With 8,000 territorial soldiers,
Based at White City, in their
Training - undertaken before
Going to France to fight -
Was seen as an opportunity
To provide all educational
Lectures and classes.
These young volunteers,
Possibly thinking they were
Heading for adventures,
To escape such
institutions,
Came in for some surprise,
As their Commanding Officer
Approved such lectures.
Meeting on the 4 November,
The Education Committee,
Made further discussion for
Likely programme of events -
Backed by London County
Council Higher Education
Committee, to create classes.
A circular promptly being issued,
By The Board of Education, sent
To all local education authorities -
Invited them to take part- to issue
Such instructions at army camps,
Or any locations where numbers
Of recruits and all other soldiers,
Are stationed - over the weeks
Classes will be in the evenings.
The education board understood,
That writing and reading facilities
Exist at such camps - as well as
Recreational pursuits and other
Evening territorial occupations.
This opportune situation, gives
Openings for instructional classes,
Educational discussion and lectures.
The details for instruction will include
A series of 12 lectures of 45 minutes -
French and German simple conversation
Assisting the men on health subjects,
In two lectures per week - with history
And geography of war alongside vocal
Music lessons of marching and patriotic
Songs, played out in weekly lectures.
These men are to enjoy each weekly
Evening basis, sewing and darning
For one and half hours -
then daily
There will be wood carving, leather
Work, drawing and sketching
-
Repoussé - such art of
metal work,
Yet to prove a trade in the decorating
Of crafting spent shells cases.
Most importantly of all, is camp cookery.
The classes to be done at a cost of £300,
To be led by a master from an evening
School institute, - with the soldiers remaining
In camp for up to six weeks, arrangements
For these educational proposals were put
In effect straightaway, for the next six weeks.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1914. Classes for
Soldiers - White City Scheme. The
Daily Telegraph, [online] 4 Nov. p.4. Col.1. Available online at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034515/Daily-Telegraph-August-15-1914.html
[Accessed: 4 November 2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 4 November 2014).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered
No comments:
Post a Comment