Wednesday 5 August 2015

WWI Drop-in sessions at Southwater library


Pop along to Southwater library every Thursday 10.30-12.30 starting 13th August to find out about your families WWI history.

Tuesday 14 July 2015

Shropshire Regimental Museum

We visited Shropshire Regimental Museum yesterday to discuss plans for the Pop up Museum at Southwater library Saturday 7th November 10am-2pm. It was a great experience to have a look around the museum and see all of the great collections they have on display. The museum staff are all very knowledgeable and friendly and will make your experience more enjoyable.

The museum has a large section of WWI artifacts including an original video display of footage from the Western Front and this WWI uniform.

 
There are displays about each of the Shropshire based regiments that fought during WWI including the 1st Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry who were involved throughout the war and famously fought at the Somme. They lost 988 men during the conflict. You can also discover the story of the 4th Battalion KSLI who were involved in a brave counter attack at Bligny Hill that led to them being awarded the Croix de Guerre.

 
Of course there is lots more to see in addition to the World War I display including a really great display about the battle of Waterloo (which was 200 years ago this year) and a very informative display about the Boer War.
 
 
To top it all off the museum is located within the wonderful Shrewsbury Castle which is full of history dating back to the 11th century. The museum makes the most of the setting and contains some displays relating to the history of the Castle itself.
 
 
Overall, I can't recommend a trip to the Shropshire Regimental Museum highly enough. It makes for a really interesting day out in the historic town of Shrewsbury and will inspire you to find out more about what's on our doorstep.
 
 
You can visit their website here 
 
 

Wednesday 8 July 2015

Join the Navy, the service for fighting men

In the second of what will hopefully be a series of posts about propaganda we are going to look at some American propaganda. This time the propaganda in question was produced in 1917 so right at the start of US involvement in the conflict. It was created by artist Richard Fayerweather Babcock to encourage people to join the US Navy.

 
 
 
This is a very striking poster lacking in any kind of subtlety whatsoever. It depicts a member of the US Navy riding a torpedo and seemingly having an absolutely brilliant time while doing so! This is conveying a fairly obvious message that to sign up for the war effort is a good thing and if you do you'll have a great time while at war. It is fairly typical of wartime propaganda to ignore the reality and horrors of war in favour of a very positive and rose-tinted version in order to encourage participation.
 
 
The pose of the soldier on the torpedo also evokes comparisons with so many images of those great American heroes cowboys which I'm sure was a deliberate ploy to encourage young American males to sign up and become their generations heroes.
 
 
 
 
The text is also very brash in its message suggesting that if you want to join the war effort then the only sensible option would be to join the Navy as that is the "service for fighting men". This suggests that anyone joining the regular army was not a fighting man and is trying to play on the male ego in order to gain more recruits specifically for the Navy.
 
 
Overall, this is a really interesting piece of propaganda and while it seems fairly amusing to look back at it may very well have been successful in evoking patriotism in young American males in 1917. I am also struck by it's remarkable similarity to this famous scene from the wonderful film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.
 
 

 



Friday 3 July 2015

L'entente Cordiale

Propaganda is used by all countries in the world and has been in some form or other for most of history. It can be very interesting to look back at examples of propaganda and try to analyse what was intended. This is the first of series of posts looking at very aspects of WWI propaganda that I hope you will find interesting.
 
 
The above is a piece of propaganda almost certainly created in Germany that will have been sent into France during 1915. It depicts the British Empire as a spider dominating Europe and was almost certainly designed to try and convince the French people that their pact with Britain or "L'entente Cordiale" as it was called was only benefiting the British Empire and they should look instead to the Germans (the proud eagle in the above image). German U-boats are also attacking the web in the image while the Spider itself appears to be eating a Frenchman this contrast is again designed to create doubt as to whether the French should be allied with Britain or if they should cut themselves loose from such an oppressive force. This particular piece of propaganda failed as France and Britain remained allies throughout WWI but it still is a very powerful and interesting image that I feel will have resonated with many French people who were uncomfortable being allies with a country that was their traditional enemy.

Tuesday 30 June 2015

War Memorial Jackfield

I spotted this lovely little War Memorial opposite the Boat Inn Jackfield while out walking this past weekend and thought I would share it with you all. I think it is a great example of the fact that memorials do not have to be massive in order to be moving and effective.

Friday 26 June 2015

First World War Poetry Digital Archive

http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/

This is a great website created and maintained by the University of Oxford that includes digital collections of famous war poets such as Robert Graves and Shropshire's own Wilfred Owen. There are also some great teaching and education resources included on the site and it is well worth a visit whether you are just interested in WWI poetry or need some tips on how to teach pupils about it.

Thursday 28 May 2015

Ancestry WW1 Sessions

We were at Southwater library today to deliver our first WW1 Ancestry session. It was great fun and our learners were able to find out some really interesting information about their WW1 ancestors. Look out for more sessions soon.

Friday 22 May 2015

School Childrens WW1 Poetry display at Madeley and Southwater Libraries

It is half term next week and we will be having two very exciting displays in our libraries throughout the week. At Southwater we will be displaying poetry from children at Meadows primary school in Ketley on the media wall and children's digital table all week. Head to Southwater to have a look at the poetry and all the other great things including the adult digital table which has some amazing images of Telford through the ages.

 
 
At Madeley library with lots of help from the wonderful Madeley staff we have managed to put together another really good display of poetry this time with contributions from Holmer Lake primary school, Coalbrookdale & Ironbridge C.E primary school and Meadows primary school. There is some great poetry on the display boards as well as in the folder next to them and I strongly recommend going along and reading all the brilliant work.
 





 
We'd like to thank all the schools that submitted work, Historic England for collecting them and especially to thank all the children who created a poem. We have absolutely loved reading the poems while putting together the displays as have all of the library staff and we're sure the public who have the pleasure of reading them over the next week will do so also.


Tuesday 19 May 2015

Suffering From Cheerfulness

I would like to draw the readers attention to an absolutely brilliant book we have on the catalogue- Suffering from Cheerfulness The Best Bits from The Wipers Times.

It is full of interesting and funny stories from the paper that soldiers made and circulated between themselves on the front during the war. Including this wonderful poem.

VIRTUE
 
Now you subs of tender years
For your morals, it appears,
(You must admit they're open much to question)
There is shortly going to be
A morality O.C.,
Who will see that vice does not spoil
your digestion.
 
His H.Q. is going to be
Close by Leicester Square, and he
Will parade his Batt. for duty everynight,
In his ranks we'll shortly see
P'raps a Bishop or M.P.,
Who will see that virtue's path you tread
aright.
 
If on leave and pleasure bent
At Victoria, a gent
Will grab you as you're dodging off alone,
Will escort you to H.Q.,
When you'll quickly find that you
Are provided with an aged chaperone,
Your amusement will depend
On how much she'll let you spend,
And you'll dine at Lyons or an A.B.C.,
Should you dare to want a drink,
With a look she'll make you think
What an awful well of sin a sub can be.
 
You may smoke one cigarette,
Ere retiring you will get
All your orders for the morrow's pleasure
feast,
Hand your cash in charge, and then
Off to bed as clock strikes ten,
Feeling that in former days you were a
beast.
 
You will come to learn and love
Programmes as described above
For you must admit that you were most
immoral.
 
You will find when leave's expired
That your fancies will have tired
For the glass that sparkles, and for lips of
coral.

Wednesday 13 May 2015

Shifnal Local History Group

I highly recommend visiting the Shifnal Local History Group Exhibition at the Old Fire Station on Shrewsbury Road. It is open every Friday 2pm-4pm and Saturday 10am-12pm and is full of lots of very interesting displays about the history of Shifnal.
They have lots of illuminating information about Shifnal in WW1 and also the men from Shifnal that fought during the war. A really interesting and unique exhibition that is available to view is the Autograph book from the auxiliary Military hospital that was on Shrewsbury road in Shifnal during the war which is full of interesting cartoons and personal messages.
It is well worth a visit if you are local or in the area when it is open.
 

Thursday 30 April 2015

Ancestry Taster Sessions

We're at the lovely Newport library today to run a couple of ancestry taster sessions to help people get started in researching their family history. Look out for ancestry taster sessions based specifically around tracing your WW1 ancestors coming soon in Telford and Wrekin libraries. Ancestry is free in all libraries with a library membership so head to your local library today to start your research.


Wednesday 29 April 2015

Faith & Action: Quakers and the First World War



At the moment there is a very interesting exhibition relating to the First World War at the Birmingham museum and art gallery. Using original material it tells the story of Quakers in World War One and is particularly interesting in how it shows conscientious objectors doing lots of useful work towards the war effort and fights against the traditional prejudice and narrative that all conscientious objectors were cowards.

The exhibition is open daily 10-5 except Fridays when it opens slightly later at 10.30. It is based in the community gallery which is best accessed via the entrance on Great Charles Street. Entrance is free.

We also have a number of interesting books on the subject of conscientious objectors during World War One that are available to reserve including the excellent 'We Will Not Fight' by Will Ellsworth-Jones.

Overall, I think it is very important that the story of conscientious objectors whether religious or not is told and is made a part of our collective memory of WW1. Many conscientious objectors carried out vital war work including giving medical aid on the frontline and this should not be forgotten.

Friday 24 April 2015

Gallipoli Campaign

Tomorrow marks the 100 year anniversary of the start of the Gallipoli campaign fought between the Ottoman Empire and the allies including the British Empire and France. The campaign lasted until the 9th of January 1916 and was one of the greatest Ottoman victories of the war.

 

1915-16

  • 350,000 British troops, 35,000 died
  • 79,000 French troops, 10,000 died
  • 74,000 Anzac troops, 10,000 died
  • 400,000 Turkish troops, 86,000 died
 
 

Gallipoli was also a high profile failure for Winston Churchill who would later lead Britain in the Second World War. He promoted the idea of the invasion as a way to end the war quickly and pressed forward with the plans despite the rest of the cabinet being less enthusiastic. His idea that they would be able to defeat an empire that he saw as backwards turned into a nightmare and irreparably harmed the reputation of Prime Minister Asquith and his war committee eventually leading to Asquith resigning and Churchill being demoted in a new David Lloyd George led government.

We have several books about Gallipoli on our online catalogue. I particularly want to recommend 'Gallipoli' by Peter Hart which is a really interesting and engaging read written by an oral historian for the Imperial War Museum.

Friday 17 April 2015

Heritage Heroes

                                                     http://www.heritageheroes.org.uk/
 
Heritage Heroes is a website that allows people who want to volunteer but can't get to one of the local centres to still be able to contribute to the digitization of Shropshires past. There are some great projects to get involved with on the website and there should be something that matches your interest.
 
The sections of the website that we particularly want to draw to your attention are the variety of WW1 based projects that you can contribute to on the site particularly the Wellington Journal where volunteers are asked to index personal names within the paper from August 1914-December 1914. You are only asked to do a page at a time so the work isn't too laborious but really makes a difference and will help people be able to search for their WW1 ancestors much quicker in the future. More months of the war time Journal will be uploaded to coincide with 100 years anniversaries as we head towards 2018. There are also more WW1 field diaries ready to transcribe once the current ones are completed.

However little you can do it will be very much appreciated not just by the staff but customers who will use the local archives or museums in the near future so it is really worth volunteering at Heritage Heroes.
 


Wednesday 15 April 2015

Suicide in the trenches

I thought I would share with you my favourite war poem Suicide in the trenches by Siegfried Sassoon.

Suicide in the trenches
 
I knew a simple soldier boy

 Who grinned at life in empty joy,

 Slept soundly through the lonesome dark,

 And whistled early with the lark.
 
In winter trenches, cowed and glum,

 With crumps and lice and lack of rum,

 He put a bullet through his brain.

 No one spoke of him again.
 
You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye

 Who cheer when soldier lads march by,

 Sneak home and pray you’ll never know

 The hell where youth and laughter go.
 
 We have a couple of Siegfried Sassoon collections available to reserve on our online catalogue.

Tuesday 14 April 2015

Shropshire Remembers

 
 
 
Shropshire Remembers is a great website run by our friends at Shropshire archives that allows people to upload their own stories about Shropshire during WW1 and also to advertise any events that are being held in Shropshire relating to WW1. I strongly advise heading over there and reading some of the great content that is already available but also adding any stories you have in order to help the website to grow.

WW1 Poetry They Didn't Let You Read


Parody of ‘Little grey horse in the West’ by Lieutenant Gamble of the Durhams 20 November 1915

There’s a shallow wet trench near Houplines

‘Tis the wettest there has ever been,
There are bullets that fly,

There are shells in the sky,
And it smells like a German ‘has been’.
 
 
My dug-out’s a haven of rest,
Though it’s only a tumble down nest,
But with ‘Johnsons’ around,
I must keep underground,
Til the golden sun sinks in the west.
The above poem is taken from the very interesting Tommy Rot WW1 Poetry They Didn't Let You Read by John Sadler & Rosie Serdiville which is available to reserve on our online catalogue. It contains a variety of very interesting poetry that helps give a different view of the war to the traditional war poetry that is taught in schools.

 

Newport Library World War One Display

 

 
 
There is currently a great display at Newport library relating to WW1. It displays the work of local historian Malcolm Miles who has researched each serving person from Newport during the First World War. The display includes pictures of some of the soldiers as well as pictures of Medals they were awarded. There are also some of our very interesting books on WW1 included in the display which are available for loan from Newport library. The staff of Newport library worked really hard on displaying the great work in an interesting and easy to view format and I really recommend going along to see this display.