HE has been described as the Wilfred Owen of cartoons, controversially depicting anti-war sentiment during the First World War.

Now the work of Archie Gilkinson is to feature in an innovative education resource that teaches children about the First World War and is being made available in Scottish schools for the first time.

English-based charity Never Such Innocence, which was established by Lady Lucy French, great-granddaughter of Field Marshal Sir John French and counts TV historian Dan Snow among its backers, aims to bring the war and early 20th century society and culture to life for today’s young people.

Different aspects of the conflict are explored in the colourful resource pack, from the origins of the conflict to trench warfare, the major battles, combat stress, propaganda and the impact of the war on women.

This new edition features a section on the contribution of Scotland to the war effort. More Scots per head of population enlisted and died in the war than any other home nation.

Special attention is also paid throughout to the poetry and art of the war. Among the artists featured is Gilkison, a newspaper cartoonist for the then Glasgow Herald and the Evening Times.

Glasgow-born Gilkison, whose work lay largely undiscovered for almost 100 years, was the only known cartoonist to openly depict the horror of the war.

He died aged 31 of respiratory disease after being conscripted into the Scots Guards in 1916, never having made it to the front line.

Last year, his work was rediscovered by researchers at the University of Glasgow and will feature in an exhibition of rare and historic comic art at the Hunterian Art Gallery in March 2016.

Never Such Innocence, which takes its name from the Philip Larkin poem MCMXIV, is also running a UK-wide poetry and art competition for schools, with prizes being presented at a special ceremony at the Houses of Parliament.

Writing in the foreword, Snow said the initiative would help young people understand the world around them.

He added: “The war changed Britain and the world. This resource gives us an excellent account of the war, its effect on society, art and culture.

“It is a great place for young people to start learning and engaging with our shared history.”

Founder Lady Lucy French said: “I am very excited that we are bringing Never Such Innocence to Scotland. Highlighting the contribution of Scotland and the other nations within the British Isles is vital to the centenary of the Great War and its commemorations.”

Herald journalist Marianne Taylor, great-great niece of Gilkison, added: “Never Such Innocence is a fantastic initiative that encourages young people to think imaginatively about the realities of World War One.

“Archie’s work was unlike anything else you would have seen in a newspaper at the time. We are very proud that his cartoons - and his story - have been highlighted in this way and will be seen by many thousands of young people across Scotland and the UK.”

Professor Laurence Grove, director of Glasgow University's Stirling Maxwell Centre for the Study of Text and Image, previously described Mr Gilkison's work as a "major find".

He said: "Archie Gilkison's work is an astounding discovery. He is the only cartoonist of the time I know who evokes an anti-war sentiment during the war itself. He could be for cartooning what Wilfred Owen was for poetry."

Mr Gilkison's family has donated a rare book to the centre which Mr Grove intends to include in a major exhibition being staged by the university next year.

The school resource pack can be downloaded at www.neversuchinnocence.com