Sunday 26 February 2017

WW1 interviews!

Hello readers,

Here are some awesome interviews with Year 6G. Can you believe how much they know? And they have learnt it all on their own!

Wednesday 15 February 2017

Welcome to the World War One Smackdown Arena!

'How did World War One start?' and other questions worth debating...6R had a go at representing the views of the different empires of the time. See how well we did!

Tuesday 14 February 2017

Wonderful World War One Stories!

How is it that ten and eleven year old children are better at writing stories than I am. And here is the proof - World War One fiction has never looked so good in print!

Glory? 
By Coe

“Is it really you?” asked Jeff to his old best friend Ken.
“Is it you Jeff?” replied Ken in a very enthusiastic way.
“You joined the army too!” cried Jeff. At least he had one friend who he could rely on in the great trenches. Ken jumped up in joy as his friend offered him a handshake, but before Ken could even reach his hands out, a tremendous yell came out.
“Serjeant Malloy! Report for sniping duty!” captain Crawford called out.

Jeff sighed and gave Ken a shrug as he went over to the sniping tower. He looked through the scope and gently aimed at a german soldier who was too tall to cover his head in the trenches. His finger tightened on the trigger. A bead of sweat ran down his face. His shoulder braced for impact… No, this was wrong. He was not born to be a killer. He was not sent from heaven to kill other people. He let go of the trigger. Aimed at the sky, then pulled the trigger. A loud BANG ran across the battlefield.

A meal was brought to the sniping tower, and Jeff stared at the oily, green soup and the rock hard piece of bread. Knowing that this was the only source of food, he closed his eyes and gobbled the food up in one gulp. Just as he finished, another soldier, no older than him, stumbled in the tower and replaced him.He climbed down the tower and the first moment he reached the bottom, a garlic, spicy smell came into his scent. Then a soldiers screamed out in pain rubbing their burning skin. Luckily, Ken brought him a gas mask for Jeff and when the smoke dispersed, the attack, which had been planned out, was going to take place.

“All soldiers get to the nearest ladder around you!” yelled the captain.
Praying to god, Jeff gave the last smile to his friend and gripped the ladder. A person with a bagpipe came in, as the captain reloaded his pistol. The captain placed the whistle on his lips. He took a deep breath. Peep! The whistle signalised the suicide run. Jeff and the other soldiers raced up the ladder as the bagpipe played. Screams and roars came from soldiers, as they ran across No man's land. Shells exploded next to the platoon. Then, a bullet shot across the field. Ken’s body felt lifeless and dropped in the mud. Jeff ,knowing what had happened, jumped into his body. Now, nothing was left. He felt as he had lost his mind. Anger and sorrow covered his heart. He gripped his rifle. Attached the bayonet on the barrel and ran. Ran for his sake, Ran for revenge, and ran for what people had once said, for his country.

He jumped in the enemy trenches. He saw the concrete house with the cackling machine guns in. He took a grenade out, took the pin, and threw it in the house.  A big explosion was heard and the machine gun stopped. His platoon came and took over. He had won, that's what his team said. Won, he thought. Won with the reward of death, he knew.

Smiling at death
By Connor

It was a eerie night in no man’s land. Nothing moved, everything was still. The ground was riddled with holes from shelling and bodies that may never be collected. A single crack of a bullet was enough to set of a fire fight and surely enough that is what was happening. The sounds of shells and rifle reports were like thunder and lighting exploding and cracking through the silent night. The soldiers behind the ladders readied themselves for the terrifying fate that would become of them. Among these worrying souls was the youngest in the company. John Parker didn’t know why he had been naive enough to join the army. He was 16 with intelligent green eyes and a thick mop of blonde hair and right now he was scared out of his wits. The posters in the train stations and in the streets made it look like it was fun to be on the front line beating the fritz. And it definitely didn’t help that when 3 of his brothers returned from work with the king's shilling and father greeted them like heros. He snapped out of his day dream when Sergeant Kindly walked up to the men shaking hands with each of them. Everyone knew they weren’t coming back. When he reached John he shook his and but the sergeant could see the fear in his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something but he never got to start when the sound of a shell approaching their sector made them all dive for cover. It was a horrible site those who were still alive got a good look at what was left and their fallen comrades before Sergeant Kindly ushered them back to the ladders and blew the whistle. Time seemed to have stood still the high pitched sound from the whistle punctured the sound around him as the rest of the company started to climb.

The chatter of machine guns and the explosion of shells was deafening. Men were dropping like wheat in a field but he still charged on, firing randomly hoping that the shots hit their targets. As the company pushed on gaining more and more ground each minute but they felt something wasn’t right. The Sergeant called a halt and just in time. From the cloudy mist emerged 3 tanks, their armour plating as shiny as gold and tough as iron. Their long barrels fired shells like dragons breathing fire. All the troops were forced into a retreat. The artillery fire tore holes in the ground underneath their feet. John was running for his life but he heard a agonising cry of pain. John turned around to see Sergeant Kindly holding his leg. He dashed over to him calling his name as he went. When John reached him it was very clear that the sergeant was in a great deal of pain. And it appeared that his right leg had been blown of by a shell. “Forget about me John” he said “I will just slow you down” “Don’t worry sarge I will get you out of this” yelled John over the shell and machine gunfire. He slung his rifle over his soldiers and picked up the sergeant and started hauling him back towards the trench. Bullets whizzed past him and explosions ripped up the ground still more men were falling but John pushed on. He was right over the lip of the trench a sense of victory warmed his heart. But behind him the enemy tank rolled up, it’s long barrel pointed directly at him and Sergeant Kindly. His knees felt week, how could this have happened. He was so close to living, to going back to England and to his father's open arms. In the last act of his life he tossed the sergeant into the trench…..    And faced death with a smile.

Who is the enemy?
By Kano

Looking at the letters that mum sent him, Harold had tears on his cheek. He went back to think when he was in England with his mum. He liked holding guns but he didn’t like shooting people. He was always shy even though he was in the trenches for 3 years from the start of the war. But, his sergeant in the trench forced all the soldiers to shoot German soldiers as much as they can. One day, Harold was preparing his equipment for fighting and ready to fight whenever the sergeant said charge.

“ Charge! “ the sergeant shouted aloud. Harold was nervous. Maybe this time is the last chance to be here with all my teammates. His toe, finger, all his body shaook in fear. He slowly went up the ladder and charged.

He ran as fast as he can and attacked the Germans. He took a deep breath and he took his gun and shot one German soldier. He dragged the German soldier to a place where no one can see. He felt sorry for him because he didn’t like shooting people so he thought he wasn’t supposed to shoot him. He looked the soldier and wondering that Harold lost one life of people. Tears came out.

He wiped his tears and dragged the German soldier to the trench, over no man’s land. The German soldier was all covered in blood and heavy. Trying not to look the soldier, Harold looked where he was going which is the British trench. When Harold was almost there to his trench, fast and quick bom went past Harold’s face.
“ Phuuuu! I didn’t get shot! “  Harold said in a bit of a nervous voice. “ Finally! “ Harold and the dead body arrived at the British trench.
When Harold went into the trench, leaving the dead body behind the trench, Harold saw his friend John lying down there all covered in blood like the German soldier that Harold captured. Harold try not to show his tears and he looked up the sky, stopping to cry. He had to take care of his life by his self from now Harold thought.

Harold pulled the German soldier down to his trench and took him to a small room. Harold opened the German soldier’s thick jacket and looked inside his jacket. He found a letter from his mother.

Dear my dear son, George,
Hope you are still alive. Mary and Louise are waiting for you. Louise turned 3 and Mary turned 8. Yesterday, Louise cried because you weren’t here for almost 3 years. When you left, I said that George went to a long trip so he will be back very soon. So Mary and Louise is very worried. Hope you come back to England soon.

Lots of Love from Mum, Mary and Louise.

“ What!? George is from England!?”
I am so sorry George. I shouldn't killed you. You were from England, you are not my enemy! When Harold looked closely into his pocket and there was his family’s picture and a stitch of a british flag. Harold felt very sorry and he was too sad and took out a small gun and executed him self.



Now Harold, George and John are all at the sky.

Tuesday 7 February 2017

From book review to podcast

Hello one and all,

Here are a couple of podcasts which review some of the WW1 books we have read in our WW1 unit. Please take the time to listen to them.

Thursday 2 February 2017

Assembling a Great War Performance!

Dear Reader,

Please enjoy this wonderful assembly from 6B on WW1.