Task: Fictional Letter from Relatives to Soldier

Dear Walter,

How are you? We all here at home are missing you lots.

Brisbane has changed a lot since you left. Mum and her friends have been knitting socks, sewing pajamas and rolling bandages to send over to you and the other soldiers. Even I am helping! (Did I tell you that I won the award for the most things knitted by someone under 13 years?)

I miss the cricket. As you know, the cricket has stopped along with lots of other sports because the government thinks it takes away the ‘seriousness’ of the war.

Lots of people have been very mean to the Mullers across the street. Even though their son, Alrik, is fighting for Australia. It makes me very sad to see people calling them bad names.

As you know, father volunteered to go to war. He left the other day. I am very sad because both my brother and father are at war.

I miss you lots and may god look over you and protect you.

Love you lots, Your sister Nora

Battle of the Somme

Introduction:

The Battle of the Somme was one of the main allied attacks on the Western Front in 1916. 19,333 British soldiers were killed with 38,666 more wounded on the first day of battle.

Planning of the Attack:

The attack was planned in 1915 and was intended to be a joint British-French attack. It was planned to be a battle of attrition (where neither side would get a quick victory) and the aim was to drain all of the German soldiers and weapons, though gaining territory was also an aim. The plan was agreed upon by Douglas Haig, though he would have preferred the offensive to be launches at Flanders.

The Battle:

The battle started at 7:30 on July 1st, 1916 when 17 mines were detonated. The attack was not a surprise to the Germans because soldiers talked freely about the plan in French coffee shops and in letters sent home to families. Because of this, The British sector made little progress on the first day. For the most part, British troops were forced back into the trenches by German machine gun fire. Whereas the French sector had much more success. By advancing in small groups (like they had done in Verdun), they achieved most of their objectives.

Many men were killed/wounded the moment they stepped onto No Mans Land. Despite severe losses (58,000 men on the first day), Haig persisted with the attack. Advances were made but were limited.

Did you know that the Somme was the first time tanks were used in the war!

In October, Joffre tried to persuade Haig to continue with the offensive because the French at Verdun were gaining ground and he wanted the British to continue so not as many German soldiers would fight the French at Verdun.

Statistics:

• 420,000 British casualties
• 200,000 French casualties
• 500,000 German casualties

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