Unveiling of Kitchener War Memorial
The unveiling ceremony of the Kitchener Memorial in Orkney
- Description
- Questions & Activities
- Clip Details
- Print All
Description
Shots of the unveiling by General Lord Horne of Stirkoke of the Kitchener Memorial on Marwick Head, Orkney. Veterans with with medals stand and remove their hats, the Union Jack flag waves in the background against the memorial, while wreaths are placed around it. Soldiers pay their respects, joined by a watching crowd. There is a close-up of the memorial plaque which reads: "This Tower was raised by the people of Orkney in memory of Field Marshal Earl Kitchener of Khartoum on that corner of his country which he had served so faithfully, nearest to the place where he died on duty. He and his staff perished, along with the officers and nearly all the men of HMS Hampshire, on 5th June 1916." Shots of the large onlooking crowd in the field surrounding memorial and the memorial itself.
Questions & Activities
Questions
- Who was General Kitchener?
- Why was he known as Lord Kitchener of Khartoum?
- Why was a war memorial erected for him in Orkney?
- What is the natural harbour in Orkney called? Why was it important in both world wars?
- Are war memorials to particular people needed?
- What First World War statues/memorials can you spot/name in your town?
Activities
History / First World War: Kitchener's face adorns one of the most famous posters in British History. Research his life and legacy in relation to the creation and defence of the British Empire. Find local press reports from the time of the sinking of HMS Hampshire.
History / Geography / Environmental Studies: Using the website Old Weather sign up the class to be a member of the crew of the HMS Hampshire or one of its sister ships (HMS Antrim, HMS Roxburgh, HMS Argyll, HMS Carnarvon). This website records the weather through the log book of the ship.
History / First World War/ Second World War: Research the history of Orkney's part in the First and Second World Wars and the importance of Scapa Flow.
History / First World War: Working from War Memorials try to work out how many people from your town died fighting for their country, what their occupations were and how the town coped without them. To do this you may also want to interview older members of your community and record their testimony for future generations.
Art and Design: Recreate the famous poster of Lord Kitchener and/or update his face with a current political figure.
Clip Details
| Record Id | 007-000-002-399-C |
|---|---|
| Resource Rights Holder | National Library of Scotland |
| Project Ref | 3470 |
| Date | 1926 (July 2nd) |
| Genre | Local Topical |
| School Subject | History, Geography, Art and Design |
| Subject Matter | World War 1 |
| Who | D.B.Pearce (director (att.), ), Electric Cinema, Kirkwall (sponsor) |
| Where | Orkney |
| Event | War Memorial, First World War, WW1, World War One |
| Attributes | Black and White, Silent |
| Clip Length | 2:04 |
| Film Length | 2:04 |
| References | http://www.oldweather.org/ |