Waterways at War

Did you know both Silly Putty and M&M's were invented during WW2?

It's true! Did you also know that in WW2 canal barges were moored on reservoirs to stop enemy planes landing on the water! The Waterways at War Topic Pack looks at how canals were involved in war times, in Britain and around the world, from early military history to WW2. Discover how the canals were part of the lines of defense in WW2, how they were used to transport soldiers in the 1700s or how boating kept goods flowing round the country during periods where petrol was rationed. The WOW team were awarded funding from the MLA’s Learning Links program, to produce the latest topic pack entitled ‘Waterways at War’, working with staff at The Waterways Archive, children fro Holmes Chapel County Primary School and many other volunteers. “The funding allowed us to work directly with the waterways archives as well as consulting children on the contents of the new pack” explains Katie Donlon, education coordinator. The pack was launched at Stoke Bruerne’s Village at War event in October 2010 by children from the local primary school - all dressed as wartime evacuees!