Team LL - Life During WWII

Miss Clementson was invited into Team LL to talk about her Grandpa's experience as a prisoner of war in the Far East during the Second World War. Team LL had been really engaged learning about VE Day and what life was like "at home" during that time and were intrigued to find out more about life working on the Death Railway.

Miss Clementson began by explaining about Sgt Harry Ingle's life before the war; his family, where he was from, what life was like for him living at that time and that he joined the 5th Suffolks.

Next, she explained about the start of the war and brought in some propaganda from the time to discuss. She explained how he had been captured in Singapore and that he was taken to a camp and then several camps across three years of being a prisoner of war. Miss Clementson explained about life working on the railway including food, transport, working hours, medical care, working in a jungle environment, expectations of work, clothing, the end of the war in the Far East, liberation and the journey back home from Australia and how he was treated after the war when he returned.

Miss Clementson brought in lots of artefacts from the time to show including; photos of Sgt Ingle, a letter he received from his grandparents when he was a POW, a menu from the ship that took him to Australia, a letter from the airmen that rescued him and a magazine article she had written about him with photos of the clothes he wore in the camp.

Miss Clementson then explained about his life after the war and how her mums life, and her own life had been affected by what he had endured through those years. It is so important that the children see that soldiers who experienced this are not just names in a book, but real people with families.

​Team LL were so respectful and listened so well, asking thoughtful questions about what his life was like. Thank you Team LL, it was a pleasure to talk to you.