warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In this lesson, we will learn about what the story of Algerian Soldiers at Ypres can reveal to us about the Western Front.

Licence

This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.

Loading...

5 Questions

Q1.
Which of the below best describes Ganga Singh?
A Buddhist from China, which was an ally of Britain
A Christian from Canada, which was part of the British Empire
A Muslim from Algeria, which was then controlled by the French
Correct answer: A Sikh from the Punjab, which was then part of British India
Q2.
Which Western Front battle did Ganga Singh fight in?
Correct answer: First Battle of Ypres
Somme
Verdun
Vimy Ridge
Q3.
Indian soldiers were used to plug gaps in British lines after heavy losses. What could this reveal about the Western Front?
Indian soldiers were better fighters than the British
Indian soldiers weren’t very good fighters
Not all fighting in the First World War happened in a trench
Correct answer: The British were in trouble in 1914 and the Indian troops were an important part of the army
Q4.
In the story, Ganga Singh couldn’t find or understand the officers. What could this reveal about the Western Front?
All of the officers died quickly on the Western Front
The soldiers are stupid in comparison to the officers
Correct answer: The Western Front was a place where many languages were spoken, even within the same army
There was a lot of fighting on the Western Front in many different battles
Q5.
In the First Battle of Ypres, big trenches hadn't yet been built. What could this reveal about the Western Front?
It takes a long time to dig a trench and so they weren't built yet
Many of the soldiers on the Western Front were very lazy
The British were in trouble in 1914 and the Indian troops were an important part of the army
Correct answer: Trench warfare didn’t start right from the beginning of the war

5 Questions

Q1.
Which battle did we study today?
Battle of the Marne
Battle of the Somme
Correct answer: Second Battle of Ypres
Verdun
Q2.
Which soldiers fought in that battle?
Correct answer: Algerian
American
Chinese
South African
Q3.
Germans used banned chlorine gas at Ypres. What could that reveal?
Correct answer: Leaders would stop at very little to break the stalemate.
The British were in trouble in 1915.
The Germans were evil
The soldiers were stupid and should have known it was gas
Q4.
The Algerian solders had no gas masks. What could that reveal about the Western Front?
Everyone died at the Western Front
Correct answer: Soldiers were not always supported properly when technology and weapons changed
The Algerian soldiers were weak
The Allies were ahead of the Germans in terms of their technology and weapons
Q5.
The gas broke the stalemate for a bit, but not for long. What could that reveal about the Western Front?
Correct answer: Even changes in technology and very dangerous weapons didn't break the stalemate
The Allies were weak
The Germans were weak
Very little actually happened on the Western Front