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from The Observer, Sunday November 8, 1998

Grandad's war is ancient history

Children do not see the war as a part of the modern era.

'IT'S LIKE trying to remember the Battle of Hastings now - pointless,' says Kierra Box, 13. 'It has no significance to me.'

For Kierra and many of her peers, the First World War is a history lesson that has no part in their lives.

'I don't know very much, because I haven't been taught it at school,' says Katherine Faulkner.

'Children's Express' talked to young people and while all knew the war was fought early this century - and most could give its dates - many didn't know who it was between and no one knew how many men died in it.

For Ben Baginsky, 12, 'it was quite bloody and lots of people died'. Chris Ainoo, 15, knows it was called the Great War, but doesn't know why.

But Oliver Robertson, 16, knows more about it than most of his generation - and most adults as well. 'I know it started in 1914 with the shooting of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo and it ended in 1918 on 11 November at 11am. My parents told me why it's so important.'

Most associate poppies with Remembrance Day.'I think we wear poppies because they were growing in the fields where they foughl,' says Kierra. 'People wear them to show they are thinking about all the dead people. I don't wear one. Not because I don't support it, but I don't wear an Aids ribbon and I don't want to show favouritism.'

'I'm wearing a poppy because it's very sad how they died,' says Katherine. 'We shouldn't forget because the soldiers were very important. if they hadn't fought for England, we'd all be speaking German now.'

Observing a minute's silence is seen as the most difficult aspect of Remembrance Day. Kierra forgets about it or gets bored during the silence. 'I forget about it and then I'm watching telly and it all goes silent and I'm like, whoops - forgot again.'

Compiled by 'Children 's Express'-- Oliver Robertson. 16, Kierra Box, 13, and Rachael Bulford, 17. 'Children's Express' is a programme of learning through journalism for young people aged eight to 18.

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