Youth Remember the 100^th Anniversary of Canada’s Hundred Days
What is the Victoria Cross?

Aim

To provide youth with a basic knowledge and appreciation of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for bravery a Canadian could receive during the First World War.

Objectives

Youth should:

• develop a basic knowledge and appreciation of the Victoria Cross
• learn about Thomas Ricketts, from Newfoundland, who was awarded the Victoria Cross at 17 years old during the First World War.

Target audience

This activity is suitable for ages 8 to 11.

Sequence of events and anticipated time frame [30 minutes]

(This activity can be modified to fit available time.)

• Discussion [10 minutes]
• What is the Victoria Cross? [10 minutes]
• Debrief [10 minutes]

Materials

• What is the Victoria Cross? activity sheet

Discussion

Ask your students what they know about the First World War. Depending on the responses, highlight some key points and useful information for the activity:

• the First World War was fought between 1914 and 1918, mainly in Europe (you may use a map to show them countries where the fighting was the most intense, like France and Belgium);
• a large number of Canadians served in the First World War (more than 660,000);
• war is dangerous and everybody had to overcome their fears to do their job;
• many Canadians received medals for their bravery during the war;
• the highest decoration for bravery a Commonwealth service member could obtain in war was called the Victoria Cross;
• 73 Victoria Crosses in total were awarded to Canadians or Newfoundlanders during the war;
• during the last three months alone, 30 persons serving with the Canadian military were awarded the Victoria Cross for their bravery;
• A teenager from Newfoundland earned the Victoria Cross in October 1918.

What is the Victoria Cross?

Distribute the What is the Victoria Cross? sheet and guide your students in completing the activity.

Debrief

Lead a wrap-up discussion about the activity. Ask your students to describe in their words what the Victoria Cross is. Do they remember the number of Canadians and Newfoundlanders who received the Victoria Cross in the last three months of the First World War? Do they know the name of the teenager from Newfoundland who received the Victoria Cross during the First World War?

Ask your students if they have witnessed a brave action in their school or community. Should the person receive a medal for that action? If they were to create a decoration for bravery in the school, what name would it be? What would be the design of their decoration for bravery at school?