Students unearth WWI historical treasures

TWO high school students have discovered a rich vein of WWI history by taking part in News Corp’s 100 Years of Untold Stories.

Two Goulburn Valley Grammar School students who have completed a profile on a WWI soldier

THE opportunity to delve back in time to World War I proved a thought provoking exercise for two Victorian Year 11 students.

Kristen Giddings and Alex Cox, both 16-year-old students from Goulbourn Valley Grammar School in Shepparton, have taken part in a student online project for News Corp Australia’s Centenary of WWI project 100 years of Untold Stories in which they were asked to profile a WWI soldier of their choice.

TO TAKE PART IN THE PROJECT YOURSELF CLICK ON THIS ONLINE FORM.

The task led them on a trail of discovery as to what life was like for the two men they chose to profile, soldiers who both made the ultimate sacrifice for the cause.

For Kristen, the learning was close to home. Kristen profiled Private Oliver Thomas Giddings a great-great-great-uncle who she never knew fought and died in WWI.

“When I had the opportunity to look up a soldier, I asked my relatives and they told me about him,” Kristen said. “I had no idea.”

A trip to her grandparents revealed a treasure trove of about 100 letters from Oliver and other letters the family had written back to him.

A week of research reading the letters, on WWI websites and through digitised newspaper archives available online uncovered even more about Private Giddings.

For his profile, Alex chose to research a soldier well-known and respected in his local community. Private Robert Mactier is the only soldier in the Shepparton, Mooroopna and Tatura district to have received the highest military honour, the Victoria Cross.

“It was such a great honour to do such a great hero,” Alex said.

“I already knew his name, stories and what he had achieved but his incredible bravery really surprised me.”

Alex said he trawled through websites and books and enlisted the help of his neighbour, a member of the local RSL.

You can read Kristen and Alex’s full soldiers’ profiles on our 100 years of Untold Stories web page.

The online student project is open to all students nationally until the Gallipoli Centenary on April 25, 2015.

The project aims to build profiles, not just of WWI soldiers, but any soldier who has served for Australia, providing a greater insight into our nation’s military history. Students who participate are in the running to receive a prize, which will be awarded monthly.

To submit your own student research for consideration click on this online form.