Video summary
Newsreel and commentary about the role of patriotic songs in World War One.
School children practise singing the 1914 number ‘Keep the 鶹Լ Fires Burning’, with music by Ivor Novello and lyrics by Lena Guilbert Ford.
A dramatic monologue set in the late 1930s introduces Ivor Novello, who tells us how his famous song came to be written.
Britain is on the brink of another war and Novello wonders if his song will be sung once again.
This clip is from the series WW1 A to Z.
Teacher Notes
Pupils could find out more about other patriotic songs of the war years, from books and websites.
The children could compile a wartime songbook, grouping the songs in sections, according to their subject or purpose.
The children might have a section of recruitment or home-coming songs, for instance.
They could practise singing a selection of songs and vote for their top ten favourites.
This short film is suitable for teaching history at Key Stage 2 / Second Level or above.
J is for Jutland Jack. video
Newsreel and commentary about the role of patriotic songs in World War One, plus a dramatic monologue about the songwriter Ivor Novello.
L is for Lusitania. video
Newsreel and a dramatised monologue about the Lusitania, a passenger ship that was sunk by a German U-Boat off the coast of Ireland.
M is for Medicine. video
Newsreel and a dramatised monologue about the advances in medicine made during World War One.
