By Clare Parker, Eastern Area Learning Officer
We were due to spend the next two weeks doing live WW1 sessions from the museum but national lockdown meant we had to move quickly to transfer our session to a digital pre recorded film that we could send to schools. The objective of the film was to engage pupils in the roles of three individuals serving King & Country. We wanted the pupils to get a snapshot into the role but also the thoughts of those having to work in incredibly challenging circumstances.
We chose to tell the story of a WW1 soldier Jack Ellis. From the archives we obtained the most poignant letter from Jack to his parents , living in King Street Great Yarmouth. Many of the Great Yarmouth pupils will have walked past Jack’s house as it falls directly in the centre of town. Jack’s letter was dated 6th Feb 1916, three months later he was to have lost his life. His memorial can be found in La Brique Military Cemetry, Belgium. We also used a wonderful First Aid Box donated to the collection in 2003. It provided the inspiration for our nurse Hilda Clark , another local individual. Our pilot is based on Egbert Cadbury, WW1 pilot, stationed in Great Yarmouth, who performed heroic and at times plain crazy acts to defend the residents of the coastal town.
Around 2,000 pupils will watch the film this week, many using it for whole school assemblies.
Time and Tide Museum 