bearing, and not a single one has an ounce of what we call patriotism left in him. No-one cares a rap whether Germany has Alsace, Belgium or France too for that matter. All that every man desires now is to get done with it and go home. Now that s the honest truth, and any man who has been out within the last few months will tell you the same. In fact, and this is no exaggeration, the greatest hope of a great majority of the men is that rioting and revolt at home will force the government to pack in on any terms. Now you ve got the real state of affairs right from the horse s mouth as it were. I may add that I too have lost pretty nearly all the patriotism that I had left, its just the thought of you all over there, you who love and trust me to do my share of the job that is necessary for your safety and freedom. It s just that that keeps me going and enables me to stick it. As for religion, God forgive us all, it hasn t a place in one out of a million of the thoughts that hourly occupy men s minds God bless you darling and all those I love and who love me, for without their love and trust I would faint and fail. But don t worry dear heart o mine, for I shall carry on to the end be it bitter or sweet, with my loved ones ever my first thought and care, my guide inspirations and spur. Au revoir my own sweetheart and God will keep you safe till the storm s over, with all my heart s deepest love. Your own loving Laurie
LETTER 4 Corporal Francis James Mack of the 29 th Australian Infantry Died July 29, 1918, age 20 Dear Mother & Father, No doubt you have been surprised to have had no news from me lately but we have been having a rough passage- been in front line for over a month now and still no relief to handcan't get anything here, for example look at the paper- it has been 'souvenired' from the little shell riddled village we are holding- tis on the nearest front to Fritz's first objective A------. We have suffered pretty heavily, over 40 in our company casualties but since taking over we have advanced over 1000 yds and are now in a fairly good position. Received all your last mail OK. Am glad to hear Keith passed his 25 test OK- hope he brings the other part off. Auntie May's letter arrived this mail too but I will have to wait till we come out to square up all letters I owe. Please tell all other relatives the cause of no mail- tis hard to get a green envelope and the officers can't censor letters in the line so delay cannot be avoided. We are getting ideal weather- lovely long days, not dark till after 10pm and stand down at 4am. Naturally there is great aerial activity- have seen dozens of planes come down this trip in - some from terrible heights-tis great but awful sight to see the manouverings in an air fight. Artillery also is pretty warm. Am enclosing a shoulder strap of the Fritz Battalion we pushed out when we advanced the line. We have plenty of sniping and shooting- good sport. One morning Fritz attacked on our left and after digging in the Fritz kept coming in "Kamerading" right up to midday. Have heard plenty of talk about Fritz coming over and giving himself up but tis the first time I have seen it. T'was funny, also pitiful. They started across No Mans Land hands right up then their own machine guns at them and then some of our "fools" started potting at them and they did the Chinese trot in with hands up- did look comical for we were in a position to enjoy it. The weather has been glorious Dinkum Australian. No doubt this letter is a ragtime but it is never the less a dinkum one straight from the busiest part of France. We are only about 300 yds from the canal and river --------. Well mother I think this is all this time-would very much sooner be getting ready for the theatre than getting ready for my job now. Tis a fighting patrol. We met eight Fritzies last night. Well fondest love to all. Hope they are all well and in the best of health. I am in the best of health and spirits. I remain, Your loving son, Frank.
After reading two letters, use the chart below to help you find the important information in each letter. Who is it from? Who is to? Where was it written? When was it written? What difficulties does this soldier experience? Letter # Letter # What kind of battle does this soldier experience? How does this soldier deal with those difficulties? What does this soldier miss about home or normal life? What are the words, terms, or slang that are used in this letter that you don t know?
Your letters from the front Now that you ve read two (or more) letters written by soldiers in the Great War, it s time for you to write your own. Pretend you are a soldier in the Great War, on the front lines, writing home to your family or friends. Before your actual letter, you must state: Your full name (make it up) Your home country (and hometown, if you want), which must be a country that participated in World War I Your age (remember, only soldiers about ages 16-35 fought in the trenches) What happens to you in the war do you survive? Or do you die? A day later, or a year later? Things to include in your letter: Who are you writing this letter to? What would you tell your family and friends? What would you write about and what would you choose not to write about? What is the tone of your letter carefree? Stressed? Worried? Exasperated? What happens in your letter? Is your letter written during a battle, or during a break from the fighting? Will you talk about the horrible rats in the trenches, or will you also talk about your friends in the regiment? Your letter should be at least 200 words typed.