Year 6 - History
The experiences of nurses during the Second World War
Significant turning points: how did experiences differ during WWII?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about the outbreak of the Second World War and examine different wartime experiences from across Britain and her empire. They also develop their understanding of the second-order concepts of similarity and difference.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe how nursing saw great change during the Second World War.
Key Notes
- Nursing in the Second World War brought new people to Britain and helped new medical techniques to succeed.
- At the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead new plastic surgery techniques were trialled on badly injured soldiers.
- Sister Mary Meally ran the burns ward, where she looked after badly burnt airmen who were receiving treatment.
- Many West African and Caribbean women travelled to, and trained as nurses in Britain during World War II.
- These included Princess Ademola, daughter of the Alake of Abeokuta, an important king in Nigeria.
Vocabulary To Learn
- plastic surgery: surgery that involves the reconstruction or repair of the body is called plastic surgery
- Nigeria: Nigeria is a country in West Africa and at the time of the Second World War was part of the British Empire
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may think that nurses only did tasks like cleaning wards and providing meals.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Nursing in the Second World War brought new people to Britain and helped new medical techniques to succeed. At the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead new plastic surgery techniques were trialled on badly injured soldiers.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'plastic surgery'
surgery that involves the reconstruction or repair of the body is called plastic surgery.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Pupils may think that nurses only did tasks like cleaning wards and providing meals. Correction: Nurses did three years of training and had to pass exams in anatomy and physiology. They handled weapons on the front line and ran the hospitals caring for the injured in Britain.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 6 History guide library.