Free learning resources from arts, cultural and heritage organisations.

Teachers' Notes

Resource created by Kirklees Museums and Galleries

Curriculum links: KS2 History: “a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066”, “a local history study”. KS3 History: “challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world 1901 to the present day”.

Context:

World War Two began on 1 September 1939 when Nazi Germany invaded Poland, dramatically reshaping life across Britain, including in Kirklees. Many local men joined regiments such as the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, the Huddersfield Rifles, and the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. They served in campaigns across France, North Africa, Burma and India, and later in the Normandy invasion of 1944.

At home, life changed rapidly. From 8 January 1940, food rationing was introduced, and blackout regulations required homes and streets to remain dark at night.

In 1940 and 1941, air raids reached the area. The December 1940 attack on Batley and Dewsbury and the March 1941 Leeds Blitz caused destruction, fires and loss of life. Civilians relied on Anderson shelters, Home Guard patrols and volunteers to help protect their communities. Local industries, particularly textiles and engineering, supported the war effort by producing uniforms, parachutes, overcoats and aircraft parts.

Kirklees also received evacuated children from cities and refugees from Central Europe fleeing Nazi persecution. These newcomers were supported through clubs, hostels and community activities, forming friendships across cultures. Prisoner-of-war camps at sites such as Stirley Hill housed German and Italian soldiers.

The war ended on 2 September 1945, leaving a legacy remembered through military graves and war memorials, including Batley War Memorial, which lists 253 names from World War Two.

Learning objectives:

  • Describe how World War Two affected the daily lives of people in Kirklees
  • Explain how the war affected local soldiers and civilians
  • Use historical sources to explore how the war impacted local communities

Discussion and Activity Ideas:

  • Literacy: Describe life in Kirklees during World War Two.
  • Reading: As a class, read Diver’s Daughter by Patrice Lawrence.
  • Disciplinary Skills: Study a historical map and describe land use in Kirklees. Find a contemporary map and compare land use then and now.
  • Art: Study a ‘Dig for Victory’ propaganda poster and create your own inspired by this.

Heritage is…

  • Citizenship: Communities relied heavily on volunteers, ARP wardens and the Home Guard to stay safe during air raids. What responsibilities do people have to support one another in times of crisis, both during war and today?
  • Fundamental British Values: Wartime regulations such as rationing and blackouts limited personal freedom. Were these restrictions justified? How do societies balance safety and individual rights during emergencies?
  • EDI: Refugees from Central Europe settled in Kirklees during World War Two. How were they supported by local communities, and how does this compare with attitudes towards refugees and migrants today?

Glossary:

Air Raid – An attack from enemy planes dropping bombs on towns or cities.

Anderson Shelter – A small metal shelter dug into the ground to protect families during air raids.

Blackout – A wartime rule requiring lights to be covered at night to avoid detection.

Blitz – The German bombing campaign on British towns and cities during World War Two.

Evacuee – A person, often a child, sent to live in a safer area away from danger.

Home Guard – Local volunteers who defended towns while many soldiers were away.

Memorial – A statue, plaque or place remembering people who died or served in war.

POW (Prisoner of War) – A captured enemy soldier held in a camp.

Rationing – Limiting supplies so resources could be shared fairly.