Commemoration Postcards in Trafford

Posted at 11:14 am on 8th November, 2018

Wellacre delivers postcards to remember fallen soldiers

To commemorate both Remembrance Sunday, as well as the centenary of the First World War armistice, Wellacre students have delivered a series of memorial postcards to 80 local residents in Flixton, Davyhulme and Urmston.

Following research into soldiers from the local area who gave their lives in World War 1, Wellacre students in Year 7 and 8 prepared handwritten postcards in their memory to deliver to the soldiers’ former addresses.

Students told local residents all about the former occupants of their house and the role they played in World War 1.  As an act of remembrance, students also invited residents to display the postcard in their window, which reads:

“A fallen soldier lived at this address - We will remember them”

Mrs Irwin, Teacher of Religious Studies, said:

“It's important to keep the history of our local community alive so that Wellacre boys can appreciate the effect of war on their doorstep.  These postcards are a simple act, which will also bring the wider community together and invite them to be part of our school’s remembrance activities.”

Students Louie and Bailey added:

"It's a good idea for people to know that someone who fought for our country lived in their house. It helps us to remember that World War 1 affected the area we live in."

As well as delivering the commemoration postcards, students have taken part in a series of events in the build up to Remembrance Day.

Wellacre has been involved in the national ‘There but not There’ memorial; a series of silhouettes installed in school to represent the memory of fallen soldiers.  The perspex cut-outs are hard to notice but are designed to provoke discussion about the country’s unseen heroes.

Year 8 students also attended a commemoration workshop at Manchester’s Central Library to decorate a silhouette with information about the life of a local fallen soldier to be displayed in the library until December, and then in Wellacre. The soldier chosen by students was named William Harris.  He was born in a Navvy hut on Irlam Road, less than half a mile from school, and died in Belgium in July 1917.

Finally, students also met and took part in a Q&A session with Mr Morrison from the Royal British Legion, before attending the Wellacre Remembrance Assembly on Friday 9th November.

Mrs O’Neill, Leader of Humanities, said:

“Remembrance is hugely important to us here at Wellacre. Students are always in awe of the sacrifice made by so many, and they are respectful and insightful in their reflections. We are keen to provide the students with a wide variety of opportunities in relation to remembrance. Our annual remembrance assembly is an event that truly brings our school community together.”