麻豆社

Childhood recollections during World War One are rare but the conflict had a significant impact on their lives.

Historians concede it is unusual to find written records relating to children's memories of World War One.

"Children would write to their Dads at the front and get letters back and that sort of thing can survive. But for the most part it's about the impact after the war of looking back and having your formative years because it's a long war," says Dr Shaun Lang from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge.

Out on the Isles of Scilly, island children witnessed increased maritime activity.

Sea wreck expert Richard Larn recounts the story of one young girl who witnessed the sinking of a coal ship, the SS Italia off the Island of St Agnes close to Wingletang Ledges.

The young girl was down overlooking the sea picking flowers when she looked out and saw the vessel half awash and slowly going down. When the girl brought her family back to the beach there was nothing to be seen - the ship had disappeared.

"There wasn't even a mast showing so nobody believed her,鈥� explains Richard Larn.

Meanwhile back on the mainland in West Cornwall the Methodist Chapel would organise social activities for children of farm labourers. They required plenty of cakes as the families were generally large in number. The St Levan History Group says as the war progressed the Methodist volunteers couldn't get the ingredients they needed and the Gala teas were cut back.

"The really tragic thing was that the children of the First World War would be the soldiers of the Second. So they'd actually pay the price for the failures of the peace makers at the end of the First World War," continues Dr Shaun Lang.

Location: St Agnes, Isles of Scilly TR22 0PL
Image: The children of St Just remembering events of 100 years ago

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