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![]() ARMISTICE PRIZE One of the objectives of the Western Front Association (WFA) is to educate the public in the history of the Great War with particular reference to the Western Front. At a national level in the WFA, branches (of whom the North Lancashire branch is one) have been encouraged to engage with schools to promote interest and knowledge of the Great War. The Armistice Prize was introduced by the North Lancashire Branch of the WFA to mark the 90th Anniversary of the Armistice in 2008 and in the first three years the Prize has been awarded as follows: 2008: Poem from St Cecilia’s, Longridge. 2009: Soldier’s Diary from Bispham High School. 2010: Poem from St Cecilia’s, Longridge. 2011 There has been a welcome increase in entrants for the 2011 Armistice Prize with three schools putting forward a total of 18 entrants. Many of the submissions were poems but others included prose text, diaries, a painting, drawing and a wooden model. The winning entry is from Stacie Byers and comprises two diaries. At home Poppy writes of her father somewhere in France whilst Dad (Jim) writes of his feelings in France and the news from home. For her work Stacie has won £100 and a book (H.P.Willmott's "WORLD WAR 1"). Her school, St Cecilia’s Roman Catholic Technology College, Longridge will also hold the Armistice Prize Trophy for the coming year. To give a flavour of Stacie’s work here are the last diary entries of her father Jim in France and Poppy at home: JIM: 27th April 1915 Dear Diary, POPPY: 28th April 1915 Dear Diary,
This is my daddy, Jim Walters. He died on 27th April 1915 fighting in the British Army. He was a hero and very brave. I love him to the moon and back, and always will. R.I.P. daddy 2012 Following interest from a number of History Advanced Skills Teachers (ASTs) in the prize it is hoped that more schools who undertake course work relating to the First World War will enter the competition in 2012. As mentioned earlier the WFA is keen to encourage schools to include aspects of the First World War in their teaching and has developed resources for use of schools for this purpose. For more information please visit: www.westernfrontassociation.com/great-war-for-schools. For 2012 the first prize will again be £100 plus book and there will be three area prizes (North & West: Blackpool, Fylde, Lancaster, Preston and part of Cumbria; Central & South: Chorley, Preston, South Ribble, West Lancashire; East: Blackburn, Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Ribble Valley and Hyndburn) of £25 plus book. The school of the winning pupil would also hold for one year the Armistice Prize trophy.
giving a total potential mark for each entry of 100 |