PLAY an extract (02:47 to 13:52) from this BBC program ‘Remembrance - The Sikh Story':

(Note: The extract is a good survey of the Sikh contribution to the First World War and includes some footage of a Sikh man arming himself with symbolic weapons and emblems. Be sure not go beyond the end of the extract as this goes on to refer to the post-war Amritsar Massacre which is dealt with later in the lesson).

LEAD a discussion using Resource Q: Slide 4 about whether any information or views expressed in the programme add to our understanding of what motivated Sikhs to volunteer for military service, remain in it and what they thought of the British.

LEAD a discussion about whether pupils agree with the historians conclusions and use Resource Q: Slide 6 as a prompt for discussion as to what the programme might add to our knowledge.

GIVE OUT the letters of Sikh soldiers written during the First World War from Resource R.

DISPLAY Resource Q: Slide 7 and allocate some contrasting terms from the list on the slide (allocate differing terms to different groups).

ASK small groups to read all the letters in Resource R and use different colours to highlight phrases or sentences that seem to
give evidence of particular terms.

LEAD a discussion about:

• what these letters overall tell us about how Sikh soldiers saw themselves;
• how reliable these letters might actually be, taking into account the points on Resource Q: Slide 8 (Note: take care to steer away discussion from reaching the conclusion that the letters are of no use at all because they were subject to British censorship).