In this lesson, you will examine primary sources about desertion in the 118th Battalion during the First World War (1914 – 1918).
Working in groups, you will read about a soldier who deserted from the 118th. You will then present to the class, describing
- what you learned about the soldier and their life before they deserted
- what you learned about the circumstances surrounding their desertion
Afterwards, as a class, you will all discuss why soldiers deserted and how the military dealt with desertion.
Instructions:
1. Read the description of the 118th Battalion HERE
2. Read the biography of Lieutenant Colonel W. M. O. Lochead HERE
3. Read the primary documents associated with the soldier assigned to you:
4. Use the documents to write a brief account of your soldier’s service up to the time they were charged with desertion.
5. Use the account you wrote to create a time-line of events about your soldier to present to the class.