CENSORSHIP DURING WORLD WAR 1
What does censorship mean?
Censorship is the removal or banning of anything regarded as
harmful, offensive or dangerous from letters, books, films and
newspaper articles.
Preventing the population from learning of bad news is another
way of controlling and shaping people's attitudes and opinions.
During World War 1, letters sent by soldiers to their families and
friends were heavily censored to keep details of defeat and the
terrible conditions in the trenches from the public.
ACTIVITY 1: READ THE FOLLOWING LETTER FROM A
SOLDIER TO HIS WIFE. HIGHLIGHT ANYTHING YOU THINK
WOULD HAVE BEEN CENSORED DURING WORLD WAR 1.
24th May, 1916
Dear Martha,
We are now in Northern France in Arras with the 14th Battalion.
We have heard that we are going to launch a new offensive
against the Germans on the Somme.
I am well and looking forward to the end of the war. I wish it would
hurry up. Sadly, my old school friend Bill was killed last week by a
sniper. He was standing at the entrance of his dugout and a
German bullet went under his shoulder. I'll miss old Bill. These
snipers are doing some terrible damage and we are all very
scared. There's not much room for tears and grieving here as they
think a dead man is no use to the army, so they got old Bill out of
the way as quickly as possible. War is terrible and so few realise it.
On the bright side, the food is surprisingly good and some of my
mates have made friends with some of the French girls. They
seem to like the Tommies.
I miss you and send you my love,
Peter
ACTIVITY 2: CUT AND PASTE BELOW ANY PARTS OF THE
LETTER FROM PETER THAT YOU THINK WOULD HAVE BEEN
CENSORED BEFORE HIS WIFE RECEIVED IT. EXPLAIN WHY
YOU HAVE CHOSEN THESE.