Video summary
Cyril Jose joined the Devonshire Regiment, even though he was only 15 years old.
Extracts from his letters describe his experiences in the trenches and the impact on him of the 1916 Somme offensive.
After the offensive came to a halt, Cyril and other underage boys were sent to a special camp until they were old enough to fight again. When he reached the age of 19, Cyril was sent back to France where he participated in the final campaign against the Germans.
After the war, Cyril returned home a changed man, maintaining a suspicion of authority figures for the rest of his life.
Contains scenes that some viewers may find upsetting. Teacher review recommended before using in class.
This film is from the series Teenage Tommies.
Teacher Notes
The class could be asked to compare Cyril鈥檚 attitude towards the war when he joined up, with how he felt by the end of it. What reasons might explain the change in his attitude?
This clip will be relevant for teaching history. This topic appears in OCR, Edexcel, AQA, WJEC KS4/GCSE in England and Wales, CCEA GCSE in Northern Ireland and SQA National 4/5 in Scotland.
Aby Bevistein. video
Aby Bevistein, an 茅migr茅 from Eastern Europe, joined the Middlesex Regiment in September 1914 aged only 16.
Ernest Steele. video
Ernest Steele volunteered to fight for his country in late 1914, even though he wasn't yet nineteen.
Horace Iles. video
Horace Iles was travelling on a Leeds tram when a stranger presented him with a white feather, even though he was only fourteen years old.
St John Battersby. video
St John Battersby, the 14-year-old son of a vicar from Blakeley in north Manchester, signed up to join the army against his father's wishes.
