Bursting with Brilliance: WWI-Inspired Taskmaster Club

Run by Mrs Chanter, our ever-popular Taskmaster Club continues to inspire and challenge pupils every Thursday afternoon as part of Truro School’s vibrant co-curricular programme.

This week’s session transported Year 7 pupils back to the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I (1915–1916) – a key moment in history, where the Entente Powers launched an unsuccessful offensive against the Ottoman Empire. In a clever act of wartime innovation, Lance-Corporal William Scurry developed self-firing rifles to deceive the enemy during retreat.

Scurry’s invention used a simple but brilliant mechanism: two tins were set up, one tied to a rifle’s trigger, and another placed above it, slowly dripping water through a small hole. As the lower can gradually filled, it became heavy enough to pull the trigger, firing the rifle long after soldiers had gone. This delayed firing trick played a vital role in masking the retreat and confusing the enemy, giving the impression that Allied soldiers still occupied the trenches.

Our pupils were given a box of components and the task of engineering their own version of this ingenious invention. Using a combination of balloons and pins, they were challenged to create a mechanism that would fire intermittently, mimicking the delayed rifle shots used during the retreat.

It was captivating to watch their creativity unfold as they brainstormed, tested, and refined their designs. From problem-solving to perseverance, the room was filled with focus, laughter, and the occasional balloon pop.

With innovation at the heart of the session, pupils left with a deeper understanding of both history and mechanical processes in what was a truly explosive blend of STEM learning and fun.