Funded through a £33,800 Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant, the project will create an online interactive archive which will allow everyone to share digital copies of memorabilia and artefacts they have at home, dating from this important period in history. The online collection will shed light on the affect the conflict had on the local community.

Items sought for the archive include diaries, documents, newspaper clippings, postcards, photographs, letters and other ephemera. Visitors to the site will also be able to contribute extra information about the objects displayed and help build a picture of life in Britain 100 years ago and the dramatic changes brought about by the War.

Angela Jobson, Group Secretary, is pleased with the response of the public so far: “During the testing phase, we have been sent a few items for inclusion. Amongst those items we’ve already received is a wonderfully detailed diary covering the day-to-day experiences of a married soldier, from the day he enlisted to his medical discharge after a lengthy stay in hospital as a result of wounds received in action. His family are very proud to share his story via our project and we hope others will be as enthusiastic in sharing their family experiences.” 

Ivor Crowther, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North East, said: “We all know about the major battles that formed such a devastating part of the First World War but often it’s easy to overlook the individual stories of the men and women who sacrificed so much. By collecting and digitising people’s personal family artefacts, including amazing pieces such as the soldier’s diary, we are able to get a real insight into what wartime life was like. We are committed to helping local people share their stories and we have already invested more than £45million in projects – large and small - that are marking the Centenary."

Notes to editors

The Wartime Memories Project is a non-profit organisation, a constituted group run by volunteers. All the displays and educational activities are funded by donations, grants and from the pockets of the members. The aims of The Wartime Memories Project are to collect and preserve recollections, documents, photographs and small artefacts from the two World Wars, to ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to learn first-hand from the accounts of those who lived through the conflicts.

Further information

Angela Jobson, Wartime Memories Project on email: remember@wartimememories.co.uk.