Medicine on the Western Front

What to expect in the workshop at The National Archives

In the onsite workshop students explore fascinating personal stories from the First World War using original documents, from medical cards completed in trenches, to army service records. This session develops skills in selecting sources for particular historical enquiries. Students will investigate diverse experiences including a soldier with gas poisoning and a nurse suffering the psychological effects of working in a hospital.

The two-hour workshop is led by an experienced history educator in an inspiring learning space at The National Archives in Kew. Students handle a range of original documents.

What to expect in the online workshop

In the online workshop in your classroom students will investigate the effectiveness of medical treatment in the First World War, through examining historical documents. Students will gain a deeper understanding into different types of historical documents, from medical forms to government reports. This session develops skills in assessing the usefulness of documents.

The one-hour online session in your classroom is led by an experienced history educator, you only need a microphone, large screen and webcam to take part. Interactive activities encourage students to discuss their ideas and work in groups using high-quality materials provided in advance by the Education team.

Connections to the curriculum

Key Stage 4

• AQA GCSE History: Conflict and tension: the First World War, 1894–1918 The Western Front: military tactics and technology, including trench warfare
• Edexcel GCSE History: Medicine in Britain, c1250 present and The British sector of the Western Front, 1914 18.
• OCR GCSE History: War and British Society c.790 to c.2010: The First World War: the beginnings of ‘total war’, including the impact on people’s lives.

Key Stage 5

• Edexcel GCE ‘A’ level History: British Experience of Warfare c1760-1918: Trench warfare on the Western Front 1914-1918