Primary, collège and lycée classes can participate in the Sadlier Stokes Prize to create projects about Australia's participation in World War I.
Lieutenant Clifford Sadlier and Sergeant Charlie Stokes of the 5th Australia Division, were decorated for their bravery in the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, on 24 April, 1918. The town was strategic in the German plans to attack nearby Amiens. They captured the town on the morning of the 24th. The British planned an immediate counter-attack and sent the Australian Division to encircle the town. Sadlier and Stokes single-handedly attacked and destroyed six German machine-gun posts that were causing terrible casualties in the Australian ranks. Their action ensured that Villers-Bretonneux was re-taken and the road to Amiens barred to the Germans.
The Prize
In their honour, every year, a prize of €1500 each is awarded to a primary class, a collège class and a lycée class for a project. The projects don't have to be exclusively in English. The competition is open to all disciplines, and is ideal for an EPI or cross-disciplinary project with History-Geography, French or EMC for example.
Projects about Australia's participation in World War I must be undertaken this school year. The deadline for sending in projects is 1 February 2024. The winners will be informed by 11 March.
Last year's winners will give you a taste of what is possible. You can see them on the prize site.
The primary prize was awarded to students of Paul Langevin Primary School in Bagnolet (93) for their video in French imagining a news bulletin from a few days after the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, which they concluded with an imagined interview with Lieutenant Sadlier.
The collège prize went to Jacques Prévert Middle School, from Nouvion-en-Ponthieu (80), who produced both an exhibition for the school library based on field trips they had taken to memorial sites
They also made a video in English including letters and diaries they imagined.
The lycée prize was awarded to the 1e8 class from the Institution du Saint Esprit High School in Beauvais (60). The pupils created a shadow play about Australian soldiers' experiences, acting out scenes from their lives and reading imagined correspondence.
For details on how to apply, see the Australian National Memorial in France website.
> Projet du souvenir: les champs de bataille de la Première guerre mondiale
> Poppy Day on the Web
> Battle of the Somme WWI Webpicks
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