You may recall that we recently reviewed The Story of the First World War for Children. I was so impressed with this book that I was eager to complete the set with The Story of the First World War for Children. I think it’s really important for my nine-year old son to know about the sacrifices of previous generations and to know how his own family were involved. With last year’s centenary of the end of WWI he has a good understanding of our history within the war, but this book will provide a very useful resource in the years ahead.
It’s hard for any of us to contemplate a war where over 20 million people were killed, and so many families lost those they loved. I’ve written before about my own family, my grandfather who was one of the first to enlist and saw service in France throughout the war, and is older brother who died very shortly after arriving in France. It was a brutal war in so many ways.
The Story of the First World War for Children guides children through the war from start to finish using bite size chunks of information, diagrams and maps, as well as photographs. It’s an ideal way to show KS2 children how and why the war broke out, and the chain of events that caused so much destruction over a four-year period.
We’re very lucky to have a photograph of my grandfather in his army uniform and the book explains what was worn and why. In reality they really were so poorly equipped for the first war seeing modern warfare. It’s hard to believe that it took two years for steel helmets to be introduced in the trenches.
There are fascinating facts throughout the book and footage from the time really brings the history to life.
As well as talking about our own troops, The Story of the First World War for Children gives children an understanding of both the French and Germany armies, what they wore and the part they played in the conflict. we had no idea that German Stormtroopers used flame throwers during the war.
The war wasn’t just fought on land, and the book covers loses at sea and in the air including those of the submarines used at that time.
The First World War saw chemical warfare being used for the first time with horrific consequences to both sides. In fact, when we read this book for the first time, we might have stumbled up how my Great Uncle died. He was killed at the start of the Battle of Loos, I’d always assumed he’d been shot, but maybe he was one of the many who succumbed to the gas. Tragic.
For those like my son who are obsessed with tanks, the book looks at the very first ones used in battle and talks about how they moved from being troop carriers to playing a major part in offences.
My son hadn’t realised that the war was fought outside of Europe, so he enjoyed learning about the war in the desert too.
The Story of the First World War for Children is a fascinating read that has really engaged my son and left him wanting to know more about his relatives. It’s definitely worth reading and I know we’ll be making use of it in the future at school.
The Story of the First World War for Children is available to purchase from Carlton Books. You might also be interested to know that Carlton Books also sell the IWM The Story of the Second World War for Children.
disclosure: we were sent the item mentioned in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve teamed up with Carlton Books to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a copy of IWM The Story of the First World War for Children worth £9.99. Complete the Gleam form below for your chance to win. Good luck!
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Once a winner is randomly picked, I will check if the winner has done what was requested and I will contact them, if they do not reply within one week, the prize will be allocated to another person. The winner’s details will be sent to Carlton Books in order that they can arrange delivery. Please allow 28 days for delivery.
The giveaway will close on 17th April 2019 at midnight.
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IWM The Story of the First World War for Children worth £9.99
Yes, grandparents and their siblings served in both WW1 and WW11.
No not that I know of, but we love reading stories about war times.
They didn’t serve
Great read for us all
Not that I know of
No.
My grand dad did
My Grandad lied about his age and fought in France – came back with shellshock x
No not that im aware of anyway xx
I don’t know, I don’t know my family history beyond that my grandad served in the second world war.
I’m not sure, I know more about WWII than WWI
Yes.
i dont really know about my family tree but i’m sure there was relatives who fought in the wars x
My great uncle and grandad served in the second world war
Yes
No, not that I am aware of
yes
Yes my grandfather and 4 great uncles one didn’t come back
no
Not that I have been made aware of but our family is widespread so it is possible.
Not that I know of xx
Not that we know about!
none that i knew
My Grandad served as a chef on a Naval ship in the 1st World War
Not that I know of
Did any members of your family serve in World War One?
Yes my maternal grandparents
No, my great-grandparents were all farmers, and they stayed at home
I have no idea!
my partners grandad did x
My Great Grandfather fought in the war
Yes my great grandad was in WWI. He’s been gone a long time now but still remember the old shell he had as a brolly and stick holder near his door.
not sure if they did
My Grandad died at the battle of the Somme.
I don’t actually know about WW1 but I expect so. Both grandfather’s served in the second world war
My great uncle
Not that I know of!
No I don’t think so
My great grandfather served.
My great grandparents did. This book looks amazing for children to understand WW1
my grandfather and step grandfather both served in WW1
Yes some extended family members did serve
no not that i am aware of
Yes, my grandad
Not that I am aware of, no.
My Great Grand father
Yes my grandfather did
My grandfather served in the war and never came home
My grandfather <3
I really don’t know
Yes, my great great grandad was a soldier
No, and now I’m thinking that I’ll have to ask my mum why neither of her grandads served xx
My grandad lied about his age to fight in WW1! I’m pretty sure he wasn’t the only one!
My grans father served
Yes, my great-grandad
Yes both my great- grandads and my great uncle but he was kia on his 21st birthday 8;(
Yes, I did, but I never met them to be able to find out about it 🙁
My grandad did – but unfortunately I don’t know much about if – It was something that really wasn’t discussed.
No, but I’d love to win so my children could read about all the heroic people who did
Yes i has quite a few family members serve in the war and also died while serving
Not that I ever knew, though I know my mum’s great uncle fought in the trenches and was very affected by it.
Yes my great grandad
I’m not sure, no-one in the family sadly talked about this
Not the first, but the second yes
yes my great grandad died in france fighting
Yes, I come from a large military family with four generations of soldiers and sailors…several members of my family, including my great uncles and grandfathers fought in WW1
My grandfather did, he never talked about it much though
Yes – one of my uncles (who I never met) died in the War.
Yes, my grandad did, but never spoke about it
My great grandad, wish I’d spent more time with him as a child, asked him more
Not that I know of, no one in my family discussed the war whilst still alive unfortunately.
My partners grandad+ grandma did!
Not that I am aware of.
No that I know of
My husbands uncle did, but none of mine
Yes, my great granddads
No don’t think so
Yes my great grandfather
A couple of my relatives fought in WW1 and their names are on our local cenotaph.
no, my great grandfather fought in WWII though
I have no idea
My grandfather was gassed in WW1 and when he was in hospital recovering from having his kidney removed after this, he met my grandmother who was a nurse.
Unfortunately no Not any more.
My great uncle served and I believe he was in Asia at one point; I must look into it more.
Yes my great grandad, he was in the Navy I think
Not that I know of
None that I know of.
We had family that served on both sides before they merged in the 1920s and moved to the uk
Yes, my Great Grandad died in Belgium fighting having never met his daughter, my gran.
I think some of my great uncles did but I’m not sure
My great grandad
Yes, my great uncle and a great great uncle
I don’t think any of my relatives fought, but I don’t know for sure.
Not that I know of.
Not in world war one but my grampa served in world war two.
I’m not sure. I keep meaning to look into my history to find all this stuff out but the kids keep interfering with my time to do it!
Yes, two brothers (my husband’s great uncles) both died at the Somme.
I don’t know as my grandparents are not around anymore but I assume they did
I’m sure they must have but I’m not sure of the details. My grandads were both in ww2 though.
Yes my great great grandfather did
Not that im aware of! x
Not that I know off
My gran knit bottle green gloves for the soldiers
my granddad was in the home guard
yes , i’ve been doing my family tree and found a few served in WW1 & WW2
I am not sure on ww1 I know definitely ww2
I am unaware of family involvement in WWI but had lots of involvement in WWII, as well as my grandparents working in protected jobs during WWII to feed the nation (farming and fishing industries)
No I don’t believe so because my Grandad would have been in Ireland and my paternal Grandfather in Iran. My Grandmas were in Iran and Scotland respectively so they are all spread apart!
Yes both of my great Grandfather’s did
Not that I know of. I believe most of them were farm workers. My uncle fought in World War II and was a japanese prisoner of war. When my Dad retired he wrote local history books about World War II. He thought it was so important to make sure that these events were remembered
Not that I know of.