It is now over 80 years since World War II began. As the number of those who served in the war diminishes, more and more first-hand accounts of the war are lost. Pupils in school today can no longer ask their parents or grandparents what they did during the war.
There is no longer a direct connection to the history of the events of World War II for pupils and for many, it is textbooks doled out in a lesson. Using research into their family history will enable pupils to relate to real people who were called upon to do a difficult and sometimes terrible job. Helping pupils to gain an insight into those who lived, served, died and survived goes some way to ensuring that we all never forget the price we pay for the freedoms we enjoy.
The wealth of knowledge of people who lived during the Second World War is disappearing, but the young of today can still take a fascinating journey into their family’s past.
