ABC Docu-drama – The War that Changed Us
© Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2014
Educational activities to support The War that Changed Us
Introduction
These educational activities, aligned to the Australian Curriculum: History at Year 9, are designed to
encourage students to engage with the ABC docu-drama The War that Changed Us (2014)and the rich
historical sources it incorporates. The War that Changed Us is an ABC TV series of four 60-minute
episodes that explore the lives of six individuals who experienced the First World War from their role on
either the battlefields or the home front.
Overview
This educational resource has eight investigations, each exploring concepts of time, continuity change
and the impact of the First World War.
Introductory Investigation: Did the First World War change Australia?
Students demonstrate their knowledge of Australia’s political, economic and social environments in
1914, then confirm or challenge their understandings at the completion of viewing the series.
Investigation 1: How did different citizens of Australia respond to, experience and participate in,
the First World War?
Students focus their attention on following and understanding the experiences of one of the
individuals in the series through a number of inquiry questions, to develop a profile of their
individual’s attitudes and experiences.
Investigation 2: How do the views of historians add to our perspectives and understandings of the First World War?
Students focus their attention on following and understanding any two of the nine historians. They identify each historian’s perspective and what analysis
and information historians add about the individual citizen selected across the four episodes of the series.
Investigation 3: What can we learn from primary sources? What perspectives do they provide to us as historians? Do they tell the whole story?
Students focus on the quotes taken from primary sources from each of the characters across the four episodes, to investigate the strengths and weaknesses
of primary and secondary sources.
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ABC Docu-drama – The War that Changed Us
© Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2014
Investigation 4: What were some of the reasons for enlistment in the First World War? What were some of the reasons given by those who did not enlist?
Students use the information in the first episode, Answering the Call 1914–1915, to investigate the many reasons for enlistment in the Australian Imperial
Force (AIF). Students also identify the reasons why some chose not to enlist.
Investigation 5: What roles did different Australians play in the First World War?
Students identify the roles of the six key individuals and analyse these and their importance on either the battle front or home front.
Investigation 6: How and why did the conscription debate divide Australian opinion?
Students analyse the views of the six key individuals to develop the arguments for and against conscription.
Investigation 7: How did the progress of the First World War influence and change the views of Australians by 1918?
Students explore the changing views of the six key individuals in The War that Changed Us to consider how public opinion was influenced as the First World
War continued.
Investigation 8: From having viewed the series The War that Changed Us, what is your personal reflection on the six key individuals?
Students reflect on the stories of the six key individuals in the series and provide their own interpretation of those individual’s experiences of wartime.
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ABC Docu-drama – The War that Changed Us
© Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2014
Australian Curriculum
This classroom resource has been developed with specific reference to the content descriptions for Year 9 students in the Australian Curriculum: History, where a
depth study of World War I is required. The Historical Knowledge and Understanding, and Historical Skills, relevant to these educational activities are listed below.
Year 9 History
Depth study: World War I
Historical Knowledge and Understanding:
Historical Skills:

An overview of the causes of World War I
and the reasons why men enlisted to fight
in the war

Use chronological sequencing to demonstrate the
relationship between events and developments in
different periods and places

The places where Australians fought and
the nature of warfare during World War I,
including the Gallipoli campaign

Use historical terms and concepts

Identify the origin, purpose and context of primary and
secondary sources
The commemoration of World War I,
including debates about the nature and
significance of the Anzac legend

Process and synthesise information from a range of
sources for use as evidence in an historical argument

Evaluate the reliability and usefulness of primary and
secondary sources

Identify and analyse the perspectives of people from the
past

Identify and analyse different historical interpretations
(including their own)

Develop texts, particularly descriptions and discussions
that use evidence from a range of sources that are
referenced

Select and use a range of communication forms (oral,
graphic, written) and digital technologies

The learning content and activities in this resource also allow for the development of the following general capabilities: Literacy, Critical and creative thinking and
Personal and Social Capability. Furthermore, the material can be easily adapted for use with other levels and curriculum areas, particularly English, Drama and Media
Studies or Film Making.
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ABC Docu-drama – The War that Changed Us
© Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2014
Using the resource
The ABC docu-drama The War that Changed Us is a four part series of 60-minute episodes that provide six contrasting stories of individuals and their experiences of,
and attitudes to, the First World War. The stories are built around evidence from primary sources, including diaries, letters, journals or writings by the individuals at
the time. Historical film footage is also offers vision of Australia at the time, and nine historians add their interpretations of the primary and secondary sources to
provide valuable critique and understandings. Because each activity is discrete in nature, teachers are able to adapt each investigation to suit their own purposes and
students’ needs.
Unless otherwise specified, all images and written sources used in these activities are from The War that Changed Us © Electric Pictures.
The inquiry learning materials were designed by Merrillee Chignell, Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Disclaimer
This resource encourages students to explore and interpret a range of historical sources. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs cannot be assumed to agree with or
endorse any content or opinions expressed in websites or other publications quoted or referred to in this resource. Teachers are advised to view the series prior to
using it as a classroom resource.
Teachers are further advised to use due diligence according to their personal and school philosophies when using sources from any collection that may include
language or values considered inappropriate today or content that could prove distressing to students. Some images of war, of death and dying are recurring and
could be distressing to students.
Below: Prime Minister Billy Hughes addresses a crowd at a pro-conscription meeting in Sydney, 1916. (Australian War Memorial A03376)
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ABC Docu-drama – The War that Changed Us
© Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2014
Introductory Investigation: Did the First World War change Australia?
Students bring their knowledge of Australia’s political, economic and social environments in 1914, then can revisit their knowledge at the completion of the series to
highlight their new understanding of Australia during the First World War.
Activity
Why do you think the title of the series is The War that Changed Us?
What was Australia like in 1914–1918? With your own general knowledge fill in any information you know about Australian society at the time of war’s outbreak.
Political leadership
The economy
Roles of women in society
Roles of men in society
Influence of media
Methods of communication
Grief in society
Military training and forces
Life in the city
Life in the country
Social values
Development of technology
After you have viewed the four episodes use a different colour pen to add new information you have learnt about Australia. Now make a statement about the relevance
of the title of the series – The War that Changed Us. Do you agree or disagree with the choice of the title?
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ABC Docu-drama – The War that Changed Us
© Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2014
Investigation 1: How did different citizens of Australia respond to, experience and participate in, the First World War?
Students focus their attention on following and understanding the experiences of one of the individuals in the series through a number of inquiry questions, to
develop a profile of their attitudes and experiences.
Activity – Character Case Study Choose one of the six key individuals from the list below and watch each episode of The War that Changed Us noting any significant
information that helps you to understand the individual’s motivations, skills, experience and attitudes to war displayed across the course of the four episodes. You will
be provided with some key questions to answer and should note any interesting new information about the individual.
Archie Barwick
AIF soldier
Vida Goldstein
Editor of Woman Voter newspaper
Pompey Elliott
AIF Battalion commander
Kathryn McNaughton
Australian Army Service Nurse
Tom Barker
Unionist and Industrial Workers of the World
spokesman
Eva Hughes
Woman’s advocate and peace activist
supporting the British Empire
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ABC Docu-drama – The War that Changed Us
© Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2014
You will be able to develop an understanding of their experiences through the following questions:
 What was the individual’s role during wartime?
 What did they contribute to the war effort?
 Were they on the battlefields or on the home front?
 What was their wartime experience?
 What was their educational background, training, profession or trade?
 What was their cultural background?
 What was their attitude to war?
 Did their attitude to war change? If so, how and why?
Use the following spreadsheet to take notes about your character during your viewing of each episode.
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ABC Docu-drama – The War that Changed Us
© Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2014
Character Study
What do you find
out about the
individual?
What do they do? What is their
attitude to the
war?
EPISODE ONE
Answering the
Call
1914–1915
EPISODE TWO
Coming Together
1915–1916
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What do the
historians think
about this
person?
What do you
think about this
person? What
question would
you ask them?
ABC Docu-drama – The War that Changed Us
© Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2014
Character Study
What do you find
out about the
individual?
What do they do? What is their
attitude to the
war?
EPISODE THREE
Coming Apart
1916–1917
EPISODE FOUR
Coming Home
1917–1918
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What do the
historians think
about this
person?
What do you
think about this
person? What
question would
you ask them?
ABC Docu-drama – The War that Changed Us
© Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2014
Investigation 2: How do the views of historians add to our perspective and understanding of the First World War?
Students focus their attention on following and understanding any two of the nine historians. They identify each historian’s perspective and what analysis and
information they add about the individual across the four episodes of the series.
Activity
Choose two of the historians who are featured in the series The War that Changed Us to analyse what their views add to your understandings of the person.
Dr Janet Butler
Historian
La Trobe University
Dr Jeff Sparrow
Historian
Professor Bill Gammage
Historian
Australian National University
Prof Peter Stanley
Historian
UNSW Canberra
Dr Marina Larrson
Author and Historian
Dr Clare Wright
Historian
La Trobe University
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Dr Ross McMullin
Author and Historian
Dr Bart Ziino
Historian
Deakin University
Professor Bruce Scates –
Historian
Monash University
ABC Docu-drama – The War that Changed Us
Name of the
historian
Name of the
individual they
comment upon
© Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2014
What perspective
does the historian
give?
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What primary
sources did
the historian
use?
Is it a good
historical
source? Justify
your answer.
Is the
historian’s
opinion valid?
Is their
opinion
biased? Why
or why not?
ABC Docu-drama – The War that Changed Us
© Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2014
Investigation 3: What can we learn from primary sources? What perspectives do
they provide to us as historians? Do they tell the whole story?
Students focus on the quotes taken from primary sources from each of the individuals across the four
episodes, to investigate the strengths and weaknesses of primary and secondary sources.
Activity
The series The War that Changed Us is based on the real-life stories of six Australians and provides a
window into their lives during the period of 1914–1918. Their characters are developed using actors playing
their roles and their stories are told through the evidence found in primary and secondary source
documents. For each individual these sources vary. Use the table below to analyse the value of different
primary and secondary sources referred to in the series.
Left: Archie Barwick in uniform and Right: the actor playing Archie in The War that Changed Us.
Source
Who created it?
Who is it intended
for?
What perspective
does it give?
Is this perspective the
truth? Is this perspective
biased? Why or why not?
Is it a good historical
source?
Why or why not?
Letters
Diaries
Newspaper
articles
Discuss and compare the historical value of each of these sources. How accurately do they convey the attitudes of individuals?
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Where else should
you look for
additional
information?
ABC Docu-drama – The War that Changed Us
© Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2014
Investigation 4: What were some of the reasons for enlistment in the First World War? What
were some of the reasons given by those who did not enlist?
Students use the information in the Episode 1, Answering the Call 1914–1915, to investigate the many reasons for
enlistment in the First AIF. Students also identify the reasons why some chose not to enlist.
Activity
From the introduction to the characters and from the information provided in Episode 1, list in each box a reason why
different individuals chose, or chose not, to enlist.
Right: An example of a First World War recruitment poster. (Australian War Memorial, DH Souter, chromolithograph on
paper, 76.2 x 51.4 cm, ARTV00141)
Reasons for enlisting
Reasons for not enlisting
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ABC Docu-drama – The War that Changed Us
© Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2014
Investigation 5: What roles did different Australians play in the First World War?
Students identify the roles of the six key individuals and analyse the role they played and its importance to them on either the battle front or home front.
Activity
List the names of the individuals in the series and the role they played on the battle front or home front. Identify how important this role was to this person
and why.
BATTLE FRONT
Who
Role
HOME FRONT
Importance
Who
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Role
Importance
ABC Docu-drama – The War that Changed Us
© Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2014
Investigation 6: How and why did the conscription debate divide Australian opinion?
Students analyse the views of the six key individuals to develop the arguments for and against conscription.
Activity
View Episodes 3 and 4 of The War that Changed Us to identify the views of the six individuals towards
conscription.
Right: Tom Barker addresses a crowd in Sydney.
Archie Barwick
Pompey Elliott
Kathryn McNaughton
Vida Goldstein
Tom Barker
Eva Hughes
What political figure is mentioned in these episodes in relation to the conscription debate and plebiscites? What were his views?
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ABC Docu-drama – The War that Changed Us
© Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2014
Investigation 7: How did the progress of the First World War influence and change the views of Australians by 1918?
Students explore the changing views of the six key individuals in The War that Changed Us to consider how public opinion was influenced as the First World
War continued.
Activity
After viewing each episode, use the graph below to plot your individual’s positive or negative attitude towards participation in the First World War. Justify
each response with a sentence. Compare your rating with other students’ ratings for the other five individuals. Do you think the attitude of many
Australians changed over the course of the four years of the war from 1914 to 1918? Did the attitudes change more or less on the battle front or on the
home front? Explain your answers.
Positive
Neutral
Negative
ATTITUDE TOWARDS & SUPPORT FOR THE WAR
Individual:
Archie, his brother Len and another soldier warm
themselves by a fire as snow falls on the Western
Front.
EPISODE 1
EPISODE 2
EPISODE 3
EPISODE 4
1914–1915
1915–1916
1916–1917
1917–1918
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ABC Docu-drama – The War that Changed Us
© Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2014
Investigation 8: From having viewed the series The War that Changed Us what is your personal reflection on the lives of
the six key individuals?
Students reflect on the stories of the six key individuals and provide their own interpretations of these individuals’ experiences of wartime.
Activity 1 – Personal Reflection
From the individual case study in Investigation 1, what is your opinion of that individual’s role, experiences and attitudes to war? How do you think the
individual was changed by war? How do you think it may have impacted on their life? How do you think it affected their family? If they had survived to the
age of 80 years how might they have reflected on the First World War?
Activity 2 – Personal Interpretation
If you could be the actor for one of the individuals in the series, who would you be and why? Develop a short soliloquy that shows this individual’s attitude
to war in 1918. Rehearse and present this to the class and discuss why you included the statements and opinions that you performed.
The cast of The War that Changed Us. Back row: Pompey Elliott, Kit McNaughton, Archie Barwick. Front row: Via Goldstein, Tom Barker, Eva Hughes.
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