Imagine a World War 1 soldier - what did they look like? What kind of person fought in World War One?
What do you see in this picture? What is happening, what do you notice about the people in the foreground and the people in the background. Where / when do you think the photo was taken?
The photo shows soldiers in World War One serving with the British army praying outside a mosque in Surrey during the war.
It is estimated that 1.5 million Indian troops fought with Britain in World War 1, and 400,000 of those were Muslim soldiers. Recent research shows that over 4 million Muslims either fought or served as labourers during the war. But another survey shows only 22% of people in Britain knew that Muslims had fought in the war.
Did anyone imagine a Muslim man when I asked you to think about what a soldier from World War 1 looked like?
Today many historians are trying to make sure people know about everyone who fought and died in the war. Historian Steve Ballinger says, "Finding out that Muslim soldiers fought and died for Britain to protect us and protect the freedoms we enjoy today, that's an important history for everyone to know."
Last summer there were protests in some cities against refugees in England. what do you think the people protesting could learn from this photo?
-why do we have Remembrance Sunday, what is the 2 minute silence for?
- World War One ended over 100 years ago, why do we remember it, why don't we just move on?
- In the photo there are lots of people in the background watching the soldiers pray; what do you think they are thinking?
- why do you think some people today forget the soldiers in the war were diverse?
- "It's important history for everyone to know," why?
- what can we learn from the soldiers of World War One?
No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat (scheme of work for primary schools)
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