Wareham’s Town Museum, Choral Society and British Legion, together with the Lady St Mary Flower Festival, have planned events that encourage local people to share their family memories of the First World War. Through exhibitions, concerts, museum displays and talks, townsfolk are being encouraged to bring, share and tell family memoirs and loan artefacts from the wartime period.

In addition, the British Legion is engaged in researching the stories of the 72 young men whose names are inscribed on the town’s war memorial. A book will be published detailing their service histories, medals awarded, photographs, and family memories and, finally, where they fell in battle. The work will be published as part of the town’s heritage project.

The events will culminate with an act of civic remembrance in November.

Commenting on HLF’s award, Carol Turner, Town Mayor and convenor of the planning group, said: “Wareham played an important role in the First World War. In addition to the sacrifices of its brave young soldiers, the town provided workers for the military encampments at Worgret and the munitions factory at Holton Heath. The support of the Heritage Lottery Fund will enable us to retell these stories for the benefit of the present generation and will commemorate the selfless acts of Wareham forebears for our freedom.”

Nerys Watts, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund South West, said: “The impact of the First World War was far reaching, touching and shaping every corner of the UK and beyond. The Heritage Lottery Fund has already invested more than £58million in projects – large and small – that are marking this global Centenary, enabling even more communities like those involved in Wareham to explore the continuing legacy of this conflict and help local people broaden their understanding of how it has shaped our modern world.”

Notes to editors

This collaborative project, ‘Sacrifice and Heritage: Wareham’s Great War’, was drawn together through a planning group comprising: Ben Buxton, Curator of Artefacts at Wareham Museum; Merville Gover, President Wareham RBL; Judith Price, Chair, Wareham Choral Society; Pat Cherrett, Lady St Mary Flower Festival Committee. Assistance was received from Richard Smith, Curator, The Tank Museum, Bovington and Martin and Judith Willoughby of Wessex Western Front Association. The Town Mayor, Carol Turner acted as group convenor.

Further information

For further information, images and interviews, please contact:

• Lady St Mary Flower Festival ‘The Eleventh Hour’: Pat Cherrett on 01929 552087
• Wareham Museum: Ben Buxton on 01929 553448
• Wareham British Legion: Merville Gover on 01929 552903
• Wareham Choral Society: Judith Price on 01929 552272
• Town Mayor: Carol Turner on 01929 556761