NOW go to this link...and display the photograph (which has been presented as a virtual tour with hotspots) showing the treatment of Indian soldiers wounded on the Western Front and sent for care in the Royal Pavilion, a former palace in Brighton.

HIGHLIGHT the hotspots and read these out.

ASK groups to discuss whether these details support or contradict the claim that the British had a positive attitude towards Indian soldiers.

INVITE suggestions from groups, asking pupils to justify their point of view by reference to a detail from the photograph. 

NEXT tell some groups that their task will be to try and prove that:

1. British propaganda was right.

2. British people did think highly of Sikh (and other Indian) soldiers fighting for the Empire.

Tell the other groups that they will try and prove that:

1. British propaganda got it wrong.

2. British people did not think highly of Sikh (and Indian soldiers) after all.  

Give all groups Resource K1 which summarises British treatment of wounded Sikh (and other Indian soldiers) in Britain during the
First World War. Within a set time limit ask groups to:

• skim and scan the document carefully;
• highlight details which might prove that British
  propaganda was right and that the British thought highly of Sikh (and other Indian) soldiers;
• highlight details which might prove that British propaganda was wrong and that the British did not think highly of Sikh (and other Indian) soldiers;
• decide which details to use in proving their case;
• decide how to argue that the groups who disagree with their position are wrong.

SELECT two opposing groups to lead a brief debate and allow pupils from other groups to contribute if they wish. Where necessary intervene to probe pupil understanding of a particular argument or ask them to support a contention by reference to detail from the document.

THEN repeat the above process over several rounds using Resources K2 to K6, which summarise British treatment of, and
attitudes towards, Sikh (and other Indian) soldiers during the First World War.

(Note: some documents are shorter than others and more than one could be given out at a time. Also, Resource K3 refers to the word "nigger" in the text, which is contained within an illustrative original source showing the racism of some British soldiers towards Indian soldiers.)

An additional element of competition could be to shorten the length of reading and preparation time with each round or allow a spokesperson for a group to consult with the members of their group within a limited time before answering a point.

LASTLY give out post-it notes to groups (these should be a different colour than those used previously). Give time for groups to
write different statements about what the British thought about Sikhs (and other Indian) soldiers during the First World War, e.g.

"Sikhs are brave and loyal"

or

"Indians are inferior to British people"

NOW ask individuals from each group to come forward and stick their post-it notes on the blown up image from Resource J: Slide 5
of the Sikh soldier and read out each statement as they stick them on.

FINALLY hold a vote in class about whether on balance British propaganda did or did not reflect what British people in general thought about Sikh (and other Indian) soldiers during the First World War.