Mementoes of history wanted to collect forgotten stories of First World War
FROM cigarette cases that saved their owners’ lives to rare wooden crosses that marked their grave, an ambitious national project has been launched to collect the forgotten stories of the First World War.
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Oxford University’s Lest We Forget project, launched last October, intends to digitally archive items from attics across the country.
The first event at Cheney School, Oxford, last November, saw locals bring in pieces of history that had previously never been seen.
The programme’s organisers are now recruiting volunteers to arrange similar events around Britain.
Pupils aged between 12 and 17 were trained how to record and photograph the items so they could be stored online, as well as interview the people who brought them in.
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This was a wonderful thing to be part of
Historians shared their expertise and a team from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission was also on hand to give advice.
Charlotte Attlee, from Oxford, brought in a rare wooden grave marker belonging to her great uncle Captain Charles Gorell Barnes, who was killed in 1918.
Hundreds of thousands of wooden crosses marked the graves of Commonwealth soldiers along the Western Front, but many have now disappeared.
During the war soldiers were often buried where they fell, or close by, and this was usually carried out quickly.
Another Oxford resident Chris Dorey brought in a cigarette case that had prevented a bullet from killing his grandfather during the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917.
Others allowed photographs to be taken of medals, letters, poems, and musical manuscripts. More than 400 photographs were taken at the event.
The artefacts will be added to a national online archive that will be made available later this year.
The school’s Dr Lorna Robinson, who hosted the event, said: “This was a wonderful thing to be part of.
“The students felt they were an integral part of recording history – it was empowering and exciting. A lot of them have expressed a desire to learn more about museums and archaeology. It has inspired them.
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“And the people who brought the objects in were then able to talk about their family history and share the items that they feel are important and special.”
Programme organiser Stuart Lee added: “We are now 100 years since The Armistice.
“All the combatants have died and their children and grandchildren are passing away.
“In that time the material is disappearing and we know there is so much in people’s homes that they have held on to for 100 years.
“These items tell a hugely important story which is in real danger of getting lost.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY
“It is vital that we save this material, not just for prosperity but also to engage younger generations.”
Now he is looking for enthusiasts, teachers and pupils to volunteer at events across the country hosting their own First World War digital collection days.
He added: “We need people across the country to help host these events as it is just impossible for us to go everywhere.
“We will train and send everything needed to do it.
“It is a wonderful opportunity to be part of a national project.”
Anyone interested in hosting an event or contributing can visit lwf.web.ox.ac.uk
