First World War Centenary
99% of people who took part in a First World Wa Centenary project said they had increased their knowledge and understanding of the war.
"It has broadened my understanding of the First World War both at home and abroad. It has made me look in directions I would not have thought about."
Communities leading the way
The National Lottery enabled people to explore wide-ranging aspects of the conflict. This included:
- stories behind the names on war memorials and of those conscripted to serve
- life on the home front
- the changing role of women
- conscientious objectors and dissent
- developments in medical care
- the contribution of diverse Commonwealth, cultural and faith communities to the conflict
People shared these stories through publications, exhibitions, films, drama and social media. Our #OneCentenary100Stories campaign features 100 of these fascinating stories of the First World War.
The national picture
Together, we conserved important First World War heritage and made it accessible, including:
- HMS Caroline in Belfast
- the cells in Richmond Castle, which held conscientious objectors
- a B-Type London bus used on the Western Front
- Yr Ysgwrn, the poet Hedd Wyn’s home in Snowdonia
Funding for First World War projects after the Centenary
You can still apply for projects exploring the First World War and its impact through the National Lottery Grants for Heritage.
Projects
Tracing the lost stories of local men in the First World War
Heroes of Chiswick aims to discover more about the lives of 23 men from the Parish of St. Michael (Sutton Court) who were killed on active service in France, Belgium, Gallipoli and elsewhere.
Projects
James Dixon's Boys
Through workshops and visits, children from Salesbury School used archives to find out how the First World War affected boys living in Blackburn Orphanage.
Projects
Broadland During the First World War
This project is exploring the impact of the First World War on the people of Broadland, from the perspectives of the men who went to war and those who remained at home.
Projects
Tracing your roots back to Gallipoli
Twenty young people, aged 14-19, researched the lives of Bolton soldiers who had died during the 1915 Gallipoli campaign.
Projects
Scottish Womens Hospital WW1 Remembrance
Volunteers celebrated the work of Scottish nurses and doctors during the First World War.
Projects
Legacies of War - Untold Otley Stories
Volunteers used the Otley Museum archives to create a digital map showing the address of every person on the town’s war memorial.
Projects
Pipers and Pipe Music of the Great War
Volunteers from the Scottish Pipers Association researched the tunes and stories behind the Pipers of the First World War, including the iconic image of the Piper leading the soldiers into battle.
Projects
Wor War: the First World War in North Tyneside
Young people from North Tyneside found out how the First World War affected their local communities through a range of creative activities.
Projects
A Miller's Tale: Football, Community and Remembrance in Central London during the Great War
Young people from schools in Fulham used archives to discover how the First World War impacted on their area, creating an exhibition, an animation and a drama piece.
Projects
Bedford Physical Training College Stories, World War 1 and 2
Volunteers researched the history of the Bedford College of Physical Training and developed a film using archival material and interviews with former students.
Projects
Degrees of Separation, Barnstaple
Primary and secondary school children engaged with the stories of local soldiers during the First World War through workshops with local museums and an artist, culminating in an exhibition and open day event for the wider community.
Projects
Frank went to the Front
Supplies of Horlicks to the troops and the evocative paintings of war artist Paul Nash were just two of the discoveries in this First World War centenary project.